Eva Mendes has only one tattoo, and four years after the words “de Gosling” on her wrist became a talking point, she has said something unusually direct about how much the ink means to her.
The 52-year-old actress showed the tattoo again in an Aug. 28 Instagram carousel of black-and-white photos taken inside a car. When a follower singled out the lettering, Mendes replied, “It’s the only one I have, the only one I’ve ever wanted,” according to E! News.
The tattoo has long been read as a reference to Ryan Gosling, Mendes’ partner since 2011 and the father of their two daughters. The construction resembles a traditional Spanish naming convention in which “de” can precede a husband’s surname, one reason the tattoo has repeatedly prompted questions about whether Mendes and Gosling married privately.
Mendes still did not turn her latest comment into a wedding announcement. She confirmed only that “de Gosling” is her sole tattoo and the only one she has ever wanted, leaving the larger relationship question exactly where she and Gosling have generally kept it: private.
The Tattoo Has Been Raising Marriage Questions Since 2022
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Mendes drew widespread attention to the lettering in 2022 when she posted a photo with “de Gosling” prominently visible on the inside of her wrist. The post quickly became part of speculation that she and Gosling had married without announcing it publicly.
The tattoo itself was apparently older than the attention surrounding it. Mendes said during a November 2022 radio appearance that she had gotten it “years ago” and had shown it before, pushing back on the assumption that the design had just appeared.
Mendes Has Called Gosling Her ‘Husband’
The tattoo was not the couple’s only marriage clue that November. During an appearance on Australia’s Today, Mendes referred to Gosling as “my husband Ryan” while discussing their time in the country with their daughters.
She was asked more directly about the rumors the following day on The Kyle and Jackie O Show. “But who says we weren’t already?” Mendes replied when asked whether they had secretly married, according to E! News. She then added, “I like to keep it all mysterious.”
The ambiguity has lasted. PEOPLE notes that a 2016 report claiming Mendes and Gosling had secretly married was denied by sources at the time. Since then, Mendes has used “husband” publicly, but the pair have not offered the kind of detailed confirmation that would establish when or how their marital status changed.
Mendes and Gosling Made a Rare Joint TV Appearance This Year
The couple has allowed a little more of their relationship into public view recently. On March 5, Gosling brought Mendes onstage during his appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, creating their first official joint public appearance in more than a decade.
Gosling was promoting Project Hail Mary, but March 5 was also Mendes’ 52nd birthday. He told the audience she was backstage and asked them to help surprise her before bringing her onto the stage.
Mendes and Gosling held hands as she joined him, and the North Bergen High School marching band performed “Happy Birthday” while the audience sang along. After the celebration, Mendes thanked the crowd and kissed Gosling on the cheek.