Ryan Gosling reveals how he bagged 'The Notebook' role, was told he has 'no natural leading man qualities'

'I realize that I kind of feel like my job is for other people to feel it,' said Ryan Gosling
UPDATED JUN 2, 2023
Ryan Gosling, 42, will be next seen in 'Haunted Mansion' (Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
Ryan Gosling, 42, will be next seen in 'Haunted Mansion' (Amy Sussman/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Ryan Gosling recently revealed that he was told that he didn’t have the qualities to be a ‘leading man.’ The 'Barbie' actor shared during an interview that his director of ‘The Notebook’ made a blunt comment about the actor after casting him in the 2004 flick. “The fact that you have no natural leading man qualities is why I want you to be my leading man," Nick Cassavetes told Gosling.

The star talked about his motivation behind entering the acting platform. “I was trying to find a place to put all these things that were happening to me. And these films became ways to do that, like time capsules. So you kinda make the movie for yourselves. Doesn’t matter if anyone else does, you know? But I think, having done a lot of that, I realize that I kind of feel like my job is for other people to feel it. And it’s cool if I do, but that’s really not the point. The point is that other people do.”

Gosling then reflected on his present career and how he now perceives it. “I treat it more like work now, and not like it’s, you know, therapy. It’s a job, and I think in a way that allows me to be better at it because there’s less interference.”


 
 
 
 
 
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'Didn't imagine myself as a dad'

The ‘Drive’ actor also opened up about his four-year break from acting, “... and I wanted to spend as much time as I could with them. Eva said she was pregnant. I would never want to go back, you know? I’m glad I didn’t have control over my destiny in that way, because it was so much better than I ever had dreamed for myself,” the actor said adding that he hadn’t imagined himself as a father. His latest movie 'Barbie' proved to be a major summer success which honors the generations of children who played with a doll and introduces new and sophisticated gender politics to the scene, according to GQ.

'What would young Ryan say?'

When asked what his younger version will think of this current Ryan, the 42-year-old said, “Um, what would young Ryan say? First of all, I’d be like, ‘Hey, young Ryan, calm down. This dude, Zach, asked me to come back and talk to you.’” Followed by laughs around, Gosling adds, “ ‘Don’t ask how. Don’t ask why, I don’t have time. We’re on a train, and the train’s gonna end, so we only have so much time. [Pause.] You’re gonna be in a Barbie movie.’”

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