We’re living in a post-Barbie world and we think it’s time to talk about the facts that make Ryan Gosling more than Kenough!
Since his 2004 appearance in The Notebook, Ryan Gosling has been known for being one of Hollywood’s biggest heartthrobs; a role further solidified by his time in movies such as La La Land and Crazy Stupid Love. However, with Barbie reviving the Gosling hype train, fans are beginning to realize he’s more than just Ken. With that, let’s dive into what exactly makes Ryan Gosling truly one of a kind!
He’s Canadian
You can go ahead and add Ryan Gosling to the list of actors you thought were American, but are actually Canadian. Born and raised in Ontario, Canada, Gosling actually got his start at age 13, from an open call audition in Toronto to be on The Mickey Mouse Club (1993-95); a show that produced a shocking amount of stars, such as Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera.
In fact, for a time, he even lived with the Timberlakes during the filming of the show, since his mother had to return to Canada. Crazy, eh?
He Co-Owns a Moroccan Restaurant
In case you were ever in the mood for upscale dining and Moroccan food in Beverly Hills, Tagine has you covered. Founded by chef Ben Benameur and Ryan Gosling in 2006, Tagine received overwhelmingly positive reviews for good food and atmosphere. There have even been accounts of Gosling hopping in the kitchen when short-staffed.
He Rebuilt the Chevy Malibu in Drive
Truly embodying the mojo dojo casa house lifestyle, during the filming of the movie Drive, Gosling was allowed by director Nicolas Winding Refn to pick the car of his choice for his character, The Driver. However, Gosling took it one step further and renovated the car himself, after it had been bought from an LA junkyard.
Meanwhile, the rest of us non-car people will be busy remembering how to refill our tires correctly.
He Gave Himself A Tattoo
Staying in the realm of DIY projects for a moment, Gosling has a tattoo on his elbow that he etched himself. Don’t feel too bad though if you’re confused about what exactly you’re looking at, apparently that’s a common experience.
In a 2011 interview with The Guardian, Gosling stated, “‘A lot of people think it’s a cactus. It’s become a bit of an ink blot: you see what you want to.’”
He Had A Goth-Rock Band
You did not just misread that subtitle, Ryan Gosling had a goth rock band called Dead Man’s Bones. Started alongside actor/screenwriter, Zach Shields, it was inspired by the deep and abiding love the two shared for all things terrifying, especially The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland. What was originally conceived as a, according to a 2009 article from Pitchfork, “spooky musical theater production”. However, it soon evolved into a concept album instead.
The two even brought in a children’s choir from the Silverlake Conservatory of Music to work on the album, a facility founded by Flea of The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Because of course, The Red Hot Chili Peppers would somehow be involved in this.
