Eva Mendes still goes to acting class

The 36-year-old started studying the profession in the 1990s, and began her career appearing in music videos and soap operas. Her first big film role was in 1998 movie Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror, and since then she has appeared in a number of Hollywood blockbusters, including Hitch, Ghost Rider and The Spirit.

Eva is determined to be as successful as possible, and spends every spare moment she has honing her craft. "My ambitions are really high. But not desperate. I want to be as great an actress as I possibly can. Every time I`m in LA I go back to class and when I`m not, I`m studying with my acting coach," she explained. "I really love my craft. It`s great to be called sexy but I`d rather have an Oscar."

Eva has no qualms about stripping off for the camera, or taking unusual roles - she plays a prostitute in her new movie Bad Lieutenant. The star doesn`t understand why some Hollywood stars are criticised for flashing their flesh on the big screen, claiming all the best actresses have appeared nude at some point.

She does worry about what her family thinks when she has to be naked for a role, but says they are very supportive. Her mother, also called Eva, is particularly proud, but does tell her when she is unsure about her decisions.

"She looks at my films and then I get mommy`s review. She`s not judging me, she`s just saying things like, `Too much hair!` If I have a fitted dress, she says, `Wow! I can`t believe I made that body!?" Eva laughed to British newspaper The Daily Mirror. "She`s so cute."

sections: Celebrities