Eva Mendes Says Ryan Gosling’s ‘Cuban Papi’ SNL Sketch Was Inspired by Hanging Out with Her Dad: ‘Finally Paid Off’

> “With Cuban Papi, the thing that was so funny is my dad actually doesn’t speak English and this is like ‘Oh, he speaks a little.’ No, no, no, he doesn’t speak English. He’s been in the country for 50-something years,” Mendes told Fallon.

> “Anyway, so when Ryan and he hang out, it’s very much like ‘Ah! My baby! Ah! Yeah! Hey! That’s my baby! Bootiful, bootiful,’ ” she went on, impersonating the pair’s communication.

> “And that’s it. So, after what? 12 years? It finally paid off,” Mendes told the host.