The Impact of Ryan Gosling’s Career
Ryan Gosling, despite being only 42 years old, already has an immense career behind him. He is a versatile actor, capable of both comedy and drama, dancing, and even singing. He belongs to a rare category of actors that includes Hugh Jackman. Although he is often referred to as a “heartthrob” in sitcoms, his success is not solely based on his looks. His performances in The Big Short, The Notebook, The Nice Guy, and First Man have been praised, and he has received numerous awards and nominations in various ceremonies, including the Oscars and the Golden Globes.
A Change in Genre for Ryan Gosling
However, in the late 2000s, the actor encountered a significant obstacle that undoubtedly weighed on his morale. At that time, Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, still riding high on the success of the Lord of the Rings, were working on a film called Lovely Bones. Adapted from Alice Sebold’s novel, The Lovely Bones tells the story of Susie, a young girl who is murdered on her way to school. She finds herself in the afterlife with the ability to see what is happening on Earth.
Susie observes the devastating effects of her disappearance on her loved ones, who do not know where her body is. The film follows the father, brother, sister, and mother of Susie, with comments from Susie herself, played by Saoirse Ronan. The role of the father, Jack, is portrayed by Mark Walhberg (known for his roles in Ted and Transformers), while the mother, sister, brother, and the killer are played by Rachel Weisz, Rose McIver, Christian Ashdale, and Stanley Tucci.
The Unexpected Change in Casting
Interestingly, Mark Walhberg was not originally selected to play Jack in Lovely Bones. Initially, it was indeed Ryan Gosling who had been chosen. However, worried about appearing too young to portray the father of a teenager, Gosling decided to undergo a radical physical transformation for the role. In a “Christian Bale” move, he gained nearly 30 kilograms in order to look older and reflect the character’s depression. According to various sources, Gosling would drink or eat ice cream whenever he felt like it, making weight gain easier for him.
