Advertisement

This Is The Real Reason Ryan Gosling Got The Lead Role In 'The Notebook'

Ryan Gosling
Ryan Gosling

Ryan Gosling. Photo: Getty Images.

Ryan Gosling was single-handedly catapulted to sex-symbol status after appearing in The Notebook.

RELATED: 35 Times We Fell In Love With Ryan Gosling

RELATED: 35 Times We Fell In Love With Ryan Gosling

But according to the film’s novelist, Nicholas Sparks, Gosling landed the role because no-one else wanted it (we assume this is before anyone knew Rachel McAdams was involved too).

"It was really interesting because a lot of the actors said, ‘Well, what’s Noah’s arc?’ ” explained Sparks. “It’s a guy who falls in love and then he just kinda does nothing, and then waits for her to show up and then he’s there and he’s still in love and then at the end of the film, well, he’s still in love. Where’s the arc?”

Luckily for all of us, Gosling didn’t care that his character was a little one-dimensional.

“Ryan Gosling came in and he really brought that story to life,” said Sparks.

According to Gosling though, execs on the movie were wary of giving him the lead in the first place (what is wrong with people?!).

“[Director Nick) Cassavettes called me to meet him at his house,” Gosling explained. “When I got there, he was standing in his backyard, and he looked at me and said, ‘I want you to play this role because you’re not like the other young actors out there in Hollywood.

‘You’re not handsome, you’re not cool, you’re just a regular guy who looks a bit nuts.’”

RELATED: 35 Times We Fell In Love With Ryan Gosling

In a later interview with VH1, Cassavetes elaborated: “When I told [New Line Cinema] I wanted to hire Ryan for the lead, they kind of looked at me like I was out of my mind.”

Apparently Cassavetes is now the one having the last laugh.