Eva Mendes Speaks Out On Rehab

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Eva Mendes isn't "angry" about rehab and celebrity addictions - just outspoken.

In a chat with Interview Magazine, Mendes was pressed on the subject of celebrities with substance abuse problems, responding to a jab at Alcoholics Anonymous with silence.

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"They're going to have to change the name of it to 'Alcoholics Unanimous,'" interviewer David Colman joked, leading Mendes to pause for a moment.

"I'm not making jokes, because people die from this stuff," she said finally. "I'm not angry. I've lost friends, too - even recently. So I can be a little sensitive on the subject."

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Mendes herself spent time at rehab facility Cirque Lodge earlier this year for reasons she would neither confirm nor deny in the interview.

The "Ghost Rider" actress went on to support others who have battled their problems.

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"I'm proud of people who have the determination and the fearlessness to actually go and face their demons and get better," she said.

With celeb exposure at an all-time high, Mendes said it's easy for stars to get stuck under the microscope.

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"It's because everybody is so highly visible now," she said. "There are so many lies out there regarding my recent trip to Cirque Lodge. But I don't care what people think. I just don't care … I think now we just know way too much about our celebrities. It's not that interesting when you know that much about people. I have no ego about me. It's just better for you not to know, because it really does make me a better actor at the end of the day. You're not going into the movie with all these specifics about me."

Still, when it comes to publicity nightmares, Mendes admits she's been lucky.

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"The media has been pretty nice to me," she said. "They've really trashed some people, so I'm actually thankful that it didn't get too crazy."

For more with Mendes, check out the new issue of Interview, which hits newsstands July 15.