Eva Mendes works as a waitress to research role

Eva Mendes went incognito to work at a diner in Albany, New York earlier this month (Aug11) to prepare for her role as a waitress in upcoming movie The Place Beyond The Pines.

The Hitch star is currently filming the bank heist drama alongside Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper, and to ready herself for serving customers in scenes, Eva Mendes took up real-life training.

She worked a shift at the Route 7 diner in Albany, and manager Colleen Noble was impressed with her efforts.

Noble tells local newspaper The Times-Union, "Only a few customers recognised her. She was a very nice person and very polite. I was very pleased they picked my diner. It worked out great."

The actress shot her scenes for the film in the eaterie earlier this week (begs22Aug11).