There are two things I know for sure: Ken loves Barbie, and Ryan Gosling loves Eva Mendes. The couple met on the movie set for The Place Beyond the Pines in 2011, and have created such a beautiful life together! Eva's just as excited for the Christmas remix of "I'm Just Ken" as we are, and Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes' constant support of one another is making us think back on all their cutest moments. Once you're done reliving their relationship, check out the latest news on Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling's kids too!
A Full Timeline Of Ryan Gosling And Eva Mendes' Relationship
Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images
August 2011 — Ryan Gosling And Eva Mendes Meet During The Place Beyond The Pines
Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes took a chance at romance after they played a couple in 2011's The Place Beyond The Pines. Once they were linked, they were seen walking around Disneyland "like a dating couple, [walking] very closely, holding hands and their arms touching side-by-side," according to a PEOPLE eyewitness.
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for SXSW
November + December 2011 — Ryan Gosling And Eva Mendes Spend The Holidays Together
During Thanksgiving in 2011, Eva Mendes was filming Holly Motors in Paris, so Ryan Gosling took a trip to the City of Lights so they could spend the holiday together. They also ended up going on Funny or Die's Drunk History Christmas the next month to reenact a 21+ version of The Night Before Christmas *and* spent New Year's together!
Sonia Recchia/Getty Images
September 7, 2012 — Ryan Gosling And Eva Mendes Attend The Toronto International Film Festival Together
To promote The Place Beyond the Pines, Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes spent a lot of time together on the TIFF red carpet. Years later in 2019, when Kelly Clarkson pulled up the picture, Eva couldn't help but gush over Ryan — especially since they hadn't announced they were dating at the time. “Oh my God, that’s so old," she says of the photo. "That’s literally me going, ‘I’m not in love with him. What? I’m not in love.’ ‘Cause we were trying to be very professional."
Warner Bros. Pictures
May 2014 — Ryan Gosling And Eva Mendes Work Together On Lost River
Ryan and Eva reunited on a film set again for Lost River, which was both Ryan's directorial debut and served as a semi-autobiographical story for him. "For me, it was crucial to work in this intimate, low-budget, small way, with people I had worked with before, because I feel like in my experience that’s where everyone was at their best," Ryan tells Sunday Style (via Mangalorean). "They know what is at stake for you personally, and all the work that’s gone into getting there."
Eva also told her Instagram followers in a since-deleted postthat Lost River is the project she's most proud of. "There was one film I'm extra proud to be a part of," she said. "A dark fairy tale. A magical fantasy. To all the struggling single mothers, to all of us in cities that feel like they're burning down or flooding around us, to everyone fighting for the ones they love, this was a good one."
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
September 12, 2014 — Eva Mendes Gives Birth To Their First Child
Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes welcomed Esmerelda Amada Gosling into the world in September of 2014. Eva later said that she didn't even want kids until she got together with Ryan. "I was lucky enough to work my bum off for 20 years," she tells Nova 96.9's Fitzy & Wippa (via PEOPLE). "I never wanted babies before until I fell in love with Ryan, and it kind of worked out to where I was 40 and having my first baby. I think I was 42 for the second one, so it worked out in that way that I had a career and then I change my focus to my family."
Ryan also went on to tell GQ in 2023 that he was in a similar place before meeting Eva. "I wasn’t thinking about kids before I met her, but after I met Eva, I realized that I just didn’t want to have kids without her," he says. "And there were moments on The Place Beyond the Pines where we were pretending to be a family, and I didn’t really want it to be pretend anymore." I could cry!!
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
December 7, 2015 — Ryan Gosling Gives A Rare Interview About His Relationship
While Ryan and Eva have kept their relationship very private, he told Hello! that "I know that I'm with the person I'm supposed to be with" and that literally the only quality he looks for in a woman is "That she's Eva Mendes. There's nothing else I'm looking for." Swoon!
Brad Barket/Getty Images
April 29, 2016 — Ryan Gosling And Eva Mendes Have Their Second Child
Eva Mendes gave birth to her and Ryan's second baby, a daughter named Amada Lee Gosling, in April 2016 — after keeping the pregnancy a secret until it was almost time to deliver! Amada is named after Eva's grandma.
