Eva Mendes gives birth to baby girl

LOS ANGELES - Hollywood heart-throb Ryan Gosling and his actress girlfriend Eva Mendes are proud parents of a baby daughter, media reports said on Tuesday.

Mendes, who began dating the Canadian actor in 2011, gave birth last Friday, according to US Weekly, which first reported the birth.

The couple had long declined to confirm Mendes' pregnancy. In July she laughed off rumours in an interview with talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, saying: "It's so ridiculous." Celebrity bible People magazine also reported the birth, which was the first child for both actors. Their representatives did not respond to requests for comment.

Gosling is known for films including Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011) and The Place Beyond The Pines (2012), where he met Mendes on the movie set.

The actor - whose previous partners have included Sandra Bullock - was shortlisted for an Academy Award for 2006's Half Nelson. Gosling served up his hugely-anticipated directorial debut Lost River at the Cannes Film Festival this year, which had some critics screaming in pain and others singing his praise.