Ryan Gosling And Eva Mendes' Relationship Is Nothing But Green Flags

We love to glamorize a celebrity relationship, even dubbing our favorite lovebirds as role models for our #couplegoals. Not all of these star-studded romances are actually worth emulating, though — after all, enough of them seem to quickly crash and burn, taking our hopes and dreams along for the ride. However, some special partnerships set a gold standard for healthy relationships. For instance, when it comes to long-standing celebrity couples like actors Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes, we can all learn a lesson or two.

Gosling and Mendes reportedly first met on the set of "The Place Beyond the Pines" in 2011, and within months the two were spotted holding hands at Disneyland and smooching on the streets of Hollywood. In the many years since, the couple has persevered through thick and thin, from working together on film projects to welcoming two daughters into the world.

Not all Hollywood relationships stand the test of time, but Gosling and Mendes have been going strong for well over a decade now — so, for once, it seems safe to break out the #couplegoals hashtag. And these romantic role models truly have a lot to offer. If you're hoping to copy a few green flags to look for in your next relationship, there are some positive signs you can take from Gosling and Mendes' lasting romance.

The romance between Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes is notoriously secretive. For years, it wasn't even public knowledge that the two stars were married. Confirmation only came in 2022, when Mendes referred to Gosling as her husband during a TV interview in Australia — and we still don't know for sure when their union officially took place. In short, Mendes and Gosling are good at playing their cards close to the chest.

In a now-deleted Instagram post from 2020, Mendes took to the comments to clarify why her husband isn't a focus of the account. "As far as Ryan, I'll only post flashbacks of things that are already 'out there' (like pics from movies we did or stuff like that). ... My man and kids are private. That's important to me," Mendes wrote (per Glamour).

While this may seem like mere personal preference, it's also a savvy move. According to a 2016 study by the Marriage Foundation, celebrity relationships are twice as likely to end in divorce, and it's not a stretch to imagine that constant public scrutiny is a contributing factor. By maintaining firm boundaries around the public's view of their family and relationship, Gosling and Mendes show a commitment to protecting their shared lifestyle. This green flag may seem celeb-specific, but anyone can mimic its most important aspect: that they're in it for the long haul and willing to do what's best for their family — together.

Despite the couple's general secrecy, Ryan Gosling isn't shy about communicating his love and respect for his wife. From talk show sofas to the red carpet, Gosling consistently praises and gives thanks for having Eva Mendes in his life.

When accepting a Golden Globe for his role in "La La Land," Gosling was quick to acknowledge Mendes' support. "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. "If she hadn't taken all that on so I could have this experience, it would surely be someone else up here other than me. So sweetheart, thank you."

In January 2024, Gosling also referred to Mendes as the girl of his dreams while accepting the Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. This was only the most recent of many love declarations throughout the past decade-plus. "I know that I'm with the person I'm supposed to be with," he told Hello! back in 2015. And when asked what he looks for in a woman, Gosling simply replied, "That she's Eva Mendes. There's nothing else I'm looking for." Love, gratitude, devotion — could the flags here get any greener?

Ryan Gosling's love and gratitude isn't a one-way street. On the contrary, another big green flag for him and Eva Mendes is their mutual admiration. For two such private stars, the duo aren't afraid to shower each other with compliments and encouragement. And while Mendes may not share many candid photos of her husband, she's quick to celebrate him in her commentary on social media. "Mi Hombre. Mi Vida," Mendes captioned an Instagram post from July 2023, which translates from Spanish to "My man. My life." The post features a screenshot from "The Place Beyond the Pines," the project where Mendes and Gosling first met. Mendes goes on to write, "To say he's the greatest actor I've ever worked with is an understatement."

In the runup to Gosling's role in "Barbie," Mendes also spearheaded the #ThatsMyKen hashtag in support of her husband's work. And when it proved to be another career-defining performance, Mendes expressed deep pride. "He created this completely original, hilarious, heartbreaking, now iconic character ... So beyond proud to be this Ken's Barbie," she wrote on Instagram.

While it's true that some less-happy celeb couples have also put on a gushy front in public, this doesn't vibe with the private nature of Mendes and Gosling's long relationship. These A-listers don't try to draw attention to their romance, so when they choose to share tidbits like these sweet comments, it seems like a genuine green flag for their partnership's health.

Starting a family isn't always as straightforward as telling your partner you're ready for children. Even Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes hadn't planned for kids — only after they met did each star warm up to the idea. "I never wanted babies before until I fell in love with Ryan, and it kind of worked out to where I was 40 and having my first baby," Mendes said in a 2020 interview on the podcast "Fitzy & Wippa."

Gosling revealed a comparable story in his 2023 interview with GQ. "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. And there were moments on 'The Place Beyond the Pines' 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," he said. Now, Gosling and Mendes share two daughters, Esmeralda and Amada, and both parents are active in their kids' lives — a major green flag. At first, Mendes paused her working life to stay home with their children. Then in 2017, Gosling made a similar move, taking a four-year hiatus from acting to be close to his family. "I wanted to spend as much time as I could with them," Gosling told GQ.

This balanced arrangement means they can travel together as a family, particularly when one parent has months-long obligations for filming. As Mendes told the Daily Telegraph in 2022, "We travel a lot and one of my strong beliefs is that you try to always keep a family together, no matter what you're doing."

It's easy to become complacent in long-term relationships. Even close couples can take each other for granted or lose their spark. But it's important to prioritize your relationship, even after you have kids or you've been together for years. Little gestures can go a long way, and Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling aren't above cute signs of affection, even after all this time.

In August 2022, Mendes posted an Instagram video on cleaning products — and inadvertently revealed an adorable hint of romance in the process. While Mendes wiped her phone with a microfiber cloth, the screen activated to show her wallpaper: a still of Gosling from his film "The Gray Man." In November 2022, Mendes also showed off the sweet, hidden side of their relationship by sharing a shot of her petite wrist tattoo. As visible in the Instagram post, her tattoo reads "de Gosling" — a nod to the Spanish language tradition of taking on a husband's name with the conjunction "de," meaning "of."

For his part, Gosling also displays his devotion with romantic gestures. The "Drive" star made the internet swoon when he wore a pendant shaped like a letter E to the world premiere of "Barbie" in 2023 — a fashion choice that he acknowledged was a tribute to his wife. While they may seem like little things on paper, these thoughtful actions from both Gosling and Mendes illustrate how the tiniest act can be a huge green flag for enduring love.