Top 10 Ryan Gosling Performances

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#10: Stephen Meyers
“The Ides of March” (2011)

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Our list begins with Gosling’s portrayal of a highly ambitious, but increasingly jaded, campaign manager in a political thriller directed by George Clooney. As he becomes further and further embroiled in political controversies surrounding the presidential candidate for whom he is working, Meyers slowly separates himself from the ideals and morals he claims to stand for. Without a doubt, the greatest thing about this impressive film is the acting, and Gosling definitely excels on his own. But he’s even better when playing off of other talented actors, including Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, and Clooney himself.

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#9: Jared Vennett
“The Big Short” (2015)

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Despite being a member of an A-list ensemble cast, Gosling delivers a memorable performance in this Oscar-nominated comedy-drama about the 2007-08 financial crisis. Serving as a narrator, Vennett often explains many of the more complex economic situations in the film using metaphors and occasionally by breaking the fourth wall. Gosling managed to take an unforgivingly greedy, selfish character and make him genuinely likeable with his charismatic and subtly hilarious performance. Gosling also highlighted the real villains of the global economic meltdown, with his transparency and honesty drawing a sharp contrast to the scheming bankers and white-collar crooks that cheated and then crashed the system.

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#8: Luke Glanton
“The Place Beyond the Pines” (2012)

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For his second collaboration with director Derek Cianfrance, Gosling is grittier than we have ever seen him, donning ragged clothes and a facial tattoo. After spending time as a traveling motorcycle stuntman, Luke discovers that he has an infant son. He gives up life on the road to provide for the child, because he doesn’t want to be like his own father, who was absent for Glanton’s childhood. However, when he finds himself without sufficient funds, it doesn’t take long for Luke to turn to a life of crime, and he uses his motorcycle skills to become a bank robber. What makes this such an incredible performance is how Gosling manages to portray his character as both admirable and terrifying at the same time. Despite Luke’s often violent, harsh nature, Gosling still manages to play a vulnerable man whose main motivation is love.

Without question, this is the role that really pushed Gosling from former child actor to the Hollywood heartthrob he is today. In this tale of two seemingly star-crossed lovers, Gosling elevates the material he is given, turning “The Notebook” into one of the best love stories of recent times. The film follows Noah over the course of many years, and when we first meet him, he’s a young man who quickly falls in love with the beautiful Allie. Although circumstances tear them apart, he never forgets her. This makes their reunion and kiss in the pouring rain that much greater and so unforgettable. Admit it, guys: when your girlfriend made you watch this flick, you kinda liked too.

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#6: Jacob Palmer
“Crazy, Stupid, Love” (2011)

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This good-natured and hilarious rom-com sees Gosling playing an arrogant playboy with a kind heart, who also happens to be seeking to fill a void in his life. The movie is memorable mainly for Gosling’s chemistry with his fellow stars, as he provides some great comedy with Steve Carell and some really heartwarming romance with Emma Stone. Perhaps just as memorable as his comedic antics or the inspiring love story is the surprisingly sympathetic and beautiful arc of his character. Oh, and who can forget that six-pack...?! It’s no wonder he was nominated for a Golden Globe for this performance.

A selfish, people-hating and somewhat unscrupulous private investigator with a tendency to emit a high-pitched, girlish squeal, Holland March is unlike any character we’d seen Gosling portray. Despite his shortcomings, March also has a number of admirable qualities that make him a competent PI and a good father, as well as an overall good person… more or less. Gosling’s brilliant comedic timing works perfectly within Shane Black’s unique directorial style and plays wonderfully against Russell Crowe’s more serious demeanor in what may be one of the best buddy action comedies of recent years.

Although he often plays charismatic or determined characters, Gosling proves how diverse his acting skills are by taking on the role of this painfully awkward recluse. Living in his childhood home’s garage, Lars does his best to isolate himself from the rest of the small town, including his older brother and sister-in-law. Lars finally finds someone he wants to get close to when he develops a delusional romantic relationship with a sex doll. Over the course of the film, we discover that Lars’ insecurities come from being raised by a father dealing with the depression of Lars’ mother dying in childbirth, followed by the quick departure of his brother. Gosling’s sincere and heartfelt performance shows a shy man slowly learning to expand his world.

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#3: Dan Dunne
“Half Nelson” (2006)

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Gosling’s bold portrayal of a dark and troubled, yet highly talented and caring middle school teacher, earned him nearly universal critical acclaim, as well as his first Academy Award nomination. Dunne has many positive qualities, and his importance to his students cannot be understated. He often challenges them and tells them the truth with his unconventional teaching style. However, he is not without a serious dark side. An unstable coke addict, Dunne is often barely able to get up in the morning, and even passes out while coaching a basketball game. As a man seemingly trapped by himself, desperately wanting to change, but too afraid to do so, Gosling’s Dan Dunne moves us with his attempts to stop future generations from making the same mistakes he did.

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#2: The Driver
“Drive” (2011)

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Despite playing a character with no known backstory, few clear motivations, and without even a name, Gosling still manages to deliver an incredibly iconic performance in this neo-noir crime thriller. His stoic portrayal is reminiscent of action stars of another age, and conveys a wide range of extreme emotions through a rare subtlety. Playing a getaway driver who begins a romance with a woman named Irene, whose husband is in jail, we see a softer and caring side to his character. This comes in stark contrast to the intense performance he gives when a gangster sets up The Driver, and he must fiercely defend Irene and her son, adopting a single-minded determination to protect them.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- Julian
“Only God Forgives” (2013)

- Daniel ‘Danny’ Balint
“The Believer” (2001)

- David Marks
“All Good Things” (2010)

- Sgt. Jerry Wooters
“Gangster Squad” (2013)

- William ‘Willy’ Beachum
“Fracture” (2007)

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#1: Dean Pereira
“Blue Valentine” (2010)

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With a narrative shifting back and forth between a young couple falling in love and the decay of their relationship years later, this romantic drama sees Gosling give a beautiful and utterly heartbreaking performance. As a young man, Dean is a deeply caring and emotional underachiever who falls head over heels when he meets a girl he feels a deep connection to. When the narrative shifts forward, Dean is still an underachiever with a dead end job and no greater dreams or ambitions, but he manages to be a kind and loving father while holding onto a dying marriage. Dean is a complex and tragic character, with many pros, as well as character defects; he’s also remarkable, relatable and real.

Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite Ryan Gosling performance? For more dreamy Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to MsMojo.