The Hollywood grapevine is buzzing with news that Eva Mendes, the 49-year-old actress, has been reminiscing about her longtime partner, Ryan Gosling. The couple met on the set of the critically acclaimed film, The Place Beyond the Pines, which was released in theaters (in limited) release on March 29, 2013, and recently celebrated its 10th anniversary.
Mendes took to Instagram on Tuesday to share some behind-the-scenes snaps from the film, which included pictures of her and Gosling’s characters, Luke and Romina, and their on-screen baby. Mendes’ friend, Sandra Condito, had reminded her that it had been 10 years since the movie’s release.
The Place Beyond the Pines, which also starred Bradley Cooper, Mahershala Ali, Ben Mendelsohn, Rose Byrne, Bruce Greenwood, Ray Liotta, and Dane DeHaan, was a treasure trove of interesting trivia. For example, did you know that:
credit: © Joseph Martinez/ Picturelux
- Ryan Gosling learned how to ride a motorcycle for the film and did most of his own stunts? (source: ScreenRant)
- The film’s director, Derek Cianfrance, wrote the script with Ryan Gosling in mind for the lead role of Luke (source: The Guardian)
- Derek Cianfrance wrote the script based on the town his wife Shannon Plumb grew up in, Schenectady, New York. The film was mostly filmed there on-location. The phrase “Place Beyond the Pines” is actually the Native American meaning to the word “Schenectady.” (source: IMDB)
- According to Ryan Gosling, all of his bank robbery scenes were done in one take. (source: IMDB)
- In an earlier draft of the script, Luke and Romina’s relationship was written to be rather acrimonious and distant. After Eva Mendes was hired as Romina, the relationship was changed to be melancholy and tender to reflect the real life affection between Mendes and Ryan Gosling.
Despite the impressive cast and critical acclaim, The Place Beyond the Pines was not a huge commercial success at the box office. However, it still managed to make $47 million worldwide from a $15 million budget. It was also the second-to-last film that Mendes appeared in to date, with her last being Gosling’s directorial debut, Lost River, which was released in 2014.
Mendes briefly returned to acting, voicing a yoga instructor in the animated kids series Bluey in 2021. However, she revealed in a November podcast that she stepped away from acting because she was getting offered “sh**ty roles.” When asked if she would return to acting, Mendes said that it would have to be for a “great role.”
In an interview with People magazine, Mendes also cleared up talk that she had “retired” from acting, stating that she never quit acting but rather wanted to be home with her children. She also revealed that there are sometimes moments in a script or even a page that solidifies her decision to pass on a project.
Overall, Mendes’ Instagram post brought back memories of her and Gosling’s time together on the set of The Place Beyond the Pines and left fans wondering if they will ever collaborate on another project again. With their undeniable on-screen chemistry and impressive acting skills, we can only hope that this Hollywood power couple will grace our screens once again!