Awards
Published January 15, 2024, 5:42 am ET
Ryan Gosling is grateful for the life he's built, but he's even more grateful that he found the girl of his dreams to share it with.
The “Barbie” actor, 43, honored his longtime partner Eva Mendes in his acceptance speech at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Saturday evening.
Gosling was quick to praise his leading lady as he accepted the Kirk Douglas Award for Outstanding Film Achievement at the star-studded event.
“Most importantly, I met the woman of my dreams, Eva Mendes, and have two dream children,” said Gosling, after noting that his acting career has allowed him to play many different roles on screen.
“I dreamed of doing films one day and now films have made my life a dream,” he added.
The couple have daughters Esmeralda (nine) and Amada (seven).
Ryan Gosling accepted the Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Saturday evening. Getty Images for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival
In his speech, Gosling admitted he was “unprepared” for the moment and joked that he “should have drank more champagne.”
In his speech, the “La La Land” actor paid tribute to “Barbie” director Greta Gerwig and actor Steve Carrell.
“It's hard to imagine me being at a point in my career where I'm standing here tonight,” he said. “It's just that it's Kirk Douglas. He's one of cinema's first true icons…he's completely in a class of his own, and I'm…just Ken?”
The “Barbie” actor, 43, paid tribute to his long-time partner Eva Mendes in his speech. Sonia Recchia
“Until now I've only thought about how much cinema has done for me. As far as I can remember, I never really thought about what I did for the cinema.”
Gosling also paid tribute to his mother, Donna, who “discovered my weakness in acting” at a young age and selflessly homeschooled him “to show me how to create my own story.”
“That open door wasn’t an elevator going straight up, but I was able to help my mom pay the rent. And by playing other people, I learned who I was,” he added.
In his speech, Gosling admitted he was “unprepared” for the moment and joked that he “should have drank more champagne.” Getty Images for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival
Although Gosling and Mendes have been together for 13 years, public applause – let alone an appearance – is rare for the couple.
Last year, Mendes revealed the unique reason she and Gosling don't appear on red carpets together.
The Other Guys actress said she values her privacy so much that she refuses to let the cameras see them together.
The couple began a romance on the set of their 2012 film The Place Beyond The Pines. Eva Mendes / Instagram Eva Mendez and Ryan Gosling in “The Place Beyond The Pines”. Eva Mendes / Instagram
After sharing an Instagram clip from the couple's first film together, The Place Beyond The Pines, in which they became romantically involved in 2012, Mendes was asked why she doesn't post more snaps with the actor.
“What a cool comment, thank you,” Mendes, 49, wrote in response to a fan who wanted her to appear on the red carpet for Gosling’s “Barbie” movie. “But we don’t do things like that together.”
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“I only like these photos that I posted because they are already out there,” she added.
In a follow-up comment to the same post, Mendes added that she had only appeared on the red carpet once with her boyfriend.
The couple, who have been together for 13 years, have two children together. GC images
“Oh wait — for those who might catch me in a 'lie' — we were only on the red carpet together once, when we were promoting this movie,” she noted.
When asked why she felt uncomfortable posting pictures of the couple together, she wrote: “By 'uncomfortable' I mean revealing our very private lives that we value.” But I'm still itching to have another one Making a film with him…♥️.”
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