Last Tuesday, Cuban-American actress Eva Mendes shared a reel on her Instagram account that has already garnered over 609,000 views. In it, she recounts a hilarious story featuring her Cuban mother, Eva Pérez Suárez, and the film Rocky.
In the 28-second clip, Mendes humorously narrates how her mother questions why the character Rocky in her husband Ryan Gosling's latest movie, Project Hail Mary, doesn't have eyes or a face—prompted by seeing a stone alien figure—which sets the stage for the entire anecdote. The reel's caption, written in Mendes' signature spanglish, reads: "Mi Mami wondering why Rocky no tiene ojos or a face…".
Mendes amusingly admits in the recording, "I'm not sure if other Cuban moms are like this, but when she watches a movie, you have to convince her." Though she leaves the sentence unfinished, the comedic intent is clear to her followers.
The video quickly amassed 54,842 likes and 1,309 comments, many from women of the Cuban diaspora who immediately related to the scene. One follower summed up the general sentiment by writing, "Do we all have the same Cuban mom?"
A Legacy of Humor and Heritage
This reel is part of a recurring theme for Mendes, who has been sharing humorous and touching moments featuring her mother on social media for years. In 2018, she described her mother on Instagram in three words: "Madre. Inmigrante. Badass." On another occasion, she called her "the toughest and strongest woman I know," a "warrior" and a "survivor."
Born on March 5, 1974, in Miami, Florida, Eva Mendes is the daughter of Cuban immigrants Eva Pérez Suárez and Juan Carlos Méndez. She is the only one of her four siblings born in the United States. After her parents' divorce, she moved with her mother to the Silver Lake neighborhood in Los Angeles. Mendes describes herself as fully Cuban and fully American.
Cuban Roots in a Modern Family
Cuban heritage remains a strong presence in her household with Ryan Gosling. Her mother speaks Spanish to her granddaughters, Esmeralda Amada and Amada Lee, and cooks traditional Cuban dishes for them. In April 2024, when Gosling mimicked a Cuban accent on Saturday Night Live, Mendes excitedly posted on Instagram: "¡Coño! My Cuban Papi made this Cuban Mami so happy with this!!".
The reel comes just two weeks after Gosling surprised Mendes on The Tonight Show to celebrate her 52nd birthday, a moment that also went viral. Nonetheless, for Eva Mendes, the real star of her Instagram remains her Cuban mother, to whom she dedicated heartfelt words on her 82nd birthday: "I love you, mami, you are my queen."
Eva Mendes' Connection to Her Cuban Heritage
How does Eva Mendes incorporate her Cuban heritage into her family life?
Eva Mendes ensures that her Cuban roots are alive in her home by having her mother speak Spanish to her children and prepare Cuban dishes, maintaining a strong cultural presence.
What is the significance of Eva Mendes' Instagram reel about her mother?
The Instagram reel is significant because it highlights the humorous and relatable aspects of having a Cuban mother, resonating with many of Mendes' followers who share similar cultural backgrounds.