Ryan Gosling Made Eva Mendes's 50th Birthday 'Very Special': He 'Constantly Tells Her She's Beautiful' (Exclusive Source)

They are "truly such a happy couple," says the source

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Updated on April 22, 2024 05:25PM EDT

Ryan Gosling attends the 60th anniversary party of TAG Heuer Carrera at Outernet London on April 20, 2023 in London, England., Eva Mendes photographed for New York & Company fashion event, Los Angeles, USA - 13 Sep 2018 — Ryan Gosling; Eva Mendes. Photo:
Karwai Tang/WireImage; Chelsea Lauren/WWD/Penske Media via Getty

Ryan Gosling knew how to make Eva Mendes's milestone birthday special.

Mendes marked her 50th in March, and a source tells PEOPLE that it was an "amazing" celebration, thanks in part to her longtime partner Gosling, 43.

"She seemed very comfortable turning 50. Ryan constantly tells her she’s beautiful. He made her birthday very special," says the source.

The couple share two daughters, Esmeralda Amada, 9½, and Amada Lee, 8 this month.

Says the source, "Eva and Ryan are truly such a happy couple. They’re very supportive of each other’s passions. They’re also grateful for the financial freedom their work gives them, and they’re all about family time."

"They’re great at balancing everything," adds the source.

TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 07: Actors Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling attend "The Place Beyond The Pines" premiere during the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival at Princess of Wales Theatre on September 7, 2012 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Sonia Recchia/Getty Images) — Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling in 2012. Sonia Recchia/Getty

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The pair's romance began after they hit it off while starring together in 2012's The Place Beyond the Pines. Gosling gave a shoutout to Mendes in January when he was honored at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

About his career, Gosling said in a speech, "Most importantly, I got to meet the girl of my dreams, Eva Mendes, and have two dream children. ... I dreamed of one day making movies, and now, movies have made my life a dream."

Actress Eva Mendes poses during a McHappy Day visit to Ronald McDonald House in Sydney, New South Wales. — Eva Mendes in 2022.
Tim Hunter / Newspix via Getty

In a recent appearance on the Today show, Mendes explained her choice to focus on raising her kids while Gosling continued acting. "It was like a no-brainer," she said. "I'm so lucky if I could have this time with my children."

Mendes said 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, 'Okay, he's going to work and I'm going to work. I'm just going to work here,' " she said. "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."