Actress Eva Mendes, 34, went to rehab early this year for an apparent substance abuse problem. Not much came out about Eva’s issues and she had them treated kind of quietly and then emerged in plenty of topless and racy photoshoots, which definitely served to distract the public from whatever mild image fallout she may have otherwise suffered. Eva recently spoke to E! News’ Marc Malkin and told him that she’s in therapy and is open about it because she thinks there should be no shame in it. She also said that a lot her earlier problems stemmed from the inequalities in the world and her inability to accept that she was so rich and successful compared to most:

“I’m big on therapy,” Mendes told me yesterday. “I’ve always said I love talking about therapy, because there’s nothing wrong with it. Why wait until something goes terrible in your life to start fixing things?”

Mendes, 34, has never talked details about why she did a stint in rehab earlier this year, but she did tell me that one of her biggest issues was coping with her own success. “Up until recently, I was really uncomfortable with having success and enjoying it,” Mendes says. “I just couldn’t deal with that. How can I have so much? It’s not fair. How can the world have so little?…I allowed it to mess with me in the sense that I just didn’t know how to handle it.”

Things are different now. “I’ve really broken it down to this simple thing: I deal with everything by giving it away,” Mendes explains. “It’s genius. It works.”

She literally gives things away, like the new pair of Cartier sunglasses she insisted an elderly friend of hers keep when she tried them on. “I said, ‘You need to have them. They look really good on you,’ ” Mendes says.

[From E! Online]

Mendes also talked about her group of female friends and how they’ve helped her get through problems and mentioned the boyfriend she rarely talks about, filmmaker George Augusto, saying he understands her as he’s from a family of five sisters:

In director and writer Diane English’s upcoming The Women, Mendes plays Crystal Allen, a smokin’ hot Saks salesgirl having an affair with married businessman Stephen Haines. Like Stephen’s wife Mary (Meg Ryan), Mendes credits the women in her life for getting her through the tough (and happy) times. “I’ve run into some women in my life who are like, ‘I don’t have any girl friends. I only have guy friends,’” Mendes says. “And I’m like to the guys, ‘Run for the hills when you hear a girl who says she only has guy friends.’ That is a bad situation, because all women should have their base of girls.”

Where does that leave her longtime filmmaker boyfriend George Augusto? “He actually grew up with all women in his family,” Mendes says. “His mom has five sisters, so he gets it.”

[From E! Online]

Mendes next stars in The Women with Meg Ryan, Annette Benning and Jada Pinkett Smith. There are no men shown in the film, just like the 1939 original version it’s based on. Mendes joked that she pictured someone specific when thinking about the married man her bombshell character is having an affair with but says she can’t say who he was because “Those are secrets of the trade.” The Women is out the US on September 12.

For Jessica Simpson fans waiting for the star’s first country music video, come on over!

The singer is premiering the video for “Come On Over” – the hit single off her debut country album Do You Know?, out Sept. 9 – on her Web site Friday. The video will be available online until its TV premiere on EXTRA Monday night.

“I had so much fun making my video, I’m so glad y’all finally get to see it!” Simpson – who celebrated her 28th birthday Thursday – wrote on her Web site.

Liz Friedlander, who has directed clips for Celine Dion, R.E.M., and Blink 182, shot Simpson’s video at the Little Creek Ranch in southern California.

The singer has made some memorable videos: She had fans in a lather over her steamy car wash in the 2005 clip for “These Boots Were Made for Walkin’,” and 2006’s “A Public Affair,” directed by Brett Ratner, co-starred Eva Longoria, Christina Applegate, Eva Mendes and Christina Milian.

For “Come On Over,” there aren’t any celeb cameos – but fans will get a glimpse of the bottle for her new perfume, Fancy.

In May, Simpson became the highest-charting debut solo artist in the history of the Billboard Country Singles Chart when “Come On Over” debuted at No. 41.

Reports on the internet and in print that Courteney Cox Arquette is bent on getting a big-screen “Friends” movie made on the heels of “Sex and the City’s” success as a feature – and that everyone but Jennifer Aniston is on board – come as news to Lisa Kudrow.

“As soon as we wrapped, there were rumors about a movie — started by I don’t know who – but they’ve never been true,” says the former Friend Phoebe.  “The only thing I heard: it would have to be done by the people who created the show, and no one has made them interested enough to write it.”

As far as her own interest?  “I think it would be so fun to be with all those people again, but our show was not like ‘Sex and the City,’ which was a single camera, filmic show anyway.  Ours was multi-camera, in front of a live audience.  It’s a completely different feel.

You’d have to bring the tone down, and I don’t know how it would be.  I’ll just stay open.”

