Eva Mendes

Born: March 5 1974
Where: Houston, Texas, USA

The Cuban-American cosmetics model and actress first made waves opposite Oscar-winning Denzel Washington in Training Day.

After graduating from California's Herbert Hoover High School she switched from marketing to pursue a career as a model.

After studying with Halle Berry's acting coach Ivan Chubbock she landed small roles in A Night at the Roxbury and My Brother The Pig.

Parts in Urban Legends: Final Cut and the Steven Seagal action Exit Wounds followed before she landed her critical breakthough in Training Day.

Her performance led to Carl Franklin's Out of Time and All About the Benjamins with Ice Cube.

Mendes' profile was raised by the slick car caper 2Fast2Furious and Robert Rodriguez's adventure thriller Once Upon A Time In Mexico.

Recent work includes the amiable Farrelly Brothers comedy Stuck on You with Greg Kinnear and Matt Damon.

In 2005 she starred in the comedy drama Wendell Baker and also appeared alongside Will Smith in the engaging rom-com Hitch.