Eva Mendes Praises Partner Ryan Gosling for Supporting Her: 'He's Got Me in All the Ways' (Exclusive)

Mendes and Gosling met in 2011 while filming 'The Place Beyond the Pines'

Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling make the perfect team.

Speaking to PEOPLE for this week's Beautiful Issue, the Girl in Progress star opened up about her relationship with Gosling and the ways in which they support each other.

Mendes, 50, is often quick to show her love for Gosling on social media. Most recently, he starred on Saturday Night Live and one of his skits involved him playing a man with a Cuban accent. After the show, she called him her "Cuban Papi"on Instagram .

"I'm not going to tell you that but in all the ways I need to be supported," she says of how he supports her in return. "He's got me in all the ways."

Ryan Gosling attends the 60th anniversary party of TAG Heuer Carrera at Outernet London on April 20, 2023 in London, England., Eva Mendes photographed for New York & Company fashion event, Los Angeles, USA - 13 Sep 2018
Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes.

Karwai Tang/WireImage; Chelsea Lauren/WWD/Penske Media via Getty 

Mendes and Gosling, 43, met while filming The Place Beyond the Pines in 2011 when they played a couple with an infant son. Since then, they welcomed daughters Esmeralda Amada, 9, and Amada Lee, 8. After their arrival, Mendes decided to take a step back from acting to be there for their kids.

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"It was the easiest decision I've ever made," she says. "I was older and I knew that my kids are going to be little once, and whatever I do or don't do right now is going to affect them the rest of their life."

"Your career comes and goes but kids, yeah, that was easy for me," she continues. "They're just formative years. I wanted to be there for all of it."

When it comes to their duties at home, Mendes says Gosling does the cooking and she does the cleaning.

"I'm not a cook so my man cooks and I clean, so it's a nice even. I can't cook. You don't want me to cook," the Ghost Rider actress says. "My girls, they're so cute but they're like, 'Did you make these eggs, mama?' I'm like, 'They're eggs, yes. They're just regular eggs.' Who messes up eggs?"

During an April 29 interview on Hits Radio promoting his new film The Fall Guy, Gosling showed his support for Mendes' upcoming debut children's book by wearing a T-shirt with the title on it.

On April 30, Gosling opened up about the support he receives from her at the Los Angeles premiere of The Fall Guy.

Ryan Gosling poses in the press room of the 76th Directors Guild of America Awards on February 10, 2024. ; Eva Mendes attends the "La dolce vita" world restoration premiere during The 5th International Rome Film Festival on October 30, 2010.
Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes.

Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage ; Pascal Le Segretain/Getty 

"She is with the girls, and when she works, I stay home with the girls too," he told Extra. "I couldn’t be here without her."

"She’s also like my acting coach.” Gosling went on, “She has really become the best acting coach I have ever had, it's endless how she helps me.”

He was also asked about Mendes being featured in PEOPLE's 2024 Beautiful Issue, to which he replied, “It should just be her in the issue, basically, but I understand they have to have other people in there.”

For more from PEOPLE's Beautiful edition, check out our digital issue or get a copy on newsstands Friday

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