Paul Drinkwater/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
January 8, 2017 — Ryan Gosling Dedicates His La La Land Golden Globe To Eva Mendes' Brother
While accepting his Golden Globe for Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Ryan Gosling made sure to let the world know just how much of a role Eva had played in the process. “I would like to try and thank one person properly, and say that while I was singing and dancing and playing piano,” he says in his speech, “my lady was raising our daughter, pregnant with our second and trying to help her brother with his battle with cancer.”
Eva's brother, Juan Carlos Mendes, had passed away the previous April and Ryan took the opportunity to dedicate the award to him.
Dominique Charriau/Getty Images
February 12, 2020 — Eva Mendes Reveals Ryan Gosling Is A Great Cook
When an Instagram account asked what Eva and Ryan liked to cook, Eva revealed just how amazing Ryan is with food. "Ryan is an amazing chef AND baker," she says in her reply. "For reals. Incredible. No joke. I'm not sure that what I do is cooking. It's more like steaming veggies and juicing and making rice. He really cooks. I survive." Can I get Ryan Gosling to make me a meal sometime?
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
January 1, 2022 — Ryan Gosling Shares About Their Quarantine Life
“Time, in general, is something I think about a lot now. My kids are growing up so fast I need to keep an eye on the clock in a way I never used to,” Ryan Gosling tells GQ. “I feel like I need more time to process [how much the pandemic played into that]. But [Eva and I] have two kids, so we spend a lot of our time trying to keep them entertained.”
While they enjoyed their time together, Ryan's also candid about the effect of lockdown on their children: “Our kids were at a difficult age not to be able to see other kids and interact with people, even though Eva and I did our best.”
Jaap Buitendijk/Warner Bros. Pictures.
June 2022 — Eva Mendes Embraces The Kenergy
When the world went crazy for every bit of Barbie news, so did Eva Mendes. "So. F. Funny," she says in an Instagram caption sharing the first look at Ryan Gosling's Ken. "So. F. Good. So F excited for you to see this…#Thatsmyken."
"It's a funny photo and he's trying to be funny, so it worked on all levels," she goes on to say on The Talk. "But when I saw it, when he sent it to me from work, I was like, 'Can I please have that underwear? Please, I never ask for anything'...So, anyway, I do have it. I'm wearing it right now."
Eva Mendes/Instagram
November 2022 — Eva Mendes Begins Dropping Hints She Married Ryan Gosling
When Eva showed off a new tattoo on her wrist in November of 2022 on Instagram, fans immediately began dissecting its meaning. The tattoo, which reads "de Gosling" (which is similar to Mrs. Gosling) could mean that Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes are actually married! She went on to tell Today in Australia (via DailyMail) that "Everyone is so welcoming here and my husband Ryan is here, and we are having the best time." 👀
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for SiriusXM
August 9, 2023 — Ryan Gosling And Eva Mendes Love Family Time
In the midst of crazy release schedules and commitments (not to mention the actors' strike), Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes always prioritize their family life. "When they are not working, they are all about their girls," a source tells People. "Ryan is such a fun dad. He is goofy and his girls love it." The source continues by saying the family loves to go to the beach or the desert (same TBH).
Warner Bros Pictures.
December 18, 2023 — Eva Mendes Can't Wait For The "I'm Just Ken" Christmas Remix
If the original version of "I'm Just Ken" wasn't good enough, Ryan Gosling is blessing us with a Christmas remix — and Eva Mendes is just as excited as we are. "Ken not wait for this," she says in an Instagram caption.
Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Warner Bros.
January 13, 2024 — Ryan Gosling Mentions His Family During His Acceptance Speech
At the 2024 Santa Barbra International Film Festival, Ryan Gosling won the Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film — and he totally deserves it! With a career that includes iconic films like La La Land and Barbie, as well as The Notebook, Blade Runner 2049, and Crazy Stupid Love, all kinds of film lovers have gotten to see Ryan's work onscreen. During his acceptance speech, Ryan got choked up talking about how acting allowed him to meet "the girl of [his] dreams."
"I dreamed of one day making movies and now movies have made my life a dream," he says in his speech. "So the way I see it, there's no way I have contributed half as much to cinema as cinema's contributed to me."
Jaap Buitendijk/Warner Bros. Entertainment
January 24, 2024 — Eva Mendes Celebrates Ryan Gosling's Oscar Nomination
After the Oscar nominations were announced January 23, Eva Mendes took to Instagram to celebrate Ryan Gosling's nomination for Best Supporting Actor. "So proud of my man. So much hate when he took on this role," she says alongside screenshots of the first (very negative) reviews of his casting. "So many people trying to shame him for doing it. Despite all the #Notmyken ridicule and articles written about him, he created this completely original, hilarious, heartbreaking, now iconic character and took it all the way to Oscars. So beyond proud to be this Ken’s Barbie."
Caroline McCredie/Getty Image
February 22, 2014 - Eva Mendes Announces Upcoming Children's Book
Yesterday Eva Mendes shared with People that she's penned a children's book named Desi, Mami, and the Never-Ending Worries that'll debut September 17. It's all about a little girl who's always worried that her scary brain is the real monster she's afraid of at night. Through gentle reminders, Desi's mom helps her understand that being afraid is normal and teaches her how not to let scary thoughts control her.
Eva Mendes told People the books is like "a love letter to my kids and yours" because "...Learning how to train our brain to work for us and not against us is easier said than done!" Since we know racing thoughts doesn't just affect adults, we love that Eva is finding a way to share some of her parenting tips with other parents.
Order Eva Mendes' Children's Book:
Amazon
Eva Mendes/Instagram
March 10, 2024 — Eva Mendes Celebrates Ryan Gosling's Oscars Performance
Eva Mendes celebrated the Oscars on March 10 with a post highlighting Ryan Gosling's performance, and his entire run as Ken! "You took Ken all the way to the Oscar’s, RG," she says on Instagram. "Now come home, we need to put the kids to bed."
We love the way this couple can have fun with each other — and highlight how much teamwork parenthood requires!
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
March 13, 2024 — Ryan Gosling Details How Eva Mendes And Their Daughters Helped Him Prepare For His Oscars Performance
Leave it to Ryan Gosling not to take credit for his amazing Oscars performance. He gushed to People about how Eva Mendes and their daughters helped him make sure his Kenergy truly shined bright. "They are such a huge part of this for me...it was my girl's interest in Barbie and disinterest in Ken that got me into this in the first place. It was beautiful to have them there at the end," he said.
As we all saw, the unmistakable Kenergy was in full force and effect during the Oscars.
Eva Mendes/Instagram
March 26, 2024 — Eva Mendes Says It Was A "No Brainer" To Stay Home With Her Kids
Deciding how to maintain a work-home balance when you have kids is something every parent thinks about, and it turns out that extends to celebs, too! After starring with Ryan Gosling in The Place Beyond The Pines, Eva Mendes decided it was a "no brainer" to stay home with their family since acting can take you all over the world, which the actress revealed in a recent episode of The Today Show. “It was almost just like a non-verbal agreement that it was like, ‘Ok, he’s going to work and I’m going to work, I’m just going to work here,'” she says. She also says she's “so lucky” to “have this time with [their] children.”
“I have never experienced anything like [working with Ryan Gosling]. The way he works, his commitment to his craft, how he wants to make everything as best as it can be, and that means making his co-stars as best as they can be,” she continues. “But unfortunately — or fortunately — there is only one Ryan!"
Eva Mendes/Instagram
April 1, 2024 — Eva Mendes Says Her Daughters Make Everything Better
After losing her brother in 2016, Eva Mendes says she has a "complicated relationship" with the month of April — but that her daughters make it infinitely more bearable. "[April 2] would have been my brother’s birthday," she says on Instagram. "In a couple of weeks from now is the day we lost him…but then, the end of April we got the biggest blessing of all, my little girl was born 8 years ago. I hate you April. But I love you more."
Will Heath/NBC
April 13, 2024 — Ryan Gosling Hosts SNL
During his latest stint hosting SNL, Ryan Gosling did a hilarious sketch about a man who picks up a Cuban accent after getting married to a Cuban woman. Eva Mendes was all over it! "Coño! My Cuban Papi made this Cuban Mami so happy with this!!" Eva wrote on Instagram. "Years of hanging out with my Dad paid off."
Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images
May 1, 2024 — Ryan Gosling Is The Ultimate Support System For Eva Mendes
Eva Mendes is not here for the mom-shamers. She told People (in honor of its 2024 Beautiful Issue) that staying home to focus on Ryan Gosling and her kids was the "easiest decision I've ever made" because she wanted to be there for their formative childhood years.
"When I was 40, it was a big deal for people when I was pregnant, and it wasn't for me," she says. "And then I was 42 and I was pregnant with my second one and people were like, 'Oh my God, you're going to be so tired. That's why people have kids in their 20s.' I was like, that's the most sorry, asinine thing I've ever heard."
"[Ryan supports me] in all the ways I need to be supported," she continues. "He's got me in all the ways."
Universal Pictures
May 16, 2024 — Eva Mendes Celebrates The Fall Guy
Eva Mendes just made a post she NEVER makes in honor of how much she loved The Fall Guy (relatable!). The actress posted the poster, which features Emily Blunt with Ryan Gosling on Instagram.
"Did you know?! @thefallguymovie is the FIRST non super hero movie to open the summer box office in 17 years!" she says. "And maybe it didn’t break the box office but it broke sooo many other records. I’m extra proud of this one. The proof is in my post-I don’t usually post pics of my man kissing a babe but Emily Blunt is just that d-mn good in it. THEY’RE that d-mn good in it. Viva el fall guy!"
Eva Mendes/Instagram
August 4, 2024 — Eva Mendes And Ryan Gosling Appear At The 2024 Paris Olympics With Their Daughters
Team USA has been winning medals left and right, but Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes' family briefly stole the show yesterday.
The couple and their daughters were spotted watching Suni Lee, Qui Qiyuan, and Kayloa Nemour take score big at the gymnastics uneven bars final. After that, the couple enjoyed the Equestrian Dressage Individual Grand Prix Freestyle event. (via E! News).
The cute photos of them on X show Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes looking totally engrossed in the events they attended, but I can't help but notice how cute they look! Their casual styles complement each other and make me want to ask where they got their sunglasses from.
I don't know if they'll make another appearance in the future so I'm going to cherish how good Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes looked during their rare outing.
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
October 20, 2024 — Eva Mendes Reveals The One Thing Ryan Gosling Does To Make Her Feel Sexier
In an interview with The Sunday Times, Eva Mendes revealed that Ryan Gosling makes her feel sexier just by "the way my man looks at me."
"At times I’m like, ‘Oh, my God,'" she says. "So much of how I feel is a reflection of what he’s giving me. There’s so many things that can make me feel sexy and I’d say that I feel more sexy than not. I guess because I’ve never considered myself beautiful, but I’ve always felt very sexy.”
While she claims she's never been a "great" actress, she says that working with Ryan gets "something out of me that’s never been accessible before.”
And, apparently, she also helped him bring the ultimate Kenergy to the Barbie movie set. “I would just simplify everything," she says. "I’m like, ‘Just make Barbie notice you, that’s what Ken is all about.’ So then there was this desperation. He really loved that. I’d remind him, as he’s literally walking out the door, ‘Make Barbie notice you, make Barbie fall in love with you.’”
The actress and author also reveals the "extreme" rule they've instated for their kids: no social media or smartphones. “Putting my kid on the internet and being like, ‘Oh, search something,’ that to me is equivalent to telling her, ‘Oh, just go down the street in the middle of the night. You’ll be fine,’” she says. “I know that sounds extreme, but that’s what I feel.”
Check back here for the latest news on Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes, and don't forget to read up on Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce's Relationship and Tom Holland and Zendaya. :)
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This post has been updated.