No Laughing Matter
Filed under: Drugs > Eva Mendes
Eva Mendes, who spent time in rehab earlier this year, opens up in a revealing interview in the new issue of Interview magazine about substance abuse and addiction.
Rehab is not a joke or something to be made fun of, at least not to her.
Interview's 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.
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.
wow. my respect toward her grew. she has realized that she messed up and she takes the situation very seriously. she has learned things and wants the message to get out that it may not be so terrible to go to rehab…rehab focuses on turning your life around and tries to prevent future use of drugs. this interview made me like her more.
OMG
your not in the fucking media because NOBODY cares about you!!
Like what a bitch show some damn class.
Yeah she speaks her mind, everyone's entitled to that, but just because people go see her movies doesn't MAKE you a better actor. It MIGHT mean that you're a good actor becasue people want to see you, but then again it could also be a bunch of pubescent teenaged boys (or girls) going to see you prance around in booty shorts.
Re: Skizz –
yeah his jokes were a little distasteful but he started off with one and she attacked him a little bit, i'm not saying she didn't have a right, but she did kinda pounce. He was just trying to defend himself afterwards and straighten things out. He may have started it but she kept it going.
She answered the questions honestly and with the voice of someone who understands addiction, and the courage it takes to admit to it, and do something about it. However, her supposed naivety surrounding the role of the paparazzi and celebrity culture was a bit hard to take. They feed off eachother. The paps help them to become famous with their pix, but make money out of them at the same time. Time and time again we hear "celebs" who feel they have made it complain about the publicity they attract, when on the way up, they courted it at every opportunity. As for the picture of her, she looks like Alice Cooper in his bad days. Perhaps not a good choice when her own demons were the same as his!
Note to Eva: Grow up & don't act like such a stupid idiot!!! You wanted to be rich & famous . . . you're going to be in the spotlight. So, yes people are going to take pictures of you at the supermarket, etc. How can you be "confused" about this? And if you don't want to draw attention to your self, don't take fugly pictures with your tongue sticking out for magazine covers & don't do stupid interviews like this!!!!!!!
what she said was so cliche and DEFENSIVE.
I'm not saying that the celebrity-obssessive culture is right.
she indirectly criticized an actress for being proud of not going to rehab.
I neither liked her or hated her. but this interview made her look like a narrow minded defensive allegedly former addict.
I don't know what your fascination with this Eva Mendez is, other than she is Cuban. What movies has she made lately or ever that people even remember? She's kind of a minus triple Z lister. She has bad teeth, she is common-looking, she is not attractive. What gives?
She's so full of shit. If celebrities don't want to be around the pazz stay away. there are a lot of celebrities you don't know jack about, Just the info release to the media,Eva whatever your problem is/was if couldn't been handled in the short you spend in rehab!
The highlight was unnecessary.
wow, she really needs to relax. she acts like she had this near death experience when all that happened was she got caught with drugs and instead of saying- so? she freaked and went to rehab so she wouldnt look like amy winehouse. damn. bitch needs to get over herself.
Eva Mendes should write a book, an autobiography, the title should be "It's Hard Out Here For A Stupid Beaner Prostitute". Fuckin stupid wetback whore makes me sick. I hope she gets cancer in her tetas, that stupid fuckin spick
I agree that the interviewer really boffed it with that "joke".
that interviewer is so stupid!
i'd still put it in her