Ryan Gosling has cemented himself beyond the boundaries of Hollywood as an international phenomenon capable of captivating audiences with his dazzling, genre-hopping performances. With Greta Gerwig’s Barbie doing exceptionally well at the box office, cinephiles have once again become enamored with the 42-year-old talent’s on-screen magnetism. The stardom that the actor currently enjoys remains a testament to his never-ending efforts.
However, life wasn’t always like this for the Blade Runner 2049 alum. Growing up in an extremely religious household, amidst a family environment that was alleged to have been dysfunctional, Gosling was a lonely child, struggling with several issues at once. His obsession with 1960s actress Raquel Welch was one of the only aspects of his isolated childhood that sparked a newfound passion and inspired him to choose a career path in acting.
Ryan Gosling Reflected On His Mormon Upbringing
Gosling’s religious background is what filmmaker Henry Bean deemed the actor’s plus point when casting him in the contentious 2001 film, titled The Believer. Statements made by the director alluded that the La La Land alum’s childhood and the complexities within which he was brought up made him understand the intricacies surrounding religion. “Ryan understood something about religion. Mormonism is very demanding, and it isolates you the way Judaism isolates you,” affirmed Bean in an interview once.
Reflecting on his Mormon upbringing, Ryan Gosling stated the following in an interview with The Guardian in 2007:
“We were brought up pretty religious. My mother admits it: She says, you were raised by a religious zealot. She’s different now, but at the time, it was a part of everything – what they ate, how they thought…”
Although Gosling was surrounded by devoted and staunch Mormons, the actor revealed that he did not identify with Mormonism. When it comes to the matter of his faith, the acclaimed Hollywood star was instead influenced by his mother to seek his truth, his personal foundation for life, and its varied meanings.
Ryan Gosling Commented On His Lonesome Childhood
In the same The Guardian interview, Gosling referenced the bullying that would occur to him at school. It was mentioned that the actor would frequently become involved in conflicts and neglect his academics, the latter of which was something that the Drive star particularly dreaded. Gosling previously claimed that his inability to grasp concepts accompanied by reading difficulties caused him to become a troublemaker in class.
On a separate occasion, the Hollywood star recalled that he struggled to befriend people until the age of fifteen.
As a result, Gosling was a fairly lonesome child. Some other claims suggest that the household environment within which the actor was raised posed troublesome implications. At a very young age, the Crazy, Stupid, Love alum witnessed his parents separate. Years later, as reported by Radar Online, Canadian court papers detailed both of Ryan Gosling’s parents accusing each other of physical and mental torment and abuse. These reports painted an image that seemed rather grim.
At one point in time, the only company that Ryan Gosling remembers having was television. “When I was growing up, television was my best friend. I was always watching it,” he told The Telegraph in 2008. His consumption of the medium eventually led to him finding his first-ever crush and realizing his passion for the craft.
Read also: Rachel McAdams Felt the Effect of Ryan Gosling Magic Before Even They Started Dating
Ryan Gosling Had A Crush On ’60s Actress Raquel Welch
Talking to the Company magazine, Gosling stated how he got into acting. Here, he once again claimed to be a “lonely child” with barely any friends. He then went on to elaborate on how his friendship with television sparked a passion within him, urging him to get on TV. One of the catalysts to his invigorated fascination for the craft was seeing 1960s American s*x symbol Raquel Welch on The Muppet Show. Following is how the Canadian actor detailed his infatuation for the late actress:
“I was a lonely child, I didn’t do well at school, and TV was my only friend. Then, one day, I saw Raquel Welch on The Muppet Show … She was the first crush I ever had, and I thought, ‘How do I get to meet this woman?’ And then I thought, ‘Well, she’s on TV, so to meet her I have to get on TV myself.'”
Years later, Ryan Gosling’s dream of meeting his first crush came true. Raquel Welch detailed her experiences of approaching the actor on the red carpet of his film, The Big Short‘s screening. Although he failed to recognize the veteran actress at first glance, the two later engaged in what Welch affirmed to be a “nice little chat.”
Gosling’s life, from his lonely childhood years to his glamorous Hollywood stardom, presents itself as a reminder to the world that anything is possible. From the actor, we can seek inspiration to rise beyond the challenges that often limit us. Ryan Gosling’s existence remains a testament to the indomitable human spirit.
Source: The Things
