In honour of Ryan Gosling turning 40 this week, we look at his famous roles and explore what makes him stand out and be the biggest heartthrob in Hollywood.
The Gosling phenomenon cannot be denied – this man has mesmerized his audiences and is with no doubt the embodiment of Prince Charming for many. He has set very high standards with his dreamy characters in many iconic rom-coms.
Ryan Gosling is a Canadian actor, whose career started very early on Disney Channel and then moved to film industry. Gosling was only 21 years old when he first starred in a film The Believer (2001). His breakthrough came three years later, when he starred in The Notebook (2004), alongside Rachel McAdams.
In The Notebook, Gosling portrayed Noah – a poor working-class fellow falling madly in love with a beautiful girl from a wealthy family – and he did it so well that he also won the hearts of every woman in the audience. Fun fact – the producers almost casted George Clooney for the role, but I couldn’t even imagine anyone bringing Noah’s character to life better than Gosling. What’s also surprising is that Gosling was chosen because he “was not handsome” (yes, you read that right!). That is pretty ironic considering that he’s now thought to be the hottest actor in Hollywood.
The story of The Notebook itself is so beautiful and the on-screen chemistry made it even better. The unconditional love, passion and emotional scenes – this movie made you long for all that. I think every girl would like to be loved like Noah loved Allie, and that is what started this whole Ryan Gosling obsession – it was not just the good looks, but the way he represented what every girl dreamed of.
In 2010 we saw Gosling star in the independent romantic drama Blue Valentine (2010). Its plot is very different from The Notebook, not portraying the ideal love story you can only find from films and books, but instead focusing on a married couple and their genuine struggles and problems. The beginning of their love story was so sweet, that you keep on rooting for them to work things out – but not every story has a happy ending. It’s a more realistic interpretation of a relationship, and shows Gosling in a different light. His character is flawed, which makes him more relatable.
In 2011 Ryan switches into a womanizer role, playing Jacob in Crazy, Stupid Love (2011). This is also the first time we see the Gosling and Emma Stone duo together. Ryan’s character is this charming Casanova, who is extremely successful with the ladies and teaches his ways to a recently divorced middle-aged man – whose daughter he later starts dating. It’s this classic story of a bad boy turning to a nice guy when he meets a special woman – again the fantasy for many.
He’s also played mysterious and charismatic roles in films like Drive (2011) and Gangster Squad (2013). But his latest iconic role was in La La Land (2016), where he returns with Emma Stone in a romantic musical of two lovers pursuing their careers in Los Angeles. The film was highly appreciated and received amazing feedback from critics and audience. It turns out Gosling is musically talented as well – he impressed everyone with his voice and put hours of effort into learning to play the piano. This masterpiece of the film is the proof that the Gosling appeal is completely justified – how could you not be fascinated by this brilliant man?
I think that there is no uncertainty that Ryan Gosling is exceptional actor, who knows how to bring his characters to life. But what is the real Ryan like? For everyone who has a crush on him, I have sad news for you – he is happily married to Eva Mendes – who he’s been together with for almost a decade.
Image credit: Elle
The couple are also parents to their two cheerful young daughters. Although the pair like their privacy, they don’t mind gushing about each other and their family. Gosling once said in an interview: “Eva’s the dream mother, and they’re the dream babies.
“It’s like a dream that I’m having right now. I’m dreaming it all.”
Being a great husband and father in real life and also being the “perfect man” on screen – he’s got it all. I think there is no more explanation needed for why he’s so loved. Hopefully we get to see some new films from him soon…
By Kirke Viira
Feature image: GQ