Eva Mendes Opened Up About Why She Went To Rehab In 2008

Eva Mendes is opening up about some of her life challenges.

In an interview with the Sunday Times, the Hitch star reflected on difficult moments in her career — including a reported rehab stint in 2008 and the "unhealthy behaviors" she had at the time.

Now, Eva's suggested she was in the midst of a bit of a wayward phase back then.

"It’s really stupid," she began .

"I started smoking cigarettes at 28. And then I started drinking. I was a late bloomer," Eva, 50, confessed.

"I was so hungry for life," she said. "I still am. But I was leaving no stone unturned. I was like, 'What’s over here? What’s over here?'"

Eva has since quit alcohol — and Hollywood, too, though she doesn't blame the industry for her drinking. "I feel like with my kind of spirit I’d have found unhealthy behaviors anywhere."

Her last movie was 2014's Lost River , directed by her longtime partner Ryan Gosling , whom she met on the set of their 2012 film The Place Beyond the Pines .

Now, Eva's focus is on raising their two daughters, Esmeralda, 10, and Amada, 8.

"I was never in love with acting," she told the Times of her decision to step back from her career. "I don’t mean this in a self-deprecating way, but I wasn’t a great actress."

Eva said the highlights of her career are the "moments when I worked with really great people," like Ryan. "He gets something out of me that’s never been accessible before."

She also said he's the only one who could get her to return to acting. "That’s the one thing I would love to do."

Read the full interview here .

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, you can call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) and find more resources here .