<p id=”par-1_38″><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/actors/”>Actor</a> Denzel Washington has worked alongside<em> </em><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/eva-mendes-originally-turned-hitch-wasnt-serious-actors.html/”><em>Hitch </em>star Eva Mendes</a> twice in their careers. The first time they collaborated proved to be a life-changing experience for Mendes, who wasn’t too thrilled with her film career at the time.</p>
<h2 id=”h-eva-mendes-was-fed-up-with-acting-before-starring-in-training-day”>Eva Mendes was fed up with acting before starring in ‘Training Day’</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-1″><img decoding=”async” loading=”lazy” width=”1200″ height=”800″ src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Eva-Mendes-Denzel-Washington.jpg?strip=all&quality=89″ alt=”Eva Mendes posing in a dress at the New York and Company spring 2014 collection Pop Up Store launch party.” class=”wp-image-3553280″ srcset=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Eva-Mendes-Denzel-Washington.jpg 1200w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Eva-Mendes-Denzel-Washington.jpg?w=150&h=100 150w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Eva-Mendes-Denzel-Washington.jpg?w=640&h=427 640w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Eva-Mendes-Denzel-Washington.jpg?w=768&h=512 768w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Eva-Mendes-Denzel-Washington.jpg?w=1024&h=683 1024w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Eva-Mendes-Denzel-Washington.jpg?w=525&h=350 525w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Eva-Mendes-Denzel-Washington.jpg?w=254&h=169 254w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Eva-Mendes-Denzel-Washington.jpg?w=200&h=133 200w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Eva-Mendes-Denzel-Washington.jpg?w=761&h=507 761w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Eva-Mendes-Denzel-Washington.jpg?w=90&h=60 90w” sizes=”(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px”><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Eva Mendes | Tommaso Boddi/WireImage</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-2_34″>Mendes was seriously consider <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/anne-hathaway-eva-mendes-both-wanted-be-nuns-before-breaking-hollywood.html/”>looking for other work</a> before she was cast in the 2001 Antoine Fuqua feature. Before then, Mendes’ acting credits included films like <em>Children of the Corn V </em>and <em>Urban Legends</em>.</p>
<p id=”par-3_36″>She eventually became disillusioned with acting because of her film opportunities, but still decided to audition for Fuqua’s <em>Training Day</em>. Because of her preparations, Mendes was pretty confident at the time that she snagged the role.</p>
<p id=”par-4_69″>“When I went for the audition to star with Denzel in <em>Training Day</em>, I was so prepared, probably over prepared, so there was no room or excuse for a mess up! This time, when I auditioned for this film, I was really focused and it was one of the best auditions that I ever had. When they told me I’d got it, I went crazy,” Mendes once told <a href=”https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2003/12/15/eva_mendes_out_of_time_interview.shtml” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>BBC</a>.</p>
<p id=”par-5_21″>Securing the Oscar-winning film convinced Mendes to stay in the film industry a little longer, which she frequently thanked Washington for.</p>
<p id=”par-6_83″>“I was ready to quit acting before <em>Training Day</em>,” Mendes once said according to <a href=”https://www.female.com.au/eva-mendes-we-own-the-night-interview.htm” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Female</a>. “I had been acting about two-and-a-half years and I was doing bad TV shows – not even TV shows, I wouldn’t even get picked up on TV shows, but like bad movies – and I was like, ‘What am I doing? This isn’t going to be for me. It’s not working.’ I did <em>Training Day</em>, worked with Denzel Washington, and he was single-handedly responsible for me continuing acting.”</p>
<h2 id=”h-training-day-wasn-t-the-only-film-eva-mendes-did-with-denzel-washington”>‘Training Day’ wasn’t the only film Eva Mendes did with Denzel Washington</h2>
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<p id=”par-7_57″>Mendes and Washington would reunite a couple of years later for the 2003 movie <em>Out of Time</em>. The two would end up playing a couple again in the cop thriller, although Mendes would have a much more substantial role. Mendes found it easier working with Washington the second time around thanks to their experiences in <em>Training Day</em>.</p>
<p id=”par-8_51″>“It could have been a lot more intimidating, but I came in very prepared,” Mendes said. “Having worked with him on <em>Training Day</em>, it wasn’t too bad coming into <em>Out Of Time</em>. And in this, I have to help him carry a film so it was really all about the work.”</p>
<p id=”par-9_23″>When asked about their chemistry, the <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/eva-mendes-cried-love-scene-joaquin-phoenix.html/”><em>We Own the Night </em>actor</a> believed that she was a natural fit for Washington and vice versa.</p>
<p id=”par-10_40″>“I just think we work well together. He makes me a better actor, he really does. He really has that presence. He can challenge you with a look and you can either sink or swim. Hopefully I swam,” she said.</p>
<h2 id=”h-eva-mendes-ended-up-taking-a-long-break-from-acting-for-the-same-reasons-she-wanted-to-quit”>Eva Mendes ended up taking a long break from acting for the same reasons she wanted to quit</h2>
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<iframe loading=”lazy” title=”Eva Mendes On Becoming A Mom, If She’ll Return To Acting” width=”925″ height=”520″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/5gzo2AHvwYY?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p id=”par-11_81″>A lot happened to Mendes since <em>Training Day</em>. The actor further established her career with a variety of films. She’d eventually date and settle down with her <em>Place Beyond the Pines </em><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/eva-mendes-finally-opens-up-about-why-she-never-posts-pictures-of-ryan-gosling-and-her-kids.html/”>co-star Ryan Gosling</a>, eventually sharing two daughters with him. But Mendes’ acting career would take a backseat to her personal life as time went on. She partially took a break to focus more on her family. However, Mendes also felt unimpressed with the kinds of films she was being offered.</p>
<p id=”par-12_50″>“I got tired fighting for the good roles,” Mendes said in an interview with <a href=”https://variety.com/2022/film/news/why-eva-mendes-quit-acting-1235351470/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Variety</a>. “There just was a point where I thought, ‘I’m going to create my own opportunities and become a producer on things and create my own material,’ but it just didn’t feel worth it to me.”</p>
<p id=”par-13_22″>Mendes seemed more receptive to the idea of returning to acting nowadays. Still, she maintained that her children remained her true priority.</p>
<p id=”par-14_57″>“There are more opportunities for Latina actresses now, but when I bowed out 10 years ago I wasn’t being offered things that weren’t specifically Latina,” she added. “It is exciting that things are different now, so who knows what I will do in the future. But right now, I’m keeping it in the home with my kids.”</p>