Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling have (at least we think!) been together since 2011, when they played exes in the movie The Place Beyond the Pines. The Hollywood couple is so fiercely private, however, you may have forgotten that they're still in love and even have a family. But on Sunday, Mendes made sure that people knew about their relationship, something that's rare for either actor to do. On a throwback Instagram photo of herself at the beach, she defended Gosling against a fan.
Mendes shared the black and white snap of her in an off-the-shoulder dress with the caption, "Went for a run on the beach this morning. No I didn’t. This picture was taken at least 15 years ago. Haven’t seen a beach this year. Haven’t been on a run this year," plus a couple of black emoji hearts. When one follower commented, "You need to tell Ryan to get you out more," Mendes responded, "No thank you, I'm good. Rather be home with my man than anywhere else in the world."
In addition to confirming that the pair, who have two daughters together and may be secretly married, are still blissfully happy, Mendes shut down the idea that she was being limited in her freedom because of her relationship. She addressed similar criticisms earlier this year when she posted a shoutout to "all you tired mamas" on Instagram, along with a photo of her getting ready for one of her children's birthday parties. Followers were quick to assert that parenting isn't a gendered obligation, which Mendes affirmed in a few replies.
"...When I say I'm a 'tired mama' and want to connect to other 'tired mamas' it's not about excluding the fathers or other caregivers that do so much," she wrote in response to a comment. "It's just me connecting to other women but in no way does it de-value what papas do. And why I don't talk about Ryan and all the wonderful things he does as a father is because I keep that part private."
So while Mendes will clearly step up to support her partner, don't hold your breath for this couple to suddenly start sharing everything. Want to know more about low-key celebrity couples who like to keep their love to themselves? Read on, and for the costars who really didn't hit it off, check out 11 Beloved Movie Couples Who Clashed Behind the Scenes.
1 | Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn
WENN Rights Ltd/Alamy Stock PhotoTaylor Swift mostly reserves her comments about boyfriend Joe Alwyn, an actor who's appeared in The Favourite, Harriet, and Mary Queen of Scots, for her songs. Though they've been dating at least since 2017, the couple rarely steps out together at industry events, and they aren't keen to discuss each other in interviews.
For shots of star pairs in their honeymoon period, check out 13 Photos of Celebrity Couples When They First Got Together.
2 | Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig
Shutterstock/Ga FullnerThough the beginnings of Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig's relationship were a little chaotic—both of them were in the midst of ending other relationships when they fell for each other—the stars have been happily married since 2011. In 2018, they welcomed their first child together, and...well, that's about all we know.
3 | Kerry Washington and Nnamdi Asomugha
Barry King/Alamy Stock PhotoDid you know that Little Fires Everywhere and Scandal star Kerry Washington is married? You're not a bad fan if you didn't. She and former NFL player Nnamdi Asomugha tied the knot in 2013 and have stayed tightlipped ever since.
"I have girlfriends in this business who talk about their personal lives, and it works for them, and I love it," she told Glamour that year. "But not for me. I learned through experience that it doesn't work for me to talk about my personal life."
And for celebs who almost walked away from the spotlight entirely, check out Huge Stars Who Almost Quit Hollywood.
4 | Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz
Shutterstock/taniavolobuevaWhile Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem are equally big names, they've managed for the most part to keep their private life together on the DL. They were confirmed to be romantically involved in 2007, though they'd known each other for years by that point. In the years since, they've walked down the aisle (secretly) and continued working together. But though they're willing to share their onscreen chemistry with us, that's where the actors draw the line. "Penélope and I, we have to protect the 'us,'" Bardem told Vulture in 2019.
5 | Enrique Iglesias and Anna Kournikova
Rick Mackler/Globe Photos/ZUMAPRESS.com/AlamyMusician Enrique Iglesias and tennis superstar Anna Kournikova basically have MTV to thank for their long-term romance. They met when Kournikova starred in the singer's video for his 2001 single "Escape," and over the years, have prompted a lot of speculation about their couple status. Today, they have three children together, who have pretty much taken over both of their Instagrams.
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6 | Marcus Mumford and Carey Mulligan
WENN Rights Ltd/Alamy Stock PhotoMumford and Sons frontman Marcus Mumford and actor Carey Mulligan have one of the cutest origin stories in the business. They met at church as kids and kept up their friendship as pen pals. In 2012, they married, and they now have two children. "Like anyone, you try and split your time evenly," she told Vogue in 2015 (via Billboard) of her efforts to keep their relationship separate from their public life. "Marcus is the only thing that's mine that I can keep away, so I try to."
