Ryan Gosling says he won’t take on ‘dark’ roles anymore because it’s ‘best’ for his family

Ryan Gosling has explained that he is no longer taking on roles that put him in a “dark place” because he needs to consider “what will be best” for his family.

The actor, who shares two daughters with his longtime partner Eva Mendes, told The Wall Street Journal (via Variety) that if people have noticed a shift in his acting career in recent years, he wants them to know it’s a conscious decision, because he chooses to take on lighter roles so he can be more present at home with his family.

“The decisions I make, I make together with Eva, and we make them with our family in mind.

“I don’t really play roles that put me in a dark situation,” Gosling said. “Right now I feel like reading the room at home and thinking about what’s best for all of us. The decisions I make, I make with Eva, and we make them with our family in mind first.”

Gosling famously stepped out of his (toy) box last year to star in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, but his acting history proves he’s not just Ken. He also had notable turns as a stuntman turned getaway driver in Nicolas Winding Refn’s violent thriller Drive, a mysterious motorcycle racer in the 2012 crime drama The Place Beyond the Pines, and a booze-soaked detective in the neo-noir Buddy. comedy The Nice Guys – all of which received an R rating from the MPA (Motion Picture Association).

Image credits: Photo by Rich Polk/Variety via Getty Images.
Image credits: Photo by Rich Polk/Variety via Getty Images.

The actor noted that his transition to lighter roles came in 2016 when he signed on to star alongside Emma Stone in the musical extravaganza La La Land.

“It was like, ‘Oh, this will be fun for them too, because even if they don’t come to the set, we practice piano every day or we dance or sing,’” Gosling said of his roles over the years. “Their interest in Barbie and their disinterest in Ken was an inspiration. I thought they were already making little videos about their Barbies on the iPad when it happened, so the fact that I went to work to make one too, we just felt like we were on the same page.”

Gosling’s latest role is as Hollywood stunt performer Colt Seavers in David Leitch’s recently released action comedy The Fall Guy. The actor has already received praise for his performance in the film, with IGN’s review calling it “the perfect vehicle for Ryan Gosling’s comedic timing — not to mention his romantic charm.”

Image credits: Photo by Rich Polk/Variety via Getty Images

Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on X/Twitter @Adele Ankers.