Over the course of his career, Ryan Gosling has tackled numerous challenging roles and earned well-deserved acclaim for his performances, including for the 2023 blockbuster Barbie, for which he has secured a third Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. However, even the biggest stars have their challenges, and Gosling also faced a similar challenge to fulfill his childhood dream of having a photoshoot at the iconic Warner Bros. water tower.
The actor reflected on his fascination with the historical landmark during his recent interview, revealing that he has finally fulfilled his childhood dream despite his fear of heights.
Ryan Gosling’s Childhood Dream Takes a Terrifying Turn at WB Studios
In a daring move combined with nostalgia, Ryan Gosling faced his fear of heights to finally get to the Warner Bros. water tower he grew up watching in the animated TV series Animaniacs. With the assistance of stuntman Chris O’Hara the actor ascended to the tower, situated 133 feet above the bustling city of Los Angeles for the Variety photoshoot.
However, it was a terrifying experience for the actor, as he admitted feeling “frozen” with fear. “Oh, my God,” he said before adding, “My whole body turned to stone. I had no control over it.” The actor shared that he aspired to fulfill his childhood dream despite his fear of heights after portraying the role of Ken in Greta Gerwig’s 2023 film Barbie.
Portraying the character brought him closure to his younger self and symbolized the desire for something greater and acceptance. Starring alongside Margot Robbie, Gosling is nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the 2023 film Barbie at the 96th Academy Awards.
Ryan Gosling Opens Up About His Fascination With the Warner Bros. Water Tower
During his recent interview with Variety, Hollywood star Ryan Gosling shared his childhood fascination with the Warner Bros. water tower, citing the ’90s cartoon Animaniacs as a major influence. The actor recalled,
“When I was very little, there was a show called ‘Animaniacs—And they lived at Warner Bros. in the water tower that was like their clubhouse. I loved that show. And I think it planted some seed in my head.”
He expressed that the show shaped a perception of movie-making as a magical experience at the Warner Bros. lot where one could freely wander through movie sets and even hang out in the iconic water tower. “The lot was just your home, and you wander in and out of Western sets, and you can hang out in the water tower,” he shared.
Gosling’s fascination with the Warner Bros. water tower evolved into a cherished dream. And as he soared to new heights in Hollywood, the actor ascended to the top of the tower to fulfill his childhood dream, which also became a terrifying experience due to his fear of heights.
Greta Gerwig’s Barbie is available to stream on Max.
