Eva Mendes has figured out a way to shamelessly promote her new line of bedding with Macys, which she designed with her longterm boyfriend, producer George Augusto. She realizes we’re not impressed with the constant topless photo shoots she’s been doing so instead of posing half naked in bed as expected she’s decided to take a different tactic and talk about her sex life. (There could still be a half naked photo shoot coming though, in fact I expect it.)

“I’ve had sex in all 50 states,” screen star Eva Mendes told Fashion Week revelers this week at the launch party for Patricia Field’s new line of “Sex and the City”-inspired fashions.

When pressed for details, Mendes assured reporters her 50 state feat was not with 50 different men.

“A lot of it was on a road trip I took when I was younger,” Mendes said, going on to note the best sex took place in Arizona and Colorado. “maybe it was the clear air, or the quiet, or the endless sky,” she noted, “whatever it was, it was really, really good.”

And according to Mendes, the worst sex she had was in Alaska.

“I’d really like a do-over on that state,” Mendes said, before suggesting publicists at Alaska Air “sponsor a trip for me there for that purpose.”

[From Huliq via Daily Stab]

Ok, Eva, please keep the details to yourself next time. I guess this means Mendes is one of those people who keeps track of every stupid detail about her relationship, like a friend of mine in high school who saved the first condom from the first time she had sex. In Eva’s case she’s trying to go for some kind of record. Does she drive over state borders and rent hotel rooms with her boyfriend just so she can check off the state as one in which she’s copulated? Does she get drunk in remote bars and pick up local strangers from unconquered states?

I know people who try and visit as many countries as possible and find bragging rights in their extensive travels, but I’ve never heard of anyone trying to have sex in all 50 states. It sounds downright juvenile. And how is that going to sell sheets? They stay firmly planted on the bed in your house – where most people are content to get their nookie. There’s no thrill in crossing a border for most of us, although vacation sex is usually better for some reason.

Here’s a photo of Mendes’ new bedding line, thanks to People. I’d want to get away from home too if my bed was that frumpy looking.

Eva Mendes is shown at the New York Screening of ‘The Women’ on 9/11/08. Credit: Dan Jackman/WENN

Ryan Seacrest, the most famous metrosexual in the world or the biggest closet case, depending on whom you believe, appeared on Ellen Degeneres’ talk show today and whined about how he’s so busy with his career that he doesn’t have time to find a girlfriend. Ellen’s gaydar didn’t seem to be going off at this remark, because she didn’t burst into fits of laughter. Instead, she showed pictures of famous female celebs and asked Seacrest which one was his type.

Ellen DeGeneres — matchmaker?

On Friday’s Ellen DeGeneres Show, she agreed to fix up Ryan Seacrest after he lamented about his lackluster love life.

He said he has been “so busy” he hasn’t had time to look for love.

“Yes, but you’re going to wait too long and get in a rut being single,” said DeGeneres, who wed Portia de Rossi this past summer.

DeGeneres then held up photos of famous women — Pam Anderson, Britney Spears, Carrie Underwood, Eva Mendes and Jennifer Aniston — and asked Seacrest to pick one.

He chose Mendes first.

“She’s gorgeous,” he said. “Yeah, I kind of went there first. I like Carrie, but then I kind of feel like she is part of the Idol thing, so I don’t know if that’s the right thing to do.”

Spears, he said, “is young and obviously there’s enough going on and that’s not for me.”

But Mendes, he went on, “is great.”

“Would you like me to set you up with her?” DeGeneres asked.

“Yeah,” said Seacrest.

For now, Seacrest has one famous lady in his life: Paris Hilton. On Friday, he announced that they will develop a new scripted series together.

[From Us Weekly]

Ugh- a Paris Hilton scripted series? Like her other reality shows weren’t scripted. This is yet another reason to hate Seacrest, who is responsible for such reality show suckfests as “Keeping up with the Kardashians” and “Denise Richards: It’s Complicated.” Even if Ryan actually did like women, there’s no way Eva Mendes would want to associate herself with someone who thought those shows were a good idea. If I were Ellen, I would have thrown in a random photo of a really attractive female impersonator, just to see what Ryan would pick. Maybe that’s why I don’t have my own talk show.

Ryan Seacrest is shown at the introduction of Kara DioGuardi as the fourth American Idol judge at tryouts for the show at Chelsea Piers in New York City, 8/26/08. Credit: Janet Mayer / PR Photos

Actress Eva Mendes, 34, went to rehab early this year for an apparent substance abuse problem. Not much came out about Eva’s issues and she had them treated kind of quietly and then emerged in plenty of topless and racy photoshoots, which definitely served to distract the public from whatever mild image fallout she may have otherwise suffered. Eva recently spoke to E! News’ Marc Malkin and told him that she’s in therapy and is open about it because she thinks there should be no shame in it. She also said that a lot her earlier problems stemmed from the inequalities in the world and her inability to accept that she was so rich and successful compared to most:

“I’m big on therapy,” Mendes told me yesterday. “I’ve always said I love talking about therapy, because there’s nothing wrong with it. Why wait until something goes terrible in your life to start fixing things?”

