Eva Mendes publicly acknowledged Ryan Gosling’s involvement in drawing attention to stunt work during his press tour for The Fall Guy, following the Academy’s announcement that a new Oscar category for stunt design will launch in 2028.
In a statement shared on Instagram, Mendes wrote, “My man is the F best. Unfortunately, success is almost only measured by box office. So I’m extra proud of my man for turning his entire Fall Guy press tour into a campaign to get stunts recognized by the Oscars.”
The post appeared one day after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences confirmed the addition of a stunt category at the Oscars, marking a change after nearly a century of the discipline going unrecognized in competitive awards.
The Fall Guy, directed by David Leitch and starring Gosling and Emily Blunt, became closely tied to the ongoing campaign to highlight the work of stunt professionals. Leitch, who has a background in stunt coordination, was a leading voice in the effort alongside stunt designer Chris O’Hara.
Mendes included a photo of Gosling with Leitch and Seth Phillips, the face behind the “dudewithsign” social media account. Phillips held a cardboard sign that read, “Give stunts an Oscar,” a visual callback to a promotional campaign from April 2023 in which Gosling appeared with Phillips, holding a sign that said, “Filling In As Dudewithsign’s Stunt Double.”
Mendes continued, “Now after almost 100 years of stunt design not being acknowledged by the Academy, it’s officially a category. This is a success. And an achievement that will last. Congratulations to the incredible stunt community.”
She ended the post with a reference to Blunt, writing, “BTW, this is the last time I post a pic of my man and the total babe that is Emily Blunt. No más!”
Gosling and Mendes first met on the set of The Place Beyond the Pines in 2012. Mendes stepped away from acting more than a decade ago to focus on raising their two daughters and developing work outside the entertainment industry. She has continued to support Gosling’s career publicly through social media.
In 2024, Mendes praised his performance of “I’m Just Ken” during the Oscars ceremony, as well as his participation in a comedy sketch on Saturday Night Live, which included a reference to their relationship. Mendes referred to herself humorously as his “Cuban wife” in that post, echoing the tone of the sketch.
While Gosling and Mendes maintain a private family life, Mendes occasionally comments on his career milestones. Her recent post follows a wave of support from across the film industry after the Academy confirmed its decision to recognize stunt coordination and design with a competitive category, beginning with the 2028 ceremony.
