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You’ve seen the clips. Maybe it was the one where he’s gasping for air while Greg Davies talks about wearing his mother’s underwear, or perhaps it’s the chaotic energy of him and Harrison Ford basically forgetting how to be professional actors. Ryan Gosling on The Graham Norton Show isn't just standard late-night TV; it’s a masterclass in how a "cool" Hollywood A-lister can completely lose their mind in the best way possible.
Most talk shows feel like a transaction. The actor smiles, says the movie is great, and shares a pre-approved anecdote about a prank on set. But Graham Norton has this weird, magical ability to strip all that away. Honestly, it’s probably the wine. Or the fact that everyone is crammed onto one tiny red sofa like a group of friends at a pub who’ve had one too many.
Why Ryan Gosling is the perfect Graham Norton guest
There is a specific kind of magic that happens when Gosling sits on that couch. Most people think of him as this brooding, "literally me" guy from Drive or the suave romantic lead from The Notebook. But on Graham’s show? He’s basically a golden retriever who just realized he has four legs. He breaks. Often.
Take the 2016 episode with Russell Crowe and Greg Davies. It’s widely considered one of the funniest hours in the show’s history. You had Jodie Foster there, too, trying to keep some semblance of dignity, while Gosling was literally doubled over, hiding his face in his hands because he couldn't stop laughing.
The Greg Davies Incident
If you haven't seen the story about the teacher, the hearing-impaired student, and the "accident" involving a pair of mother’s knickers, you haven't lived. Gosling’s reaction is what makes it. He isn't just "polite laughing." He is physically unable to function. It’s that raw, unfiltered human moment that Google Discover loves because it feels real. It wasn't scripted. You can't fake that level of pure, unadulterated joy.
That chaotic Blade Runner 2049 press tour
Then there’s the Harrison Ford era. If you want to see a man who has zero cares left to give, watch Harrison Ford interact with Ryan Gosling. During their appearance to promote Blade Runner 2049, Ford famously kept "forgetting" Ryan’s name.
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"I read about the character that... uh... Ryan... Ryan?" Ford muttered, while Gosling just sat there, deadpan, looking like he was questioning every life choice that led him to that moment.
They also talked about the time Harrison Ford accidentally punched him in the face during a fight scene. Not a "stunt" punch. A real, solid left hook to the jaw. Ford’s apology? He walked over with a bottle of scotch, poured Ryan a glass, and then walked away with the rest of the bottle.
It’s iconic. 1. The Scotch Incident: Ford brought a bottle to apologize for the punch, but only gave Ryan one glass before keeping the bottle.
2. The Name Game: Ford repeatedly blanked on "Ryan" despite months of filming together.
3. The Cellophane Story: Ryan’s parents once bought a literal truckload of cellophane and made him sell it to his teachers. Harrison Ford’s genuine confusion about the "uses of cellophane" is a top-tier comedy bit.
The Emma Stone "Possum" Meltdown
We can’t talk about Ryan Gosling and Graham Norton without mentioning Emma Stone. They have that "siblings who hate each other but would die for each other" energy.
While promoting La La Land, they told the story of the Dirty Dancing lift in Crazy, Stupid, Love. Emma Stone apparently has a phobia of being lifted over someone’s head—something about a gymnastics accident when she was seven.
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When Ryan tried to do the lift, she didn't look like Jennifer Grey. According to Ryan, she looked like "a possum falling out of a tree trying to scratch your eyes out."
She then went home, crawled into bed, and watched Labyrinth to calm down. It’s these weird, specific details that make their interviews stick. It’s not "we had a great time filming." It’s "I had a nervous breakdown and watched David Bowie in spandex."
What most people get wrong about these interviews
People think these moments are just lucky. They aren't. Graham Norton is a genius because he doesn't do "one-on-one" interviews. He keeps everyone on the couch at once.
When you put a Canadian heartthrob next to a 6-foot-8 British comedian and a legendary curmudgeon like Harrison Ford, the ego disappears. You can't be a "movie star" when Greg Davies is talking about his bowels.
The "Silver Hammer Pants" Legacy
Remember the dance video? Graham somehow dug up a video of a young, pre-fame Ryan Gosling performing at a dance recital in silver hammer pants.
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Most actors would be mortified. Gosling just leaned into it. "I wish I could say someone made me wear that, but it was my idea," he admitted. "I had a vision."
That self-deprecation is why he’s a staple of the show. He knows he’s a bit of a dork, and he lets us see it.
Actionable Insights for the Superfan
If you're looking to dive deeper into the Gosling/Norton cinematic universe, here is how to get the most out of it:
- Watch the Full Episodes, Not Just Clips: The "breaking" moments usually happen because of the 20 minutes of buildup you don't see in a 2-minute YouTube highlight.
- Look for the "The Nice Guys" Press Tour: This was the peak of the Gosling/Crowe bromance. Their chemistry is arguably better than any romantic pairing he’s ever had.
- Check the Red Chair Stories: Often, Ryan's reactions to the "normal" people telling stories in the Red Chair are just as funny as his own anecdotes. He genuinely loves the absurdity of British humor.
Basically, Ryan Gosling and Graham Norton are a match made in entertainment heaven. It’s the perfect blend of Hollywood gloss and "embarrassing story at the pub" vibes. Whether he's licking a Turkish masseuse (yes, that’s a real story he told) or trying to survive a Harrison Ford interview, he remains the undisputed king of the red sofa.
To truly understand the appeal, you have to look at the "Turkish Massage" story from Series 19. Ryan describes a massage gone wrong where the masseuse's "belly went in my mouth." It’s a vivid, horrifying, and hilarious image that no PR person would ever approve, yet there it is, immortalized on the BBC. That is why we watch. That is why it works.