Kudrow has a full plate without a “Friends” movie, including several independent features in the can and a film to make this fall with Jeff Daniels. First up: she stars in the July-opening limited release dramedy “Kabluey,” playing a soldier’s wife who is trying to keep things going on the home front while he’s in Iraq – and makes the mistake of allowing her brother-in-law to become her kids’ nanny.

It’s from first-time filmmaker Scott Prendergast, who also plays the bad babysitter based on his own experiences.

Referring to her short-lived but acclaimed HBO series, she says, “One of the writers on ‘The Comeback,’ Heather Morgan, knew Scott and she told me, ‘This guy who used to be in the Groundlings program and is really talented — he loves our show!’  She was so excited.  That meant a lot to her because she really respected this guy and his taste.”  Years passed, then along came “Kabluey.”  “When I read the script, I thought he had a unique, interesting voice,” says Lisa.  “He’s so good!”

THE VIDEOLAND VIEW: The fifth season of “Stargate Atlantis” launches July 11 — with several cast changes, including a shift from starring to recurring status for Amanda Tapping, and Robert Picardo essentially taking her place as the mission leader on the Sci Fi series.  This “could be” a transitional year, agrees the show’s wryly witty star, Joe Flanigan.  “I’ve been tempered by my experience not to make any bold statements.  It’s definitely been a different experience for us with the changes. The storylines seem to be a little more sophisticated.”  But he can’t talk about them.  Offers Flainigan, “I’ll give you one secret:  I don’t die.”

Flanigan does say, “I’d like to see a little more exploration of my character. They’re kind of working on a couple of ideas we could possibly do.  I certainly don’t feel the well is dry in terms of continuing to make these characters interesting.  Still, there’s no doubt about it – the challenge of keeping a character dynamic through a number of seasons is a real one.  In the genre of science fiction maybe less so, because you’re dealing with big external threats and bizarre situations,” he says.

“Luckily, we all like each other and keep each other sane, which is a major plus,” he adds.  “If you’re going to spend this much time on a project, you’d better enjoy the people you’re working with.”

ANOTHER DAY JOB HEARD FROM: John O’Hurley of “Dancing With the Stars,” “Family Feud,” dog show and commercial renown has developed a professional life for himself outside the entertainment realm — picking up where former “Monty Python” star John Cleese left off by creating up-to-date instructional business videos.

“There hasn’t been a celebrity driven business-oriented piece of instructional communication since John Cleese did this back in the mid 80’s.  I studied his business model, quite frankly,” O’Hurley tells us.  ”We premiered our first video called ‘Love Your Customer’ and we’ve been told there’s nothing like it in the business.  This will be the first of many that I do.”

Yes, don’t let his stint in those tight “DWTS” pants fool you!  ”I have a strong business presence because I own six companies,” says O’Hurley, “so I think I know what I talk about.”

FIELD OF SCREAMS: There’ve already been more than seven films made from, or inspired by, Stephen King’s “Children of the Corn” — some of which the author has pointedly disavowed — with stars ranging from Charlize Theron and Naomi Watts to Stacy Keach and Eva Mendes, to Ahmet Zappa and Karen Black.  So of course it’s time for another remake!  The latest “Children of the Corn” is scheduled to start shooting in August, from horror producer Donald Borchers (“Leprechaun 2,” “Voodoo,” etc.) Casting is underway.

Yes, that is Petra Nemcova kissing Eva Mendes at the Happy Hearts Fund Gala recently. Petra and Eva stopped for a little photo session on the red carpet and had a little fun with it. Not sure if all female attendees had to wear white or maybe they just got together before hand with a memo. Either way, their party got crashed. From out of nowhere, that hound of a male celebrity known as Bruce Willis manages to find himself in a Petra Nemcova and Eva Mendes sandwich.

Fergie and Eva Mendes posed together at Cartier’s LOVEDAY celebration. The celebration was held in LA to launch the new LOVECHARITY bracelet. This special jewelry had its own accompanying ambassadors. Cartier chose a music theme for 2008’s LOVE celebration. The ambassadors included Fergie, Eva Mendes, Janet Jackson, Good Charlotte, Common, Hilary Duff, Emmy Rossum and Ashanti. The LOVECHARITY bracelet has made more than $2.24 million for global charities during 2006 - 2007.

Here’s Eva! Just have a look at Eva Mendes looking as stunning as ever in this formal dark blue dress. Eva’s rehab stint earlier this year must have done the trick because the actress was in great form for the 36th Annual AFI Life Achievement Awards. When Eva Mendes was about how she maintains her sexy shape, she admitted that she’s:

“… sticking to my exercise regime. I’m actually taking advantage of my time off. You know, I had a film that was pushed, so I’m home spending time with my family, going to the gym and actually enjoying taking care of myself …. This year has been great for me because I’ve learned how to relax. The last three years have been amazing but kind of crazy. So I don’t know, I feel grounded. I feel really good.”

