Eva Mendesis a formidable figure.
After all, the 50-year-old actress has been a Hollywood elite for decades.
But when I speak to her via phone, I forget all that.
Its clear that Mendess main priority right now is raising her two daughtersaged seven and ninewith Gosling.
Shes a working mom who has pivoted in her career and is still building what that all looks like.
I dont have it figured out, she tells me.
I dont have balance.
I have no idea what the wordbalancemeans.
I think maybe Ill have to be okay just kind of being imbalanced for a while.
Maybe that part of it is figuring that out.
Part of this new chapter?
The reason why is simple: She loves doing the dishes.
Its one of the little things in life that I just love.
Mendes is now the co-owner of Skura Style and just released an exclusive line of sponges shedesigned at Target.
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What made you want to get involved?
Eva Mendes:Ive always loved cleaning.
Ive always specifically loved cleaning the kitchen.
I thought it was a Cuban thing.
My mom and my sisters and my aunts love to clean, love to do the dishes.
The way I grew up, it was never a chore.
So it was always this kind of emotional bonding experience, especially when people were around.
I never saw it as a chore.
I would put my music on and keep the tradition.
Whats your best advice for achieving that?
Its definitely giving up that idea that its always going to be clean.
Thats just impossible with kids.
Now I just engage them in the activities, and it makes it more fun.
It can be a bonding experienceinclude them when you’ve got the option to.
That makes me feel better because I hold myself to such a high standard and feel bad.
And then its like, You know what?
Every mom feels this.
No, every mom feels that.
Thats why I am really not okay with the whole supermom thing that people assign certain mothers.
Every mother is a supermom.
Every mother is doing the best that they can.
There are certain areas I thrive in.
I enjoy cleaning and keeping a clean house, but Im a terrible cook.
I really feel bad.
That wasn’t me during the pandemic, and it’s not me now.
I have my strengths, and cooking isnt one of them.
It doesnt mean I take them to the drive-through every day.
Thats not what Im saying.
I think a lot of women pivot in their career when they become moms.
How has that transition been for you?
That gotnot twisted, but taken out of context because I meant it was almost a no-brainer.
It was very clear to me that I didnt want to be away from the kids.
Acting takes you on location for months.
But I still wanted to work.
So I had to get creative about what that work was going to be.
I think the sentiment you expressed is pretty relatable.
What do you want people to understand about what you were trying to say?
Oh, I just saw these quotes that there was a nonverbal agreement.
It didnt just happen.
There was a lot of thought on my end on what I wanted to do with my life.
It was just that it got misinterpreted, but whatever.
There are worse things.
I think your experience is pretty common, and a lot of parents reevaluate their priorities.
How did you decide what this next chapter would look like?
Ive always been a hustler.
Ive always had side hustles; my mom instilled in me since I was a little girl.
Im a first-generation American, my familys Cuban.
So I have that embedded.
Ive always just felt like, Okay, whats next?
How can I make a business out of something that I love?
Let me just try.
Ive not been scared to try things.
Im actually fearful of not trying something and then living in regret.
What else have you tried?
I designed dresses for a while and I did various things.
I endorsed certain beauty companies, and then I found the sponges during the pandemic.
I love when my kitchen is clean, specifically my kitchen.
I just feel better.
Its definitely reflective of how Im feeling on the inside when my kitchen is a disaster.
When I can just clean my kitchen, its just so fun.
And Im also nocturnal, so I enjoy staying up and having that time for myself.
I understand that not everybody does, but I do enjoy that.
I dont enjoy waking up in the morning.
Thats not my time to shine.
So I never want to wake up and do the dishes.
I want to wake up to clean dishes.
Youve also written a childrens bookDesi, Mami, and the Never-Ending Worrieswhich will bereleasedSeptember 17.
What was your journey to becoming an author?
Yeah, I didnt want to be another celebrity with the kids book.
They have these worries, and we go through it together.
And I just thought, If Im going through this, definitely there are other moms going through this.
So I wanted to share my story and I thought, How fun.
It happened so quickly.
Everybody was super shocked, including myself.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Stephanie McNeal is a senior editor atGlamourand the authorofSwipe Up for More!
Inside the Unfiltered Lives of Influencers.
