Eva Mendes on Being Latina: "I Grew Up With a Really Heavy Cuban Influence, Yet I Was American"

Updated on Sep 20, 2015 at 10:00 AM

Eva Mendes looks gorgeous on the cover of Glam Belleza Latina's Fall 2015 issue. In the interview, the actress — who is not only an ambassador for Esteé Lauder skin care, but also the face of cosmetics brand Circa and a designer for New York & Company — gets candid about her childhood and growing up in a tight-knit Cuban family that only spoke Spanish at home. Eva also opens up about her desire to have Esmeralda, her daughter with possible fiancé Ryan Gosling, grow up with the same Latin influence she had as a child. Keep scrolling for Eva's must-read quotes, then check out the adorable model she got for her new fashion line.

On growing up in California with Cuban parents: "We lived in a little Cuban community in Los Angeles around a lot of Latinos. It wasn't the best area, but it certainly wasn't the worst. There was a communal feeling. In the Summer everyone kept the door open and made their cafecitos and sat on plastic beach chairs until late at night. Also, my father didn't speak English, still doesn't, and he demanded that we speak Spanish. And so I grew up with a really heavy Cuban influence, yet I was American. I'm super fortunate to have had the best of both worlds."
On visits with her family: "When my mom and sisters visit, they take over the house. They take my baby! They start cleaning everything! They sound like a bunch of hyenas, yelling in Spanish, English, Spanglish. They sing [my daughter Esmeralda] all these Cuban nursery songs that I forgot my mom used to sing to me. They're like a raucous crew . . . It's incredible. I really appreciate my family, now more than ever. I'm so happy that my little girl gets to grow up with this."
On the rise of Latinas in Hollywood: "It's a great time. I remember reading scripts when I started in the business, nearly 15 years ago, and [Latino roles] were either nonexistent or written as the maid or a drug dealer. We're no longer just that. I'll play any part that challenges me. What's important is that all races have choices."
On connecting with fans on Instagram: "That is 100 percent me. It actually breaks my heart when I can't respond. I love connecting with women; it's fun for me. I come from a huge family of women, and I'm super close to the girlfriends I've had since I was 12 years old. And as you can see, all my businesses are geared toward women. . . . I was in a New York & Company design meeting recently, and I was unsure about a print. I decided to ask for feedback on Instagram. One lady said, 'It depends on how it falls on the body.' So we looked at it and said, 'You know what? She's totally right, because if this leaf falls by the boob, it's going to be weird."
On her cosmetics line Circa: "I think women will be really impressed with the quality. I always wanted to do a cosmetics line, and when [cosmetics firm] Maesa explained that they wanted professional-type products at an affordable price, I knew their vision matched my own. And as a Latina, I've helped create palettes that my friends and families can use. But every ethnicity can find something."