Eva Mendes.Photo:Tim Hunter / Newspix via Getty

Actress Eva Mendes poses during a McHappy Day visit to Ronald McDonald House in Sydney

Tim Hunter / Newspix via Getty

Eva Mendesloves her role as a mom to two daughters.

During her appearance on theTodayshow on Tuesday, the actress, 50, elaborated on her decision to focus on raising her daughters Esmeralda Amada, 9, and Amada Lee, 7, with partnerRyan Gosling, 43, while theBarbiestar continued in the industry.

“It was like a no-brainer,” Mendes said. “I’m so lucky if I could have this time with my children.”

The mom of two shared that while she does still work, she prefers not to act because “acting takes you on location. It takes you away.”

“It was almost just like a non-verbal agreement that it was like, ‘Ok, he’s going to work and I’m going to work. I’m just going to work here,’ " she explained. “He went and he did his job. He just happens to be really good at his job. And he did it and he came home.”

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In March, Gosling told PEOPLE thatMendes and his daughters gave him some tipsbefore his 2024 Oscars performance of “I’m Just Ken” while at the world premiere ofThe Fall GuyatSXSWin Austin.

“It was great,” the dad of two told PEOPLE. “It was so fun because they came to the dress rehearsal the day before and so they were in the front row.”

“They gave me some tips and some notes, all great notes,” he continued. “They are such a huge part of this for me…it was my girl’s interest in Barbie and disinterest in Ken that got me into this in the first place. It was beautiful to have them there at the end.”

Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling.Dave Allocca/Startraks/Instar

-New York, NY - 03/28/2013 - Focus Features presents the New York Premiere of The Place Beyond the Pines. Stars Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes, Ray Liotta, Dane DeHaan, and Emory Cohe

Dave Allocca/Startraks/Instar

“Mami’s first fashion week in over 10 years!” Mendes wrote, sharing photos of her look from her outing in Milan. “Yup, I haven’t gone to a fashion event since I’ve been a Mama. Time flies when you’re mommying. Thanks for getting me out of the house@dolcegabbana!”

Earlier that month, she also shared thatbecoming a mom had changed her mind about Valentine’s Day, posting a Reel toher Instagramin celebration of the holiday.

“I don’t like love Valentine’s Day. I used to be a rebel and be like, ‘No, Valentine’s Day is bull,' " she said in the video. “But now I like it. I’m a mom now and I’m all like soft and stuff.”

“Yup, I’m a softie now that I’m a Mami of two little girls! ♥️lotsa love out there today and always ♥️,” she captioned the candid clip.

source: people.com