Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes, who share a long-term partnership, began their journey as parents after portraying a family together in the 2012 crime drama The Place Beyond the Pines. This experience inspired them to create a family of their own, leading to the birth of their two daughters. They have intentionally kept their private lives under wraps to protect their children from public scrutiny.
Gosling and Mendes have two daughters: Esmeralda Amada, born in 2014, and Amada Lee, born in 2016. Despite their fame, the couple avoids sharing their children’s images on social media, prioritizing their daughters’ privacy until they can decide for themselves about public exposure.
How Their Onscreen Family Influenced Their Real-Life Decisions
Ryan Gosling has spoken openly about how working alongside Eva Mendes sparked his desire to have children together. In a revealing 2023 GQ interview, he shared,
I wasn’t thinking about kids before I met her, but after I met Eva, I realized that I just didn’t want to have kids without her. There were moments on [set] where we were pretending to be a family, and I didn’t really want it to be pretend anymore. I realized that this would be a life I would be really lucky to have.
This marked a turning point for Gosling, whose mindset shifted from indifference to embracing fatherhood.
Similarly, Mendes expressed in a 2019 interview with Women’s Health how falling in love with Gosling made motherhood feel meaningful for her:
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.
This comment reflects how closely their relationship influenced their family planning.
Protecting Their Children’s Privacy in the Public Eye
Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes have attended public events together, such as the 2024 Paris Olympics, appearing united as a family. Nonetheless, they have consistently guarded their daughters’ privacy, avoiding sharing their images or personal details online. Mendes clarified in 2020,
Since my children are still so little and don’t understand what posting their image really means, I don’t have their consent. And I won’t post their image until they’re old enough to give me consent,
emphasizing their intention to respect their daughters’ autonomy as they grow.
This choice highlights their protective approach, shielding Esmeralda and Amada from the potential pressures of social media fame at a young age.
Esmeralda Amada Gosling: Their Eldest Daughter’s Story
The couple’s first child, Esmeralda Amada, arrived on September 12, 2014, in Santa Monica, California. Mendes selected the name Esmeralda in homage to the spirited character from Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. The middle name Amada, meaning “beloved” in Spanish, honors Mendes’ grandmother and reflects the family’s cultural heritage.
Mendes has spoken about embracing motherhood later in life, sharing her perspective with People magazine:
When I was 40, it was a big deal for people when I was pregnant, and it wasn’t for me,
she said.
And then I was 42 and I was pregnant with my second one and people were like, ‘Oh my God, you’re going to be so tired. That’s why people have kids in their 20s.’ I was like, that’s the most sorry, asinine thing I’ve ever heard.
Her comments challenge societal expectations and emphasize her contentment with her timing as a mother.
In addition to bilingualism, Esmeralda currently speaks “Spanglish,” blending English and Spanish in her conversations, as Mendes revealed in a 2018 interview. She highlighted the importance of their daughters connecting not only with the language but also with their Cuban cultural roots:
Esmeralda mostly speaks Spanglish right now,
Mendes explained.
It’s really cute. She’s definitely bilingual, and it’s really important for us to make sure that she’s not only familiar with the language, but also with the culture.
Ryan Gosling paid tribute to his family during his 2017 Golden Globes acceptance speech for La La Land, grateful for their support amid his demanding career. He acknowledged Mendes’ efforts:
While I was singing and dancing and playing piano and having one of the best experiences I’ve ever had on a film, my lady was raising our daughter, pregnant with our second and trying to help her brother fight his battle with cancer,
he said.
Sweetheart, thank you. To my daughters, Amada and Esmeralda, I love you.
This heartfelt dedication also honored Mendes’ late brother, Carlos Mendez, underscoring the family’s close bonds during difficult times.
Mendes summed up their family life candidly, revealing how precious these moments are:
I know these moments are fleeting. I just want to be with them. Whatever I’m doing, as long as I’m with them and Ryan, of course, that’s where I’m happiest,
she shared in a 2025 interview, underscoring the couple’s focus on cherishing their time together.
Amada Lee Gosling: Their Youngest Daughter’s Early Years
Following Esmeralda, the Gosling-Mendes family expanded with the birth of Amada Lee on April 29, 2016, just two years after their first daughter. Amada’s name continues the tribute to Mendes’ grandmother, as Amada was previously chosen as Esmeralda’s middle name.
The sisters enjoy shared activities, particularly in playfully giving makeup makeovers to Mendes. The actress often posted pictures showcasing colorful, artistic creations from these mother–daughter moments, celebrating their fun and bonding time. Mendes once described these sessions with affectionate enthusiasm: They’ve won ❤️, reflecting the joy they bring to their household.
Besides their love for makeup, the girls are likely to inherit Mendes’ passion for fashion. Mendes revealed in 2019 that she preserves some of her mother’s clothes, eager to pass down these meaningful pieces:
I look at my mom and I’ll be like, ‘Mom, where is that dress?’ And she’s like, ‘Oh my God, that dress. I didn’t even like that dress. I gave it away.’ And I’m like, ‘I would die for this dress right now,’
she recalled.
I have so many of those moments that I definitely save a bunch of stuff, for [Amada and Esmeralda],
Mendes added, noting that despite financial limitations growing up, her mother’s stylish choices left a lasting impression.
Parenting Philosophy and Focus on Confidence
The couple’s ambition goes beyond material gifts or public appearances. They emphasize nurturing their daughters’ self-esteem and emotional well-being. Mendes addressed their approach to raising confident children in a 2022 interview:
I think everything starts in the home—everything,
she told Byrdie.
So hopefully Ryan and I are doing the work by just loving them, completely loving them, and doing most of that work for them so that they grow up feeling like they’re enough.
This philosophy deters early exposure to social media, aiming to safeguard their girls from pressures that could undermine their sense of self.
Through their guarded public presence and intentional parenting choices, Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes continue to build a loving family environment where their daughters can thrive away from the spotlight, ensuring their upbringing remains grounded in privacy and affection.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why did Ryan Gosling take 4 years off?
A. When asked about taking a break, Gosling said he did it after he and Eva Mendes had their second child. “I wanted to be with them as much as possible,” he shared. He also mentioned that this break changed how he feels about his acting career.
Q. What do Justin Bieber, Ryan Gosling, Avril Lavigne and Celine Dion have in common? According to Ancestry.ca, the world’s largest online family history resource, the four Canadian performers are all related, sharing a family connection with some of Quebec’s earliest settlers.
A. Is there a family connection between Ryan Gosling and Celine Dion?
Q. Does Ryan Gosling have any disabilities?
A. The actor faced many challenges during his childhood. Despite this, he successfully became a top actor and received three Oscar nominations. The Blade Runner 2049 star shared that he had a learning disability, which made things difficult…
