For many the name Ryan Gosling only started to mean something after he played the loving Noah Calhoun in The Notebook, an emotional story about the power of love and how it can keep going despite all its obstacles. However, for true fans of Mr Gosling, they will know that he had been in the public light for quite some time before then.

Born on 12 November 1980, UK fans would be excited to know that he was born in London, however, sorry to dash hopes, but this was London, Ontario. His family soon moved to Cornwall, Ontario where Ryan was home-schooled by his mother. His strict upbringing would later act in his favour as it helped him get in the mind-set of certain character roles.

Ryan first began his career at the tender age of 12 after beating 17,000 others auditioning for a place on the Mickey Mouse Club. Alongside him were future stars in the making, including Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera. The Mickey Mouse Club focused on the children’s three talents, singing acting and dancing, and although talented in all three it was in acting where his talents shone. Gosling said himself that he used to dread the dance routines and look forward to the sketch shows as he felt he wasn’t a natural dancer. Despite this he has proved he is capable of both singing and dancing, displaying some smooth dance moves in his films as well as showcasing his vocal talents in his own band Dead Man’s Bones.

After two years of The Mickey Mouse Club and living with Justin Timberlake, Gosling set out to become an actor and roles in Young Hercules (1998), Remember The Titans (2000) and Murder by Numbers (2002) soon followed.

In Murder by Numbers Ryan plays Richard Heywood who with his classmate Justin (Michael Pitt) believe they can carry out the ‘perfect’ murder. That is until detective Cassie Mayweather (SandraBullock) becomes too involved with the case. There are scenes in the film where Richard flirts with Cassie only to be rebuffed, however in real life a romance began between them and lasted almost two years. Unfortunately the fifteen year age gap became too much and they grew apart.

Romance blossoming on set though is something Ryan only knows too well and this once again brings us back to The Notebook (2004). The role of Noah was written with Gosling in mind and although not normally one for taking on a romantic lead, he loved the story and the character and therefore was happy to get involved in the project. The role of Allie was a little bit more difficult to find as the director was now searching for someone who would have strong chemistry with Ryan. Rachel McAdams, who had only been in a couple of films at the time, was the one to knock them off their feet and do an amazing audition.

The love/hate relationship presented on screen in The Notebook is one that transcended the screen and off camera Ryan and Rachel dated for over three years. To everyone they seemed like the perfect couple, both being born in the same hospital only two years apart, and both gorgeous and talented, however it was not to last.

Although they have parted ways, both acting careers have soared and in the last five years, Ryan Gosling has firmly planted himself as a ‘sex symbol’ as well as a credible and extremely good actor who seems extremely wise in the role choices he makes.

Blue Valentine (2010) displays sparks of Noah and his romantic side in the films flashbacks where Gosling’s character Dean falls in love at first sight and pursues the girl of his dreams. However Blue Valentine is a contemporary tale of love and the ups and downs that come with it. Ryan in the present is not quite what he was when he first met Cindy (Michelle Williams) and the contrast in character gives a glimpse of what Gosling could end up looking like and it isn’t good! Thankfully for Hollywood and a good diet, he shouldn’t turn out this way.

Since then Gosling has been in hit after hit, firstly playing a getaway driver in Nicolas  Winding Refn’s Drive (2011) a sensational film with an incredible soundtrack , a press secretary in Clooney’s The Ides of March (2011) and of course as the photo shopped hottie in  Ficarra’s Crazy Stupid Love.

2012 has been a big year for Gosling and 2013 looks to be a better one. Now dating Eva Mendes who he met on the set of The Place Beyond the Pines and with a stream of films due out this year I know what films I’ll be heading to the cinema to see.