by Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie have emerged as two of Hollywood’s most sought-after leading stars over the past decade.
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Gosling rose to fame in 2004’s romance “The Notebook” and has gone on to earn two Oscar nominations and widespread critical acclaim for films like “La La Land,” “Blue Valentine,” and “Half Nelson.” Robbie burst onto the scene in Martin Scorsese’s “The Wolf of Wall Street” in 2013 and has since established herself as a versatile actress with standout performances in “I, Tonya,” “Bombshell,” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” the latter of which earned her an Oscar nomination.
Though their individual careers have not crossed paths too frequently, Gosling and Robbie have co-starred in three high-profile films together in recent years: 2015’s “The Big Short,” 2016’s “Suicide Squad,” and 2023’s “Barbie.” Their collaborations, though limited, suggest the two share an easygoing and playful rapport both on and off-screen.
The first time Gosling and Robbie appeared on screen together was in Adam McKay’s Oscar-winning film “The Big Short.” The film tells the story of the mid-2000s housing bubble collapse that triggered a major financial crisis. Gosling plays mortgage broker Jared Vennett, who bets against the housing market, while Robbie has a cameo as a woman in a bubble bath explaining mortgage-backed securities. Though they share no scenes together, “The Big Short” marked the beginning of their on-screen relationship.
A year later, Gosling and Robbie reunited for “Suicide Squad,” the DC supervillain team-up film. Gosling cameos as Batman adversary The Joker, while Robbie plays his partner-in-crime Harley Quinn. Though Gosling is only on screen for a few minutes, his appearance opposite Robbie lays the groundwork for the playful, villainous coupling of The Joker and Harley that has become a fan favorite. According to /Film, Gosling took the role as a favor to director David Ayer. Though small, the roles gave fans a taste of Gosling and Robbie’s fun on-screen energy.
Several years passed before Gosling and Robbie worked together again, but 2022 brought the announcement that they had been cast as the two leads in the new live-action “Barbie” film – Gosling as Ken and Robbie as the titular Barbie. The news was met by surprise and skepticism by some, but the two stars expressed enthusiasm for putting a modern spin on the iconic Mattel toys.
In the months leading up to “Barbie’s” July 2023 release, Gosling and Robbie previewed strong off-screen chemistry during their press appearances. Gosling praised Robbie’s performance to ET Online, saying, “Margot’s pretty much a perfect Barbie. She brings it all and makes it look effortless.” Robbie also talked about the thoughtful gifts Gosling gave her to help get into character, including a personal blender so she could make her own protein shakes.
Promotion for the film generated viral buzz thanks to photos leaked of Gosling and Robbie rollerblading in neon ’80s workout attire. The two clearly leaned into the inherent humor and campiness of playing life-sized versions of Barbie and Ken. During the “Barbie” press tour, Robbie told late-night host Jimmy Fallon about a running joke she had with Gosling about the lack of a romantic kiss between their characters.
“I was like, ‘We’ve got to get the kiss in there! When is the kiss happening?'” Robbie recounted with a laugh. Her friends also teased her about missing out on an on-screen smooch with Gosling. The lighthearted anecdote points to a joking, platonic relationship between the two co-stars.
So after three films and over seven years of knowing one another, what is the nature of Gosling and Robbie’s friendship? In interviews, they radiate positivity and appreciation for one another – Gosling told People Magazine that Robbie “can do anything” while Robbie praised his willingness to take creative risks. Their continued collaborations speak to a productive working relationship as well.
But though their off-screen banter suggests friendship, it remains ambiguous whether that extends beyond their films. Gosling is known as one of Hollywood’s most private celebrities, while Robbie typically focuses interviews on her work rather than her personal life. Ultimately, that means the true depth of their bond remains a mystery to the public.
What does seem clear, however, is that Gosling and Robbie harbor only respect and affection for one another. As two hardworking professionals at the top of their game, they bring out each other’s best on screen and maintain warm regard off of it. Fans may continue to speculate whether their chemistry hints at more, but the duo seems content keeping the focus on their work and not their private lives.
If Gosling and Robbie’s busy schedules align for future collaborations, their track record indicates we can expect more sharp on-screen work buoyed by an easy, supportive rapport. Ryan and Margot may not be Hollywood’s newest power couple, but they have established themselves as one of the industry’s most dynamic on-screen duos whose friendship continues yielding cinematic gold. Wherever their individual careers take them next, their performances together have already left an indelible mark.
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