Ryan Gosling is pretty picky and choosy about the acting gigs he takes and isn’t just here for the paycheck. From playing the monotonous relatable me guy to showcasing his comedic skills in the critically acclaimed The Nice Guys, Gosling hasn’t backed away from challenging himself with varied roles over the years.
Following his love for the craft, ever since his initial days in Hollywood, the actor has no problem taking a substantially lesser paycheck in order to star in certain projects. And in one case, the actor almost landed an Oscar win, thanks to his commitment.
Ryan Gosling Only Earned $1000 a Week for the Film That Earned Him an Oscar Nod
Following Ryan Gosling‘s illustrious career, the actor has cemented himself at the top by starring in several highly acclaimed projects, including Blade Runner 2049, Drive, La La Land, etc. But before landing these high-profile jobs, the actor rose to stardom by starring in classics, including The Notebook, and Half Nelson, which earned him his first Oscar nod for Best Actor.
However, for his job in the social commentary, Half Nelson, the actor only made $1000 every week, and in total, made only $3200 for his work in the movie. Following the movie’s success, the actor went on to explain his reasoning behind taking the gig despite the low pay, stating the character of Dan Dunne resonated with him personally.
“You know how in movies people realize stuff about themselves and are able to implement it into their lives. Well, I’ve never been able to do that and I don’t think I’m alone in that.” He said, “What I felt about Half Nelson was that I could relate to the day to day struggles of the characters, even if the specifics are different from my own struggles.”
This isn’t new for actors to choose their love for the craft over the tempting paycheck, like Edward Norton, who takes a pretty low amount for starring in Wes Anderson’s movies. And following the success of Gosling’s career, his love for art over the paycheck has definitely worked in his favor.
The Reason Why Ryan Gosling Took Barbie
Like Half Nelson, Ryan Gosling decided to star in the recent Greta Gerwig-led Barbie due to his love for the material. Although the actor did make a substantial amount for his work in the movie, which is being praised unanimously throughout the globe, it was the writing that attracted the actor to star in the film. Even though Margot Robbie’s Barbie is the main attraction of the movie, Gosling’s Ken doesn’t play second fiddle to her character, embarking on his own journey of self-worth and validation. The actor joked about accepting the role, stating,
“Best script I’ve ever read. I walk out in the backyard and you know where I found Ken, Jimmy? Face down in the mud next to a squished lemon.”
With another fantastic addition to his impeccable resume, Ryan Gosling keeps on perfecting his track record, and fans won’t be surprised if he lands an Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actor for Barbie.
Half Nelson is available to stream on Peacock
Source: MoneySense
