Ryan Gosling had his career breakthrough when he landed the challenging lead role of Danny in the controversial film, The Believer. Gosling also received high praise for his work in the psychological thriller, Murder by Numbers, opposite Sandra Bullock. Gosling’s desire to pick intricate and complex characters led him to being cast in the lead role of Leland in the film, The United States of Leland, opposite Don Cheadle and Kevin Spacey. The Notebook is a bit of a switch for him and here is what he had to say about it.
What is the meaning of this film for you? How important was it for you to do a film like this?
Ryan Gosling: Well, it was very different from the films I’ve done so it was very important for me. I felt like I wanted to play a character that had clarity and knew what they wanted; I felt the distilled difference between myself and the character.
Is it true you were once a mouseketeer with Britney spears and Christina Aguilera?
Ryan Gosling: That’s the rumor.
Do you feel like you’ve come along way from those days?
Ryan Gosling: Uh huh. I was so young, so I don’t remember a whole lot from that time except that I rode a lot of rides at Disneyland all the time.
Well you Canadians are everywhere! Is that the connection of why you and Rachel had such a connection in the film, because you’re both Canadian?
Ryan Gosling: I don’t know, what it was, I mean she’s a lovely girl, so I think that might have helped.
The director, Cassavetes, says that the two of you went across the country auditioning girl’s together. What was the difference between the girls that auditioned for the role, versus when Rachel auditioned?
Ryan Gosling: I think the big difference is that the girls would usually ask us what we wanted, or how it should be played, and I don’t know anything about woman and Nick doesn’t know anything about woman, and we needed someone who could tell us, and not be influenced by what other wanted. You know, Hollywood usually doesn’t have strong woman in films like that and it’s stupid, so for the most part they’re usually being directed and written by men. So when Rachel came in we asked do you have any questions, and she said “no”. Nick asked, so you understand the character? She said “yea” and then Nick said action, and she ran the gamete of emotions, and she wiped tears off of her face when she was done, picked up her stuff and then walked out. She was like that throughout the film.
Can you define how chemistry is created or is it simply theory?
Ryan Gosling: I can’t define it.
So is it more organic?
Ryan Gosling: I don’t know how. I think we had a mutual respect for one another. She brought it to the set and I did the same thing and I think that’s what it was.
What about the Ferris wheel? Was that you or were you in front of a blue screen?
Ryan Gosling: No it was me.
Did you have to work out to hold on like that?
Ryan Gosling: I did put on weight for the last half of the film, but the Ferris wheel scene was shot with a harness on me so that if I fell I wouldn’t fall all the way.
When I saw that I thought that’s not really him, they wouldn’t risk him getting hurt and lose the films lead male.
Ryan Gosling: Well what’s interesting is that they shot that scene last.
So why did you put on weight?
Ryan Gosling: Well, I figured you know, when he starts rebuilding the house and , him being a country boy, you know, he would definitely be much stronger.
How much weight did you put on?
Ryan Gosling: I think about 25 pounds.
Did you work out in the gym all day for that?
Ryan Gosling: I worked building furniture for the film that was really used. I worked with a man named Walter Smith and we worked together for like two months. I actually made the table that my character and Rachel’s use to consummate the relationship.
So did you like being a carpenter?
Ryan Gosling: I liked it a lot! I really did.
How did you research the war stuff?
Ryan Gosling: I have a friend that is a WW2 buff and we sat and talked a lot about stuff like the war and the reasons behind it, and you now it’s all in the uniform. Once you’re in it, it usually does all the work for you.
So did you have a problem or was there something inspiring about working with an actor like Rachel that is basically the lead in the film and is such a strong character?
Ryan Gosling: I like working with actresses, and I like woman a lot, not for obvious reasons, but just in that that there’s so much about what they bring to the scene that keeps it so interesting. Their instincts are so different, and they never explain them to you but in film it will get spelled out.
So what next for you?
Ryan Gosling: A movie called Stay.
What’s that about?
Ryan Gosling: It’s directed by Marc Forster, who also did Monster’s Ball and Naomi Watts is in it, and visually it’s stunning. It’s about a young guy, me, who’s going to commit suicide. He goes to his therapist and tells him the same thing and the therapist only has a few days to save him.
Who’s the therapist?
Ryan Gosling: Ewan McGregor. And the therapist is trying to help him, but in the process of trying to help him, the therapists own reality starts to fall apart.
