The Ultimatum That Saved a Star

By 2011, after the phenomenal success of “Drive” and “Crazy, Stupid, Love,” Ryan Gosling, by his own admission, “was swirling in a whirlwind of fame.” Parties, alcohol, the danger of losing himself—Eva Mendes watched as he slowly faded. But instead of saving him, she delivered an ultimatum that changed everything. “I’m leaving movies. You choose: me or this life,” she said. She turned down multi-million dollar contracts to be by his side. Gosling, stunned, asked, “Why?” Eva, as he recalled, looked him in the eye and replied, “Because I’d rather have you alive than rich.” Those words became a catalyst for him. He got sober. Since then, for 13 years, they have raised two daughters together. Eva never returned to big cinema. He, on the other hand, while accepting his Oscars, always talks about Eva being his greatest award. She didn’t give him a choice; she gave him life. And that turned out to be the most valuable role he ever played.