Eva Mendes had just finished filming Training Day and felt the need to carry a knife for safety reasons. The crime drama featured Eva nude and received a large amount of attention. She told Interview Magazine that at the time carrying the blade made her feel empowered. Upon reflection after seven years since her nude scene in the film, she now feels “stupid” for carrying it.

That was my controversial stage where I’d just started acting. I went through my little Angelina Jolie phase, like I was really tough. I had just come out in Training Day and I was nude in it, so I was getting a certain kind of attention.

[Contact Music]

During her “Angelina Jolie” phase and carrying weaponry she also packed alternative protection. The knife was a last resort in case of an emergency.

And I did carry a little blade. My God, with obviously no intention to ever use it. I had Mace as well. But the blade sounded cooler in interviews. I was young and stupid.

[Starpulse]

Mendes has also been featured in Jack Magazine. Again, she will be featured naked. She is no stranger to being in the buff. Her spread in Italian Vogue was beyond risqué. The spread included photos of her topless and sporting several different bouffant hairstyles. At one point she was sucking on her own toes. PETA also employed her for their “I rather go naked than wear fur” campaign in which she was once again without clothing.

I too carry protection. Completely different kind, but at least I can make balloon animals with mine.

Picture Note by JayBird: Here’s Eva Mendes at the Dior show at Paris Fashion Week ‘09 Haute Couture at the Rodin Museum on June 30th. Images thanks to WENN.

Eva Mendez has a new article in Interview Magazine which includes some awkward moments when the journalist tries to make a joke about rehab. Eva spent time in Cirque Lodge in Utah earlier this year and doesn’t talk much about her stay except to praise others who have the courage to admit that they need help. She says that she doesn’t worry when people print false stories about her because that means that none of her friends or associates are blabbing to the tabloids. As for her response to the interviewer’s dumb jokes about rehab, she says she’s “sensitive,” not angry:

David Colman: Now let’s talk about substance abuse. My favorite topic.

Eva Mendes: Great.

DC: First of all, what is it with actors and substance abuse?

EM: I don’t know. I’m not a spokesperson for any kind of substance-abuse organization.

DC: They’re going to have to change the name of it to “Alcoholics Unanimous.”

EM: [silence]

DC: I’m sorry, that’s a bad joke.

EM: I’m not making jokes, because people die from this stuff. So, honestly, I think it’s a bit tacky that you made a joke. I’ve got to be honest.

DC: You’re angry. Listen . . .

EM: I’m not angry. People have died, and I’ve lost friends too–even recently. So I can be a little sensitive on the subject.

DC: Look, I haven’t had a drink in 11 years. I’m just trying to be light-hearted about it, because it’s an awkward topic.

EM: I’m not angry. But because celebrities’ lives are so visible, I think it makes it look lighter than it is. I have a really good sense of humor, I’m just very sensitive. The other day I was reading an article. I don’t even remember who the actress was, but she’s been around for a long time. She said something like, “I’m proud that I’ve had a whole career without making it to rehab.” I thought, That’s such a negative twist on it. I’m proud of people who have the determination and the fearlessness to actually go and face their demons and get better. This is a life or death situation. Again, I’m not a spokesperson for this, but it’s just that I want to support people for their decisions when they do go in and get help.

[From Interview Magazine via Huffington Post - site has automatic sound in ads]

I think Mendes handled that well and that the interviewer was kind of a tool for being so abrupt in his questioning and making a dumb joke about rehab. The probably had very little rapport and were both short with each other. As the interview went on things got a little better, which was when Mendes talked about not understanding why people are all up in celebrities’ business:

DC: You might think it’s a new problem, but it’s probably only because people are quicker to say, “Okay, I’m going to rehab. Let’s get it over with.”

EM: It’s because everybody is so highly visible now. We see everything. We see what celebrities buy at the supermarket. It’s ridiculous. It’s that visibility. I’m confused by this whole celebrity-obsessed culture. It’s really weird.

DC: Again, I wasn’t trying to be . . . Well, I was trying to be flip, but not trying to be dismissive. I do take it very seriously myself. You could just say, “I don’t want to talk about that.” Which is fine.

