Meet Ryan Gosling’s Wife & Look Back at Who Else He Dated Before He Settled Down
We’ve seen him fall in love on screen a million times—whether as Noah in The Notebook or just Ken in Barbie—but in real life, Ryan Gosling’s wife and dating history are a bit more of a mystery.
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The Canadian actor has been known to keep his off-screen romances pretty private. But as one of Hollywood’s leading heartthrobs, it’s no surprise that he’s found his own fairytale love story with his wife, Eva Mendes. In a rare comment about their relationship, Gosling opened up to GQ in 2023 about meeting Mendes on the set of their 2012 film, The Place Beyond the Pines.
“It’s true that I wasn’t thinking about kids before I met her, but after I met Eva, I realized that I just didn’t want to have kids without her,” he told the magazine. “And there were moments on The Place Beyond the Pines where we were pretending to be a family, and I didn’t really want it to be pretend anymore. I realized that this would be a life I would be really lucky to have.”
Get to know Ryan Gosling’s wife and dating history
From A-list co-stars to brief flings, Gosling’s love life has given his on-screen romances a run for their money. So, without any further ado, let’s take a stroll down memory lane and get to know Ryan Gosling’s wife and dating history.
Sandra Bullock (2002-2003)
Ryan’s first high-profile relationship was with none other than Miss Congeniality herself, Sandra Bullock. The pair met on the set of their film Murder by Numbers in 2002, where sparks flew despite their 16-year age gap. Bullock, already a Hollywood mainstay, and Gosling, a rising star, kept their relationship relatively under wraps. They attended a few red carpet events together, but ultimately called it quits in 2003 after about a year of dating. Years later, Gosling would look back fondly on this relationship, telling the UK Times in 2011 that Bullock was one of his “two greatest girlfriends of all time,” per Us Weekly.
Rachel McAdams (2005-2007)
Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdam’s relationship began on the set of The Notebook, but it wasn’t love at first sight. In fact, it was quite the opposite. In a 2014 interview with VH1, director Nick Cassavetes revealed that Gosling and McAdams pretty much hated each other during filming and even got into a screaming match on set. But as fate would have it, their on-screen chemistry eventually translated into real life. They began dating in 2005, two years after filming wrapped.
Gosling explained how they went from enemies to lovers in a 2007 interview with The Guardian. “We inspired the worst in each other. It was a strange experience, making a love story and not getting along with your co-star in any way,” he said. “Two years later I saw her in New York and we started getting the idea that maybe we were wrong about each other.”
While their relationship was a fan favorite, Gosling and McAdams ultimately broke up in 2007. Despite their split, Gosling has always since spoken highly of McAdams, naming her as his other “greatest girlfriend” alongside Sandra Bullock.
Kat Dennings (2009)
Following his split from Rachel McAdams, Gosling was briefly linked to actress Kat Dennings in 2009. Known for her roles in Thor and 2 Broke Girls, Dennings and Gosling were spotted getting cozy at Disneyland. However, this romance was short-lived and was never officially confirmed by either party. It seems one magical day at the happiest place on Earth didn’t lead to a fairy tale ending for these two.
Blake Lively (2010)
In 2010, rumors swirled about a potential romance between Ryan Gosling and Blake Lively. The pair were seen together at the premiere of Gosling’s film Blue Valentine and reportedly enjoyed a few intimate dates, per New York Magazine. However, like many rumored Hollywood romances, this one was over before either party could confirm if they were dating or just friends. Lively went on to marry a different Ryan (as in, Reynolds) in 2012, while Gosling’s heart was soon to be captured by another leading lady.
Olivia Wilde (2011)
Early 2011 saw Ryan Gosling linked to actress and director Olivia Wilde. The duo were spotted on what appeared to be a series of dates in Cincinnati, where Gosling was filming The Ides of March. They were seen holding hands and looking cozy at an aquarium per E! News, fueling relationship rumors. Whether there was a brief romance or just a close friendship, their connection didn’t seem to develop into anything long-term.
Eva Mendes (2011-Present)
And now, for the woman who finally won Ryan Gosling’s heart for good: Eva Mendes. The couple met on the set of The Place Beyond the Pines in 2011, and their on-screen chemistry quickly developed into a real-life romance. Unlike some his previous relationships, Gosling has kept this one fiercely private.
Gosling and Mendes never officially announced their engagement or marriage, but they’re believed to have tied the knot in a secret ceremony. The couple are also parents to two daughters: Esmeralda Amada, born in 2014, and Amada Lee, born in 2016.
Despite their high-profile status, Gosling and Mendes rarely discuss their relationship publicly. However, following his performance in Barbie, Mendes took to Instagram to defend her husband over backlash for his role as Ken. “So proud of my man. So much hate when he took on this role. So many people trying to shame him for doing it,” she wrote, per The Hollywood Reporter. “Despite all the #Notmyken ridicule and articles written about him, he created this completely original, hilarious, heartbreaking, now iconic character and took it all the way to Oscars. So beyond proud to be this Ken’s Barbie.”
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