Atlanta, GA 12/17/2010 10:18:14 PM
Eva Mendes gave up her dream of being a nun so she could fulfil her promise to buy her mother a house.
The 'Other Guys'actress wanted to join a convent and devote her life to
the Catholic Church when she was a child but changed her mind when she
discovered nuns didn't get paid.
She said: "We didn't grow up with a lot of money so I would always tell
my mom, 'Mommy I am going to buy you a big house when I grow up, and a
car.'
"And my sister said to me one day when I was ten, 'How are you going to
buy mom all these things? You are going to be a nun and nuns don't get
paid. I said, 'What?'and that was it, my convent dreams were over."
After finding success and fame as an actress, Eva admits it was a very
"proud moment" when she was able to make good on her promise to buy her
mother - who raised her single-handedly after splitting from Eva's
husband - a new home in 2002.
The 36-year-old screen beauty - who has Cuban heritage - is also keen
to give as much as she can to help the community she is from.
She added: "I feel I have so much to be thankful for, and it means
nothing if I can't give back. I do it within my own family and I do it
with certain charities, particularly the art of the Elysium, which
helps children in hospital heal themselves through art therapy."