EM: I’ve given you a more interesting answer, I hope, than to just say, “I don’t want to talk about it.” [laughs] There are so many lies out there regarding my recent trip to Cirque Lodge. But I don’t care what people think. I just don’t care. So I will neither confirm nor deny. I think now we just know way too much about our celebrities. It’s not that interesting when you know that much about people. I have no ego about me. It’s just better for you not to know, because it really does make me a better actor at the end of the day. You’re not going into the movie with all these specifics about me.

DC: I don’t know what I would do if all my business was out there . . .

EM: You know what? You wouldn’t feel that bad, because so much of it is not true. Actually, the media has been pretty nice to me. They’ve really trashed some people, so I’m actually thankful that it didn’t get too crazy. But for all the stuff that came out a few months ago about substance abuse, there were so many wrong stories. I was so happy about that, because it’s when they get the real scoop that would make me really nervous. It’s a relief, in a way. You want it to be a lie, because when it’s true, that’s when I’d be like, “Oh, my God!” It’s time to rethink who’s in your circle, because stuff got out.

Eva talked a little bit about the problems she has finding suitable roles as both a woman and a Latina. On one hand she said that being Latin has helped her find parts, but she also said it has cost her roles as producers have said they want an “American girl,” i.e. fully white-looking woman like Drew Barrymore, and that she doesn’t understand how she doesn’t fit that mold. She also made a joke that both she and Drew grew up in America and were into New Kids On The Block, but then backtracked saying she couldn’t speak for Drew’s teenage interest in the cheesy boy-band:

DC: I have a question for you that’s a little more complicated. Do you find it a challenge being Latin in Hollywood?

EM: I would never call it a challenge. I think being a woman in Hollywood is a big enough challenge. It really is, man. I don’t want to be one of those people who complain. But the lack of roles out there–it’s unbelievable. I read a lot of scripts. I believe you’ve got to read one that you know you’re not going to do, because you’ve got to educate yourself on what’s out there to make the best decision for you. So it’s challenging being a woman. Then there are other kinds of obstacles that come your way, but there are many times that being Latin has actually helped me, being a Cuban-American has helped me.

DC: I think it makes you seem very modern and real.

EM: Absolutely. Because whether you like this next statement or not, we are the future. I mean, we’re all just mixing together that much more. We are the future in that sense. I don’t mean Latinos, I just mean ethnic diversity. I speak English without an accent, and I speak Spanish without an accent. I really do have the best of both worlds. What makes it frustrating is when a director or a studio head doesn’t see me for the same part that they’ll see, let’s say, Drew Barrymore for. Drew’s a great friend of mine. But it’s like, “No, we want more of an American type of girl.” And it’s like, American has opened up. I’m an American girl, born and raised. I mean, I was into New Kids on the Block, just like Drew! Actually, I shouldn’t say that. I don’t know if she was. I’m going to text her on that one.

I like Eva’s answers here - they’re nuanced, thoughtful and she sounds very circumspect about what she went through with substance abuse. In my opinion this is a better strategy than getting naked for photo shoots, although maybe she has a rude interviewer to thank for how mature and serious she sounds.

The powerful women of the movie industry gathered last night at the Women in Film Crystal and Lucy awards, hosted by Aisha Taylor. Salma Hayek was honored for the success of the show she produces, Ugly Betty. In her acceptance speech she said that 41 was the best time of her life:

“I’m 41 now,” she said while being honored at Tuesday’s Women in Film Crystal+Lucy Awards. “And I have to say, it is the best time in my life.”

That prompted Jada Pinkett Smith – who was also being recognized, along with her costars from the upcoming chick flick, The Women – to shout out, “You look good!”

Hayek – who gave birth to daughter Valentina Paloma last September with billionaire fiancé Francois-Henri Pinault – said she is finally coming into her own.

“I have learned to enjoy time to be a woman. I have learned to enjoy how to do the most that I can with what I have,” the Ugly Betty producer explained. “It is a good thing to be a 41-year-old Latina woman in America.”

