Eva Mendes shared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that her daughters, Esmeralda and Amada, were unimpressed when she tried to show them a scene from her 2005 romantic comedy Hitch where she faced her fear of deep water. Despite her efforts to impress them with her acting skills, the girls were more interested in going outside than watching their mom on screen. Mendes has mostly retired from acting since 2014, but made a voice cameo on the show Bluey in 2021 which did manage to impress her daughters.
The role of Ken in the Barbie movie meant a lot to Ryan Gosling’s daughters, as they were a big part of his decision to take on the role. According to Mendes, their daughters were instrumental in Gosling accepting the role, as they had many Barbies but only one Ken, leading him to believe that there was something special about the character. Gosling also mentioned that he played Ken to create something for his daughters and with them in mind, as he wanted to make something that they would enjoy.
Despite his daughters’ interest in the Barbie dolls and the Ken character, Gosling has yet to let them watch the Barbie movie for which he was nominated for an Oscar. He expressed hesitancy about his daughters seeing him play Ken on screen, as he was unsure about what age would be appropriate for them to watch their father in that role. Gosling shared that his daughters initially showed interest in Barbie dolls while browsing through the toy section at Target, eventually leading him and his wife to decide that it was time to get them their own dolls.
Mendes revealed that her daughters were much more impressed by their father’s role in the Barbie movie than they were by her acting roles. Gosling’s portrayal of Ken in the film seemed to capture the girls’ attention more than any of Mendes’ acting performances. Mendes joked that her daughters were not very interested in watching her on screen, but were excited to see their dad take on the role of Ken. This demonstrates the unique impact that parents’ careers and roles can have on their children’s perceptions and interests.
The couple’s children were enthralled by Gosling’s portrayal of Ken in the Barbie movie, with Mendes noting that they were a driving force behind him accepting the role. The family’s collection of Barbie dolls, with a notable lack of Ken dolls, led Gosling to believe that there was something special about the character that his daughters found appealing. Despite the girls’ interest in Barbies and the Ken character, Gosling has been cautious about letting them watch the movie, concerned about how they would react to seeing him play the role on screen.
Mendes and Gosling’s daughters were more captivated by their dad’s role as Ken in the Barbie movie than they were by their mom’s acting career. Mendes recounted how her daughters were unimpressed by her attempt to show them a scene from Hitch where she faced a fear of deep water, but were very excited to see their dad as Ken. Gosling’s decision to play Ken was influenced by his desire to create something for his daughters to enjoy, showcasing the special bond between parents and their children and the impact of family dynamics on career choices.
