You know that feeling when a celebrity interview starts and you can practically hear the publicist whispering in the background? The Ryan Gosling GQ magazine profile from Summer 2023 wasn't that. Honestly, it was the opposite. It was weird, funny, and surprisingly heavy.
People expected a standard promotional piece for the Barbie movie. Instead, we got a deep dive into why a grown man spent months defending a plastic doll with no genitals.
The "Not My Ken" Drama and Why It Actually Matters
When the first photos of Gosling as Ken dropped, the internet did what it does best: it complained. People on Twitter (or X, whatever you're calling it this week) claimed he was "too old." They said he looked "weathered." There was even a hashtag—#NotMyKen.
Gosling’s response in the Ryan Gosling GQ magazine cover story was basically a masterclass in polite trolling.
"I would say, you know, if people don't want to play with my Ken, there are many other Kens to play with," he told writer Zach Baron. He pointed out the total hypocrisy of the outrage. Nobody ever cared about Ken before. Ken’s job is "beach." Not "lifeguard," not "surfer." Just... beach.
He was an accessory that Barbie never even really liked.
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That Viral Backyard Story
There’s this specific detail from the interview that sounds like it’s out of a movie script, but it’s 100% real. Greta Gerwig offered him the role. He went into his backyard to think about it. And there, face down in the mud next to a squished lemon, was a Ken doll.
He took a photo of the "crime scene" and texted it to Greta: "I shall be your Ken, for his story must be told."
It sounds ridiculous. It is ridiculous. But that’s the thing about Gosling—he treats the ridiculous with absolute, deadly seriousness. That's why the movie worked.
Owning the "Hammer Pants" Version of Himself
For a long time, Ryan Gosling was the "serious" actor. He was the guy in Half Nelson or the silent, brooding driver in Drive. He seemed to be distancing himself from his Mickey Mouse Club roots.
But in the Ryan Gosling GQ magazine feature, he finally leaned back into his past.
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He talked about the kid he used to be—the one wearing Hammer pants, dancing at the mall, and smelling like Drakkar Noir. "I owe that kid a lot," he admitted. He realized that the "no thoughts, just vibes" energy of Ken was actually closer to his younger self than any of the gritty roles he'd played for decades.
Why He Disappeared for Four Years
Before the Barbie era, Gosling basically vanished. Between 2018 and 2022, he didn't release a single movie.
In the GQ interview, he was candid about why. It wasn't because the scripts were bad. It was because he wanted to be a dad. He and Eva Mendes decided to prioritize their kids, especially during the 2020 lockdowns.
He told the magazine that he and Eva "did more acting in quarantine" than they had in their whole careers just to keep their daughters entertained. He’s obsessed with the "parenting clock." He mentioned hearing it tick and realizing he didn't want to spend his time in the wrong place.
The Evolution of the Ryan Gosling GQ Magazine Persona
If you look back at his previous covers—like the 2015 "Most Stylish Man" issue or the 2011 "Return of the King" era—there’s a massive shift.
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- 2011/2015 Era: He was the fashion icon. The interviews were about his "mystique."
- 2017/2018 Era: He was the auteur. Focus was on Blade Runner 2049 and the craft.
- 2023/2024 Era: He’s the "Kenaissance" man. He’s looser, more self-deprecating, and much more honest about the industry.
He’s moved from being a "leading man" to being a "character actor in a leading man’s body."
Actionable Takeaways from the Gosling Approach
Looking at the way Gosling handled the Ryan Gosling GQ magazine press cycle, there are a few things we can actually apply to our own lives, even if we aren't Oscar-nominated actors.
- Stop Distancing Yourself From Your Cringe Past. If you were the kid in the mall with the bad hair and the loud clothes, that kid is probably the source of your creativity. Don't bury it.
- Lean Into the Hypocrisy. When people criticize you for something they didn't care about five minutes ago (like the Ken critics), call it out. Use humor to disarm the situation.
- Know When to Step Back. Taking four years off at the height of his career didn't kill his "brand." It actually made his return more impactful. If you need a break for family, take it.
The biggest lesson from the Ryan Gosling GQ magazine saga is that you don't have to be "cool" to be respected. Sometimes, being the guy in the faux mink coat defending a plastic doll is the most "alpha" thing you can do.
If you're looking to track down a physical copy of this specific issue, look for the "Global Summer Issue" from 2023. It's become a collector's item for a reason. It wasn't just a puff piece; it was the moment Ryan Gosling stopped being a "movie star" and started being a person.
Next Steps for You: Check out the "10 Essentials" video GQ produced alongside this interview. It shows him staying in the Ken character while explaining why a man needs two pairs of sunglasses (one to hide your sadness, one to reflect Barbie’s greatness). It's the perfect companion piece to the long-form article.