She also gave a shout out to fellow Latina Eva Mendes (another star of The Women), who responded with a loud, “I love you, Salma!”

[From People.com]

Salma also said she wanted Ugly Betty to be accessible for everyone, with a focus on Latin people. “I wanted it to be different than anything I was seeing on television. I also wanted Latin people to feel excited and proud that there was something on television that sort of belonged to them, but I wanted the American audience not to feel alienated from it.” [via]

Shown last night are Cameron Diaz, Nicole Richie, Eva Mendes, Maria Bello, Annette Benning, Jada Pinkett Smith looking like she sucked a lemon, Meg Ryan, Debra Messing, Holly Robinson Peete, Debi Mazar and Rumer Willis. Thanks to WENN for these photos.

I think everyone was a bit surprised at Eva Mendes’ recent stint in rehab - she wasn’t a likely candidate for ’substance abuse’. I can’t recall ever seeing pictures of her stumbling from a club or looking like she was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Now some sources are saying that Eva wasn’t actually in rehab for the purpose of recovery from addiction, but rather that she was in rehab to research for a role. Acting coach John Kirby, who has not worked with Eva, tells Star magazine that he thinks it is quite likely she entered rehab to prepare for the part.

He tells Star, “It’s not unusual at all for an actor or actress to go to the extreme of checking into rehab to prepare for a character.

“In fact, I would encourage that for my students, because you want to fully immerse yourself in the role.”

San Francisco Chronicle

Oh, that’s why celebrities go into rehab! We’ve all just been too harsh on Lindsay Lohan.

At the time fo Eva’s entry to rehab, her publicist was somewhat cagey about why she was entering the facility.

Her rep tells TMZ “Eva has been working hard for the past year and made a positive decision to take some much-needed time off to proactively attend to some personal issues that, while not critical, she felt deserved some outside professional support. Out of respect for Eva’s privacy, we do not wish to discuss further details.”

TMZ

The role in question is the character of Teresa Mendoza in ‘Queen of the South’, who is a drug runner in Spain. Variety reported that Eva had been added to the cast, on May 6th, and in their plot synopsis gives no indication that Teresa enters rehab in the film. Eva was in rehab in February, before the cast announcement was made, but she could have already accepted the role, or was trying to show her commitment to win the part.

I think we can safely assume that Eva entered rehab for a break, but whether that break was to recover from addiction, to get some personal space, or just to research for a role I guess we can’t be sure. I suspect that when this movie hits cinemas in 2009, we’ll get the whole story during her publicity rounds.

Eva Mendes is shown at the Linked Against Leukemia Gala in NY on 5/7/08, and at the Costume Institute Gala on 5/5/08, thanks to WENN.

Eva Mendes appeared topless in a fantasy retro photo shoot for Italian Vogue. The 34 year-old recently rehabbed actress wears various corsets and 50s style wigs, her bare breasts peeking out from open bolero jackets in two shots. In one photo, she’s laying on a couch with a clear lucite tray table sitting across her chest, a filled highball glass waiting for the viewer as she looks up at the camera seductively. Another shot has her up against the wall with her eyes closed and a faraway smile on her face as a pair of women’s stockinged feet are mashed up against her breasts.

These are certainly sexy pictures and you have to wonder what kind of strategic career move Mendes was hoping to make. According to IMDB, Mendes has two films in post production and nothing else planned. She’s definitely trying to get someone’s attention, and it works for me. I like this approach much better than the staged vacation bikini pictures. Those are a dime a dozen. Now we know that Eva’s all natural and that she’s capable of acting seductive and aroused, and doing films set in the 40s, 50s, or 60s. There are plenty of roles for her.

Eva Mendes seems to be getting back on track after her unexpected trip to rehab earlier this year. The actress has even rekindled her romance of six years with hunky filmmaker George Gargurevich. The pair took a break shortly before Eva quietly slipped off to rehab, but now things are back on.

Eva Mendes is getting her relationship with her longtime boyfriend back on track. Eva and filmmaker George Gargurevich, who have been dating for six years, went through a rocky phase when Eva entered rehab at Cirque Lodge in Utah this winter, says an insider.

