Eva Mendes explained why she and Ryan Gosling will never walk the red carpet together

Hollywood descended on Los Angeles' Dolby Theatre last night (10 March) for the 96th Academy Awards, but one famous couple notably didn't walk the red carpet together.

Last night's Oscars were filled with memorable moments, from Robert Downey Jr's first ever Oscar win to John Cena taking to the stage to present the Best Costume Design award in the buff.

And, who could forget Ryan Gosling's much-anticipated performance of 'I'm Just Ken' from the Barbie soundtrack, which was up for Best Original Song.

The 43-year-old stepped out in bright pink suit as he was joined on stage by dozens of other Kens who danced and sung along to the anthem.

Gosling was also nominated for the Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, but ultimately lost out to Oppenheimer's Robert Downey Jr.

Prior to the ceremony, the actor walked down the red carpet alongside his mother, Donna Gosling, sister, Mandi Gosling, and stepdad Valerio Attanasio.

But, notably missing was his wife, actress Eva Mendes.

Sonia Recchia/Getty Images

The pair began dating in 2011 and share two children together, Esmeralda Amada, aged 9, and Amada Lee, aged 7.

However, the notoriously private couple haven't appeared on the red carpet together since 2012. And it turns out there's a very good reason why.

Last April, Mendes posted a clip from their film The Place Beyond the Pines on Instagram with the caption: "Magic is Real. We did not meet on set. The magic started way before but here's a little magic captured on camera."

A fan commented on the post, "I really hope Barbie will get through the Awards Season just to see you w Ryan."

To which Mendes replied: "You're the best ! What a cool comment, thank you.

"But we don't do those things together. Like these photos I've been posting, Im only comfortable posting because it's already out there."

Instagram/@evamendes

She also clarified why she's uncomfortable sharing so much online, saying: "By 'not comfortable,' I mean exposing our very private life that we value. I'm still dying to do another movie with him though..."

But, while the 50-year-old didn't appear on the Oscars red carpet alongside her husband, she remained his biggest cheerleader ahead of the big event, taking to Instagram to share a video of herself backstage captioned: "Always by my man."

In another post dedicated to her 'Ken,' she wrote: "You took Ken all the way to the Oscar’s, RG.

"Now come home, we need to put the kids to bed."