Eva Mendes Cryptically Says She Doesn't 'Look Forward to Another Met Gala' After Attending 8 Times in the Past

The actress last attended the event in 2012

Eva Mendes at the Met Gala in 2008, 2006 and 2012. PHOTO: 

MICHAEL LOCCISANO/FILMMAGIC; EVAN AGOSTINI/GETTY; DIMITRIOS KAMBOURIS/GETTY

Eva Mendes is not sad to have missed the 2024 Met Gala.

On Tuesday, May 7, the day after the annual star-studded event, the 50-year-old actress shared some of her favorite looks she’s worn to the Met Gala over the years — while adding that she doesn’t plan to attend in the future.

“Mami at the Met," Mendes captioned an Instagram photo carousel of red carpet images, showcasing some of her past Met Gala looks. “Although I don’t look forward to another Met Gala -it’s fun to look back at them. These are some of my favorite looks. 💙

The Hitch actress has been to the Met Gala eight times and made her debut in 2004 in a turquoise and pink slip dress with a feathery shawl over top. She also carried a small satin bag that matched the material of the dress.

Eva Mendes at the Met Gala in 2004. 

GREGORY PACE/FILMMAGIC

Mendes skipped the gala in 2005 before returning in 2006. She then appeared at every gala until 2012, when she last attended.

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In 2006, the star wore a beige Empire waist gown with ruffle details at the bust and a halter-style neckline. She switched things up in 2007 with a silver belted mini dress and matching open-toed pumps.

One of her most memorable Met looks occurred in 2008, when she wore a strapless turquoise gown with a daring thigh-high slit. The following year, she went with a simple silver column dress.

Eva Mendes at the Met Gala in 2008. 

MICHAEL LOCCISANO/FILMMAGIC

In 2010, she wore a glamorous mermaid-style gown covered in red roses, her chic updo adding to the elegance of the look. Mendes went back to blue in 2011 with a long-sleeve, off-the-shoulder accordion dress. For her most recent Met Gala in 2012, the actress wore a playful tiered red gown with 3D embellishments around the bust.

Eva Mendes at the Met Gala in 2012. 

DIMITRIOS KAMBOURIS/GETTY

Despite her lack of interest in attending the Met Gala again, Mendes once joked about wearing a dress made of sponges to the star-studded affair. In July 2023, the star shared Instagram photos of herself dressed in a unique tricolored gown that, upon closer inspection, was actually made of her own Skura Style-branded kitchen sponges.

“I think I found my Oscar dress early this year,” Mendes wrote in the caption.

"First look I thought was a real dress #metgaladress," one fan wrote in the comments, to which the actress joked back, "hahah that's a good one - MetBall 2024!" while confirming, "It is a Dress - we pinned them on," referring to the sponges.

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In recent years, Mendes has taken a step back from acting while raising her two daughters, Esmeralda Amada, 9, and Amada Lee, 8, whom she shares with longtime boyfriend Ryan Gosling. The actors met while filming The Place Beyond the Pines in 2011.

"It was the easiest decision I've ever made," Mendes told PEOPLE for the May 2024 Beautiful Issue. "I was older and I knew that my kids are going to be little once, and whatever I do or don't do right now is going to affect them the rest of their life."

"Your career comes and goes but kids, yeah, that was easy for me," she continued. "They're just formative years. I wanted to be there for all of it."