“The distance was hard on them,” the source tells Star.

But now that she’s out of rehab and living a clean lifestyle, she and George are tighter than ever. They even adopted a Belgian Malinois pup named Hugo.

“George is a rock for Eva. She truly loves him.”

[From Star magazine print version, May 5, 2008]

While I don’t really get why people make such a big deal out of Eva, I am glad to see that she straightened herself out and seems to be reconnecting with people who are positive influences in her life and encourage her sobriety- unlike other certain starlet rehab vets we could name. Eva and George seem like a low key, loving couple. Hopefully they can work it out.

Note by Celebitchy: Just Jared has photos from two years ago of Eva out with her longterm boyfriend George, but I checked Just Jared and PopSugar and couldn’t find any recent photos of the two together. Star has a photo of them that accompanies this story, but it’s unclear if it’s new.

Eva Mendes is shown on 4/21/08 at the Metropolitan Opera, thanks to PRPhotos.

Right as Kirsten Dunst checks into Cirque Lodge for rehab, Eva Mendes checks out. And really, can you blame her? I wouldn’t want to share my rehab celebrity either. That’s a special time in a celebrity’s life. I’m kidding, I’m sure it’s just a weird coincidence. The news leaked last week that Eva had checked into rehab several weeks ago to attend to what’s variously been described as “personal issues” and a “well-hidden substance abuse problem.” I’m going to guess the latter is a little more accurate. So while “personal issues” supposedly brought Eva into rehab, “personal business” is taking her out of it - temporarily, according to her rep. But her rep’s also the one that called a substance abuse problem a personal issue, so she might just liberally attach the word “personal” to anything she wants to form some vague cover.

Her rep tells Usmagazine.com, “Eva is attending to some personal business in Los Angeles and intends to return to complete her treatment shortly.” Mendes was struggling with a well-hidden substance abuse problem, including cocaine use, sources close to the actress tell Us Weekly in its latest issue.

“She kept it all behind closed doors and wasn’t really a mess in public,” an insider told Us. The pressures of Tinsletown… fueled the fire: she fell into a hard partying crowd at the Hollywood club now known as Teddy’s, where her longtime boyfriend, producer George Augusto, used to DJ. “She has a lot of low self-esteem and body issues,” said a pal.

Another insider said, “For a lot of girls in Hollywood, cocaine makes them feel more confident and stay skinny.” But Mendes, who just wrapped 2009 action flick The Spirit (co-starring Scarlett Johansson) and told Us last fall that she wanted “to be known for her work,” knew she needed to get well to improve professionally. “She pulled away from that crowd last year to focus on her career,” says a source, adding that treatment was a vital step to recovery. “She wants to be healthy.”

[From Us Weekly]

I’m always a little surprised when rehab facilities let someone leave for any reason, unless it’s a major family tragedy or something. Of course they cannot force someone to stay either. It’s really hard to know what’s going on with Eva - while her movies do well enough and people generally know her name, she’s not a fixture in the gossip columns. It sounds like Us is saying it’s a combination of some mental health issues and substance abuse problems. Eva is truly a knockout, but that’s not always easy for someone to see in herself. Hopefully she really will go right back to rehab and get better.

Picture Note by JayBird: Here’s Eva unveiling her advertisement for PETA on December 20th. Images thanks to PR Photos.

Actress Eva Mendes has been in rehab for an undisclosed “substance abuse problem” for a few weeks. She has been recovering at Cirque Lodge, the same place Lindsay Lohan was for her last stint in rehab following her DUI arrest.

TMZ has learned Eva Mendes is in Utah battling a substance abuse problem.

We’re told the “Ghost Rider” star is at the famous Cirque Lodge, near Sundance. The Lodge, which treated Lindsay Lohan and other stars, is one of the most respected treatment facilities in the country.

Eva has been at Cirque for several weeks.

TMZ contacted her rep, who did not return multiple calls for comment.

