Eva Mendes, the female lead actress in the newly released crime drama We Own The Night, also starring Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Wahlberg, was in town this week and we sat down for a chat about school bullies, the always chipper Will Smith, depression rituals, spirituality, charity and steamy love scenes.

EVA: I was actually born in Miami, but I was raised in Los Angeles.

I love it here, there is nothing like a Miami night, it is so beautiful. From the ages of 13 to 19 it was so hard for me. I just really had a hard time in high school. I was one of those girls that was really fake and I wanted to be popular. I stopped studying and started getting into boys. I am not saying that is wrong, but I wasn’t happy... I wasn’t a happy teenager at all.

I was very conflicted, I think, like most teenagers. I realized that I didn’t like myself. I think it’s just... you go through it. I learned trial by error. You just kinda like, grow up. I met a guy who really made me feel confident about myself and really helped bring my inner self out.

But I think it’s just growing up. I still have that 15 year-old that is very insecure inside me. I think that everyone has that time in their life, and for me it was 15. I was kinda becoming a woman and I didn’t understand it. I had feelings of self-loathing. I still have that, but now I just get to utilize it because I am an actress.

Q: What advice do you give young adults who are troubled?

EVA: Honestly, the first thing that comes to mind is that this too shall pass. I promise you for all those teenagers out there that are going through the funky time.

I was like the type who hated going to school, I had a bully after me, I would make up stuff that I was sick and I wouldn’t go to school. You know what that’s like— thinking you are going to get your ass kicked everyday?

It was so terrible. Oh, and these girls...they would tell me they were getting me after school and I couldn’t even concentrate. Now that I’m an adult and I can think back...but it still affects me. When you are a kid and you have that threat, you are scared and if you are not a fighter... I am not a fighter.

Q: In We Own The Night, as Amanda, you make the statement from the script, “Sometimes the walls are closing in on me.” In real life do you ever feel that way?

EVA: Personally, I don’t feel that way. I don’t feel happy all the time, but I don’t feel the walls are closing in. I am very moody, I am an actress, and I am a woman. You know those moods. I accept that I am not going to be chipper all the time.

We are not all Will Smith. I’ve worked with him a lot (Hitch). We are friends, and I’m a friend of Jada, and the whole thing. I’m telling you—that guy (Smith)—he’s superhuman. He does not get upset—does not get down. I am like, "How can I be like you?" He’s not on medication, so it’s not like that. But, I definitely go up and down, absolutely I get depressed.

Q: So what do you do when you get depressed?

EVA: I stay in bed and I watch television. I watch Oprah and I cry and I order pizza. I just sulk...

Q: Are you a spiritual person?

EVA: Yes I am spiritual. Although I am not really Religious Religious Religious.

Q: Do you believe in fate?

EVA: Yes, but that’s a tricky one for me. I really do believe that there aren’t any accidents. I didn’t believe that when I was younger, and now I think it is an easier way to live life. It makes me a happier person to know that it's all kinda...like it's going to work itself out.

So, I guess I do believe in fate. But I do not believe in that "romantic" notion. I think that it all unravels the way it should. You have to trust the universe sometimes. Sometimes I fight so hard to make this happen and make that happen, and do this and do that, and it's like—you know what— when I just relax and kinda breathe and let everything just happen on its own it’s much easier that way—when you just go with it.

Q: In We Own The Night you go to your mother when you feel there is trouble. Is that what you do in real life? And did you bond with the actress as if it were your mom?

EVA: It’s pretty much exactly the same...like when I was shooting that scene when I kinda leave and go see my (actress) mom. You know we did a lot of improvisation, and I got to tell you, it is so funny because that’s pretty much me—how I act with my mom.

It’s like I make fun of her and we goof around and I don’t cook, but I help her cook, and I hand her everything. I love that woman—she is a wonderful actress and we bonded certainly, and it is pretty much how I am with my mom. It is so funny!

Q: In We Own The Night you have to have an intimate love scene with Joaquin. Did you have any problems with doing it?

EVA: I was really, really nervous. It was my first love scene. Thank God my director James Gray (filmed it) at the end of (my shooting for) the movie so that Joaquin’s character and I established all this really great history with the characters, and then we did that (the intimate love scene).

It was done in the morning and I kept stalling. I started getting a little teary eyed (but) I said to myself—I just have to do this. So then James and Joaquin looked at each other and said lets get her a drink. I said no, there is no way, I am a professional and I am not drinking.

So we did the first half of the scene and I was so nervous and stiff that I thought I would put a little vodka in my orange juice.Honestly, it was just to take the edge off, by no means was I buzzed or anything like that. Because then it would be a whole other problem. I have to maintain and take care of myself. But it helped cut the edge, and you know, working with such professionals (also) really helped.

Q: What was it like working opposite Joaquin Phoenix in We Own The Night? Did you have to prepare differently than in the other films in which you've acted?

EVA: I was all about rehearsal, and I was over prepared, literally. It’s basically what I did (over prepare). It was so great working with Denzel Washington (Training Day) early on I my career 'cause Joaquin reminded me of Denzel in a way as far as the intensity they both have.

When I worked with Denzel I realized early on that if I faltered on a line, (or) if I am not clear and totally over prepared, he is going to eat me up alive. So I had to be on it and that really helped prepare me for working with (Joaquin).

Q: What did you discover about yourself from the role of Amanda in We Are The Night?

EVA: I think I discovered that I really enjoy drama. And I really want to go farther and do more. I got a little taste of going to the dark side and I want to go darker. I try to personalize as much as possible and use my life experiences as much as possible to incorporate that into the character.

You know (I cannot turn on crying, it’s the way I am trained), if you told me to cry right now I couldn’t. It is not like that for me. I have to get into a head space and it is hard to get out of that head space after those darker scenes. I have to be in there and after that I just can’t turn it off. I go home and I am just like moping around.

Q: What do you do to serve the community?

EVA: I have a charity that is very close to my heart. I am on the committee of a charity called The Art of Elysium. What we do is bring art into hospital wards for children that are battling life-threatening diseases. Some of these kids can't even speak, but you make this connection with them. It is the most rewarding thing I have done in my life.

If you would like to learn more about Eva Mendes’s favorite charity please go to www.theartofelysium.org .

Comments

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Jason   |2007-10-20 21:08:04 I'd like to have a conversation with her.. Reply 0   0

Jasmin   |2007-10-12 16:05:45 This is a really great interview! I really lke Eva. Thanks! Reply 0   0

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