On-screen, she’s every guy’s fantasy, but in real life Eva Mendes says she’s a girl’s girl.

“I don’t understand women who don’t like being with the girls,” the actress, 34, tells Marie Claire for its September issue. “They say they’d rather be with the guys all the time? That it’s just so much easier? I’m calling bull—- on that.”

After starring alongside such leading men as Will Smith, Joaquin Phoenix and Denzel Washington, Mendes says her upcoming role in The Women was a welcome change.

“Every morning I got up and thought, ‘I’m going to see Annette %26#91;Bening%26#93; today, I need to make sure she thinks I look cute,’” says Mendes. “Jada %26#91;Pinkett Smith%26#93;’s gonna be cute. Meg %26#91;Ryan%26#93;’s gonna be cute. I’d better be cute. I’m sure I sound like a ditz saying this, but it’s a girl thing. A timeless, ageless, ethnicity-less girl thing.”

• Are the reality TV cameras trailing them? Kim Kardashian, indulging in a little pampering with a stop at a Beverly Hills nail salon with her mom, Kris Jenner.

• Another mother-daughter duo, Miley Cyrus and mom Tish, doing a little private “shopping” at Alison Brod Public Relations’ showroom in New York. The starlet, outfitted in a flannel shirt and jean shorts, was “sweet,” a source says, as she looked through the clothing and chocolate. Cyrus left with makeup, jewelry, as well as Stetson hats and boots.

• David Beckham, enjoying a sweet finish to his dinner at STK in New York. That’s because the footballer ordered cotton candy! Beckham also drank water during his meal with two friends at the swanky eatery.

• Adam Levine and his Maroon 5 bandmates, bowling at The Dolce Group’s Ten Pin Alley in Atlanta. According to a source, the singer was having a ball - maybe because he was bowling a strong game. Levin nearly broke 200, and played “the game of his life.” The band also happily posed for pictures with fans at the alley.

• Denzel Washington, relaxing in the sun and puffing on cigars at Nikki Beach Saint-Tropez - all while chatting with wife Paulette on the white linen daybeds.

• Counting Crows singer Adam Duritz, taking his third row seat at the Tony Award-winning musical In the Heights on Broadway. Earlier that week, the musician caught the final performance of Passing Strange, also on Broadway.

Also Spotted …

• Former Saturday Night Live star Rachel Dratch, yelling into her cell phone outside Houston’s, a restaurant in New York. … Taryn Manning, popping a bottle of bubbly with nightlife impresario Mike Satsky at Grey Goose Manor in the Hamptons.

• By DAVID CAPLAN, JENNIFER GARCIA, LESLEY MESSER, CALLIE SCHWEITZER, ALYSSA SHELASKY and EMMET SULLIVAN

Celebrity Hot Spots.

Wednesday’s Caught in the Act >

Kanye West, Chris Brown and Alicia Keys were big winners at Tuesday’s Black Entertainment Television Awards in Los Angeles.

West came out a double winner, snagging awards for both best male hip hop artist and best collaboration for his single “Good Life,” sharing the award with rapper-producer T-Pain.

Brown took home the best male R%26B artist award at the star-studded event, hosted by D.L. Hughley, which boasted an opening performance of “Love In This Club” by Usher.

Brown enlisted the help of Ciara for his “Take You Down” performance, while the crooner’s girlfriend Rihanna entertained the audience with her ballad “Take a Bow.”

Keys snagged the best female R%26B artist award, telling reporters her onstage collaboration “was very exciting for me to combine all of the people I admire.”

Other winners included Missy Elliott (best female hip hop artist), Halle Berry (best actress), and Denzel Washington (best actor).

Jill Scott, Anthony Hamilton and Maxwell paid a musical tribute to Al Green who received the legendary lifetime lward. Actress Queen Latifah presented Quincy Jones with the humanitarian award.

All the star power in the world couldn’t keep the Lakers from blowing a 24-point lead in their devastating loss to the Boston Celtics Thursday night at L.A.’s Staples Center.

“Good for Boston,” Will Smith graciously conceded to PEOPLE after the Celtics’ 97-91 win. He was followed to the exits by a grim-faced Jack Nicholson, a dejected Penny Marshall and disconsolate Justin Timberlake.

But the crowd - which included L.A. supporters Denzel Washington, Tobey McGuire, David Beckham, Nicky Hilton, Ryan Seacrest, Randy Jackson, Dustin Hoffman and Fergie - did contain a few Boston fans.

“It’s a good year for comebacks,” he told PEOPLE. “For the Celtics and the New Kids on the Block.”

Michelle Kwan was there to cheer on the Lakers - and to admire the players’ fit physiques. “They’re all good-looking,” said the L.A. native. “They have nice bodies …. And then you see that passion for the game.”

But her beloved Lakers are in a tight spot now, down 3-1 in the NBA championship series. (The Celtics need just one more win to clinch the title.)

“I think we’ll win it all in game six in Boston next week, and then we’ll celebrate the night,” Wahlberg predicted.

But would his brother Mark (who’s been - gasp! - rooting for the Lakers lately) join in the fun? “Right now, I think his blood is turning purple and gold a little but,” Donnie admitted, referring to the Lakers team colors. “We’re gonna have to fix that!”

No debate: Denzel Washington’s film The Great Debaters won hands down Thursday at the 39th annual NAACP Image Awards.

The period drama about a debating squad that takes on Harvard was named best film of 2007, and Washington also was honored as best actor. His costar Jurnee Smollett was cited as best actress.

“I’m happy for everybody up here,” Washington, who directed the film, said while accepting the award at Los Angeles’s Shrine Auditorium. “I’m very grateful for this one, but in particular, just happy that some of these young people are recognized for their work.”

this.”

Chandra Wilson Honored

In television categories, Grey’s Anatomy was named outstanding drama series, and its star Chandra Wilson picked up a trophy for outstanding actress in a drama series. Costar Kate Walsh was on hand to support Wilson at the ceremony.

And Ugly Betty’s stars America Ferrera and Vanessa L. Williams won outstanding actress and supporting actress in a comedy series, respectively.

As a father of four, Denzel Washington tells his kids that the world can be an imperfect place - but advises them not to be brought down by the imperfections.

“I try to teach my children there are going to be obstacles,” Washington, 53, said on Monday’s Early Show, about his remembrances of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. “Someone may not like you just because they don’t like themselves. But, don’t you get bogged down.”

Washington, who played civil-rights icon Malcolm X in the 1992 movie, says that when he was growing up, his family talked about King, Jr. and the 1960s civil rights movement.

“My father was a minister in the Church of God and Christ,” said Washington is stars in the current movie, The Great Debaters. “There was talk of this other guy, Malcolm X, that was not allowed to somehow be talked about. And of course, there was Martin Luther King.”

Denzel Washington, director and star of the Golden Globe-nominated The Great Debaters, is donating $1 million to Wiley College to re-establish the debate team portrayed in the film.

Washington plays educator and poet Melvin Tolson, who mentored the all-black college’s elite debate squad in the 1930s. During an appearance in Marshall, Tex., last week, Washington, 52, said he would like to see the team brought back.

-Karen Salkin