[From TMZ]

Of all the Hollywood actresses on the scene, Eva was the last person I expected to have an issue with drugs or alcohol. She has never been embroiled in any kind of scandal involving public inappropriateness, which makes this news all the more surprising. So many celebs have checked themselves into rehab over the past year, including Sean Young, Amy Winehouse, Jesse Metcalfe, Mike Tyson, Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Pete Doherty. None of these are a shock, and in many cases they were a long time coming. But Eva Mendes is an popular actress and media darling who consistently appears very pulled-together and composed in public. Whatever substance she’s been abusing, it was definitely under the radar, at least with the media. It just goes to show that you never really know what people are doing behind closed doors.

Hopefully, Eva will successfully complete her treatment in privacy, and will be able to stay clean and continue her career.

Picture note by Celebitchy: Eva Mendes is shown at the unveiling of her new PETA ad on 12/20/07, thanks to PRPhotos.

Victoria Beckham, who I will forever refer to as Posh Spice, has been voted the sexiest mother by designers and executives at Victoria’s Secret. I’m not sure I look at those melons she has disguised as breasts and her neon orange glow and come up with sexy. Perhaps they meant skinniest mother? Scariest mother? The mother with a name similar to our company name?

Victoria’s Secret executives and designers have voted Posh Spice the world’s sexiest mum.

Victoria Beckham joins stars Eva Mendes, Josh Holloway, and American Idol host Ryan Seacrest on the lingerie company’s 2008 What Is Sexy? list.

The team of executives and designers who compiled the list looked for attributes such as “passion and humour and style and charisma”.

Sydney Morning Herald

I suspect that Posh only beat Angelina Jolie by the tiniest of margins (about as wide as her teeny waist) and soon will need to pass her crown to Halle Berry.

Is there too much pressure on mothers to be yummy mummies? Posh went into hiding during the later, larger months of her pregnancies, so she wouldn’t be seen as fat. Women all over the world would line up to see that tiny woman fat. I mean, pregnant. Fat would be more fun though. It must be nice for Victoria to get called the sexiest mother, as it can’t be easy maintaining that lithe physique.

Other sexy celebs, according to Victoria’s Secret, include Ryan Seacrest for his smile, Eva Mendes was sexiest actress (not as good an an Oscar but better than a kick in the teeth), and Katherine Heigl and Josh Kelley were sexiest newlyweds.

Header image is an older one of Victoria out with Romeo and Brooklyn.

PETA scored one of the most desired ladies on the planet for their latest campaign in the fight against fur. Eva Mendes appears nude in the “Fur? I’d Rather Go Naked” ad that PETA has made famous. She will also be making a nude appearance in NY today.

“The 33-year-old starlet will be at New York’s Rockefeller Plaza in just a couple hours to unveil her new “Fur? I’d Rather Go Naked” ad for the animal rights group. Yup, Mendes appears in her birthday suit. While her chest is strategically covered by her arms and hands, her bare buttocks are in full view.”

[E Online]

Mendes isn’t the first to strip for the animal activists. Pamela Anderson and Christina Applegate have also bared their bods for the campaign. Each made appearances in the buff in hopes of spreading the word that fur is a faux pas. Eva graciously gave an interview to the people behind PETA. She revealed that she has worn fur before due to her ignorance.

“What drew you to the idea of working with PETA on our “Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur” Campaign?”

“I wasn’t familiar with PETA early in my career. I remember having my first premiere in New York City and being so naive that I didn’t have a coat with me. My stylist sent me a fur wrap for the evening and I ignorantly wore it. PETA then wrote me a beautiful letter commenting on my less-than-educated choice. I was so impressed that I vowed to them and myself to never wear real fur on the red carpet or in my life again.”

Over a thousand posters will be circulating through the Big Apple next week and giant billboard will be up in a matter of moments. Don Flood was the lucky photographer that managed to show just enough of Eva’s skin to tease onlookers. To avoid any mob scenes in the city PETA is keeping the location of Eva’s appearance a secret.

How very stealth. You know I think PETA would have more success in using someone who isn’t drop dead gorgeous to threaten nudity. Over half the people that see the ad aren’t going to realize anything is even written on the board with Eva’s rump exposed. Just a suggestion.

Picture note by Celebitchy: Header image thanks to The Peta Files blog.