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Ryan Gosling, aged 43, openly expressed his affection for his partner, Eva Mendes, aged 49, at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Saturday. While accepting the Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film, the actor referred to the actress as the “woman of” his “dreams,” as captured in a video of the noteworthy occasion. As the 16th recipient of this accolade, he affectionately acknowledged their two daughters, Esmeralda Amada and Amada Lee, reflecting on the profound impact the acting profession has had on his life.
“Above all, I had the privilege of meeting the woman of my dreams, Eva Mendes, and raising two dreamlike children,” he expressed in his speech. “I once dreamt of creating movies, and now, movies have transformed my life into a dream.”
📼 I Kirk Douglas Award _ Ryan Gosling Acceptance Speech ✨ pic.twitter.com/3awwJ1jJth
— 𝗥𝘆𝗮𝗻 𝗚𝗼𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲 ❀ ๑ೃ (@ryangoslingpics) January 14, 2024
Ryan playfully teased about Greta Gerwig, the director of Barbie, casting him as the iconic doll Ken in the popular film. He humorously shared, “I’ve been incredibly fortunate. I’ve had the chance to visit the moon, portray a motorcycle bank robber, serve as a getaway driver, dance through the stars, play an elementary school teacher—albeit one with a crack addiction—transform into a replicant from the future, embody a gangster from the past, a love-stricken stuntman, and most recently, thanks to Greta, a 70-year-old doll with no pants,” eliciting laughter from the audience.
Expressing gratitude, the appreciative actor extended acknowledgments to some of his most significant industry inspirations, such as Cecil B. DeMille, Garry Marshall, and Stanley Kubrick. He also gave shout-outs to esteemed actors Charlton Heston, Yul Brenner, Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, and Kirk Douglas. In conclusion, he expressed thanks to all those who have supported him throughout his career in acting.
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Ryan’s recognition follows his and Eva’s journey into a private life, beginning in 2011. Transitioning from friends to a romantic couple, they welcomed their first child, Esmeralda, in September 2014, followed by their second, Amada, in May 2016. In a GQ interview in May 2023, Ryan reflected on Eva and how she unexpectedly but positively altered the trajectory of his life.
“I was looking for her, you know?” he mentioned, noting that he wasn’t entirely conscious of it at the time. “But it all falls into place now.”
