Ryan Gosling

The Boy Who Didn't Want to Be a Pop Star

Ryan Gosling auditioned for The Mickey Mouse Club in 1993 because he had nothing better to do in Ontario. He was twelve years old. He shared a bunk bed with Justin Timberlake and learned to dance in front of the cameras long before he knew what kind of adult he wanted to be.

That was military training under neon lights.

But by 2001 he had decided he didn't want to follow in his Disney colleagues' footsteps. He shot The Believer, playing a Jewish neo-Nazi. It was the first time critics understood that this blond kid was after conflict, not easy applause.

Then came The Notebook in 2004. The movie grossed more than 115 million dollars worldwide. And Gosling walked away from conventional romance films just when the world wanted him to stay there forever.

Silence as a working tool

Nicolas Winding Refn gave him a hammer and a car in 2011 to shoot Drive. Gosling had barely any dialogue in the script. The actor cut most of his lines because he preferred the tension to build in the silences and in the stares.

Minimalism became his personal signature.

In 2016, he starred in La La Land alongside Emma Stone. He had to learn to play the piano over three months, practicing six days a week, so no hand doubles were needed in close-ups. The film earned 14 Academy Award nominations and brought him back to the heart of the mainstream industry.

But his career has not been a straight line upward. Between 2018 and 2022, he stepped away from the spotlight to focus on his family. During that time, he didn't release a single feature film.

And the gamble paid off.

Comedy and outer space

In 2023, he suited up as Ken for Barbie. Many doubted he was the right age for the role until they saw the result. His performance earned him an Oscar nomination, and the movie brought in 1,445 million dollars worldwide.

In 2024, he released The Fall Guy as a direct tribute to stunt performers. He did some of his own stunts, including a fall from a considerable height, to give weight to the story's theme of physical risk in film.

For 2026, he has the release of Project Hail Mary scheduled. It is an adaptation of Andy Weir's science fiction novel, directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. The estimated production budget exceeds $100 million.