Eva Mendes wanted to become interior designer

Actress Eva Mendes says she would have been an interior designer if she had not become an actress.

The 37-year-old beauty, who has previously released a bed linen collection, loves working on her home and furnishings. She says she would rather do things herself than hire a professional, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

"If I wasn't an actress, I would be an interior designer. I do it as a hobby with my houses - I redesigned two," she said.

"From the actual architecture to designing it decoratively... it's really challenging but I love it," she added.

Mendes - who has been in a relationship with filmmaker George Augusto for nine years - says her passion was encouraged by her mother from a young age, and she is grateful that she was allowed to explore her creative side.