Eva Mendes joins the “Lieutenant’s” ranks. Robert Downey Jr. plays “Cowboys & Aliens.” Plus, Amanda Peet sets her clock ahead to “2012.” It’s all in the latest edition of the Access Hollywood Casting Call!

Eva Mendes is in talks to join Nicolas Cage in a remake of the 1992 drama “Bad Lieutenant,” according to Variety.

The original film starred Harvey Keitel as a corrupt cop investigating the rape of a nun.

“Bad Lieutenant” marks a reunion for Cage and Mendes, who previously teamed up for the 2007 film “Ghost Rider.”

Shooting is slated to begin later this summer.

Mendes recently wrapped production on “The Women,” an ensemble comedy co-starring Meg Ryan, Jada Pinkett Smith and Debra Messing.

She will also soon be seen in the Frank Miller film “The Spirit,” scheduled to hit theaters around Christmas 2008.

*****

Fresh off his uber-success as “Iron Man,” Robert Downey Jr. is in negotiations to star in “Cowboys & Aliens,” per The Hollywood Reporter.

The film, described as a “pulpy mix of the sci-fi and Western genres,” focuses on an Old West battle between the Apache and Western settlers, which is interrupted when a spaceship comes crashing down into the prairie in old time Arizona.

Downey is in line to play a former Union Army gunslinger named Zeke Jackson.

The Apache and the cowboys must join forces to fend off their extra terrestrial invaders.

Next up for Downey is the comedy “Tropic Thunder,” alongside Jack Black and Ben Stiller. In the fall, Downey takes on the role of a schizophrenic homeless musician in the drama “The Soloist.”

*****

Amanda Peet will star in the disaster film “2012,” per The Hollywood Reporter.

She joins the previously announced stars John Cusack, Thandie Newton, Danny Glover, Oliver Platt and many more in the Roland Emmerich project.

“2012” centers on the heroic struggle of survivors following a global cataclysm.

Peet will play Cusack’s ex-wife, who has recently re-married a wealthy man.

The duo also shared the screen in the 2007 drama “Martian Child.”

Peet recently finished shooting the crime caper “Real Men Cry,” opposite Ethan Hawke, Mark Ruffalo and New Kid on The Block Donnie Wahlberg.

She also will co-star in the upcoming sci-fi blockbuster, “The X-Files: I Want To Believe.”

“2012” is set to hit theaters in July 2009.

*****

Now that he’s unleashed “The Incredible Hulk” upon moviegoers, director Louis Leterrier is in talks to develop and direct “Strays,” an environmental action thriller, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“Strays” follows a group of young business consultants on a business trip to Russia, who mysteriously awake inside an abandoned and radioactive city, where they must fight deadly obstacles to survive.

No potential casting info is available yet.

Leterrier’s other directing credits include “The Transporter 2” and the Jet Li film “Unleashed.”

Copyright 2008 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
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In January, 30-year-old actress Eva Mendes unexpectedly checked into rehab.  It is now speculated the Cuban-American actress committed herself in order to better prepare for a role in a new movie in which she plays a Spanish drug lord.

Her acting coach told Star Magazine, “It’s not unusual at all for an actor or actress to go to the extreme of checking into rehab to prepare for a character. In fact, I would encourage that for my students, because you want to fully immerse yourself in the role.”

Boo!  Boo!  What kind of bull is this? Ugh, and here I though she checked in because of her sex addiction.  Or at least I was hoping as much.

Eva looks like the kind of chick who really gets wet at the idea of their being a big juicy c()ck pulsating inside her mouth.  Any takers?

Marisa Miller becomes the first to debut in the number one position on Maxim Magazine’s Hot 100 list, which was just released this week. And oddly enough, Marisa had previously never been included in the Hot 100 list, but this was an exceptional year for the model. Not only did she grace the cover of Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit edition, she was added to and took home the number one spot on Maxim’s Hot list.

Marisa was followed by Scarlett Johansson, Jessica Biel, Eva Longoria Parker, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Elisha Cuthbert, Eva Mendes, Christina Aguilera, Lindsay Lohan and Ashley Tisdale to round out the top 10.

Actress Megan Fox, who was FHM’s Sexiest Woman in the World in 2008, was only garnered the number 16 position. Other women who were listed are Rihanna, Beyonce, Britney Spears, Jessica Alba, Hilary Duff, Heidi Klum, Jessica Simpson, Charlize Theron, Gabrielle Union, Mariah Carey, Cameron Diaz and Mischa Barton.

And pulling off a trifecta for “The Hills” stars, Heidi Montag, Lauren Conrad and Audrina Patridge all made the Maxim Top 100 list, in addition to everyone’s favorite reality star and MySpace queen, Tila Tequila. However, congratulations are in order for Marisa Miller!

Bonus Marisa Miller Photos: