Quote Of The Day By Eva Mendes 'It's Flattering That People Think I'm Sexy, But...'

Although Eva Mendes is a renowned beauty in Hollywood, she's long since established that she's more than that. She wanted others to see her as more than just a pretty face, which is evident even during the beginning of her career. Born in 1974 to Cuban immigrant parents, Mendes' early life was marked by economic challenges as her family worked hard to survive. While Mendes didn't seem to have aspirations for acting, she decided to risk it after piquing the interest of a talent manager. 

Despite facing racism, Mendes wasn't deterred. She even had the self-awareness to improve her acting skills to win better roles rather than rely on her looks alone, and it certainly paid off. She got her big break in 2001's "Training Day" alongside Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke. Her career took off after that, starring in films such as "The Place Beyond the Pines," "Ghost Rider," and "The Other Guys." 

Although Mendes retired from acting in 2014, she has instead focused her energies on raising her children with husband Ryan Gosling. However, her time in Hollywood has shown her that physical appearance doesn't matter in the long run, which is why she is our quote of the day.

"It's flattering that people think I'm sexy, but it's not the end-all, be-all. The minute I put my self-esteem on what they think I am, I'm screwed, because one day they're not going to think I'm sexy. You know what I mean? It's just going to be like that. That's just life — especially in this industry. If I based my self-esteem on their perception of me, I'd be screwed, and it would lead to a very unhappy life." Eva Mendes said these words in an exclusive sit-down with Interview, where she responded to the interviewer's query on her status as a recognized sex symbol. 

While Eva Mendes has worn some spicy outfits over the years and is confident in her looks, she doesn't put much stock in her appearance. In fact, Mendes outright advises us not to care what others may or may not think of you, and it's definitely something worth thinking about.

Although Hollywood has certainly fostered a culture of being obsessed with celebrities and how they look, Eva Mendes' quote basically says that none of that matters at all. In fact, Mendes said that caring about how others think about your appearance will not bring you happiness. And while she's appreciative of all the compliments, Mendes is aware opinions could change on the flip of a dime whether it's due to aging, or the constantly changing beauty trends.

And Mendes is very conscious of how the entire Hollywood machine works, where stars come and go all the time. Mendes encourages us to look inside of ourselves for contentment. The first step is self-acceptance and that only we have the power to give ourselves some peace of mind, not society, and definitely not other people. In short, we should do things that give us joy and feel however we want to feel, rather than looking to others for permission to be happy with ourselves.

• "When the bread basket comes to the table and I have a bite, people are like, 'Oh, you eat bread?' I say, 'Oh, my God, of course I eat bread. I'm human.'"
• "It was the furthest thing from my mind. Ryan Gosling happened. I mean, falling in love with him. Then it made sense for me to have ... not kids, but his kids. It was very specific to him."
• "I might act like it's an accident but the opposite is true. I'm incredibly calculated when it comes to my career."
• "I was never in love with acting. I don't mean this in a self-deprecating way, but I wasn't a great actress. I had my moments when I worked with really great people."
• "I love it, but it's not important to me to always be thought of as sexy. I like it when it doesn't limit my career. It's a part of my life, but on a secondary plane."