Mendes, 34, has never talked details about why she did a stint in rehab earlier this year, but she did tell me that one of her biggest issues was coping with her own success. “Up until recently, I was really uncomfortable with having success and enjoying it,” Mendes says. “I just couldn’t deal with that. How can I have so much? It’s not fair. How can the world have so little?…I allowed it to mess with me in the sense that I just didn’t know how to handle it.”

Things are different now. “I’ve really broken it down to this simple thing: I deal with everything by giving it away,” Mendes explains. “It’s genius. It works.”

She literally gives things away, like the new pair of Cartier sunglasses she insisted an elderly friend of hers keep when she tried them on. “I said, ‘You need to have them. They look really good on you,’ ” Mendes says.

[From E! Online]

Mendes also talked about her group of female friends and how they’ve helped her get through problems and mentioned the boyfriend she rarely talks about, filmmaker George Augusto, saying he understands her as he’s from a family of five sisters:

In director and writer Diane English’s upcoming The Women, Mendes plays Crystal Allen, a smokin’ hot Saks salesgirl having an affair with married businessman Stephen Haines. Like Stephen’s wife Mary (Meg Ryan), Mendes credits the women in her life for getting her through the tough (and happy) times. “I’ve run into some women in my life who are like, ‘I don’t have any girl friends. I only have guy friends,’” Mendes says. “And I’m like to the guys, ‘Run for the hills when you hear a girl who says she only has guy friends.’ That is a bad situation, because all women should have their base of girls.”

Where does that leave her longtime filmmaker boyfriend George Augusto? “He actually grew up with all women in his family,” Mendes says. “His mom has five sisters, so he gets it.”

[From E! Online]

Mendes next stars in The Women with Meg Ryan, Annette Benning and Jada Pinkett Smith. There are no men shown in the film, just like the 1939 original version it’s based on. Mendes joked that she pictured someone specific when thinking about the married man her bombshell character is having an affair with but says she can’t say who he was because “Those are secrets of the trade.” The Women is out the US on September 12.

Here are photos from the premiere of The Women last night also featuring Meg Ryan, Annette Benning and Warren Beatty, Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith, Debra Messing, Candice Bergen, Cloris Leachman, and Debi Mazar. Credit: Juan Rico/Fame Pictures

I have clearly been living in New York for too long. I’ve just become jaded and unable to be shocked. Because I just watched Eva Mendes’ new advertisement for Calvin Klein’s Secret Obsession and didn’t think anything of it. But apparently the ad is so racy that it’s been banned from American television. There is a teeny bitof nipple at a few points, but my eyes must be getting worse because I didn’t see anything all that offensive. But I guess it’s still just way too shocking for any of us to even think about viewing.

What a waste. Spoilsport American TV network bosses have banned this advert featuring EVA MENDES for being TOO sexy. In the steamy commercial for Calvin Klein’s Secret Obsession perfume, the gorgeous actress writhes topless on a bed.

Eva admitted she was “thrilled” that the ad was considered too saucy for US broadcast. Eva, 33, said: “I love it. That means the ads are totally Calvin, totally provocative and a little controversial.” She continued: “In the commercial you’ll see me rolling around in bed a lot, that’s basically all I do. I have been a fan of Calvin Klein’s Obsession ads since I can remember.” She added: “I love to feel super-feminine. I love dresses and skirts and dislike jeans. I think what makes a woman sexy is confidence.”

Creative Director of the advert Fabien Baron said: “This country really needs a new president — this country is so messed up. It’s such a joke and it’s quite upsetting, frankly, how hypocritical this country has become. It’s OK for children to see people killed by guns? Spreading a little love right now would be a good idea. She is being a little sexy, but they are not provocative.”

[From The Sun]

While I’d totally agree that this country needs a new president, I seriously doubt George Bush had much to do with the banning of these ads. A new head of the FCC would be nice. This has a lot more to do with some overly-restrictive government body that’s had nothing to do since Nipplegate officially wrapped up a few weeks ago.

I can kind of understand why this shouldn’t be shown on Nickelodeon and maybe during certain hours where young children are most likely to be watching television. But I don’t think it’s that sensationally raunchy that it needs to be banned altogether.

Here is the video; it’s obviously sorta SFW.

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.