9 Milestones in the Evolution of Ryan Gosling

The Notebook (2004)

And then everything changed for Gosling with Nick Cassavetes's summer blockbuster The Notebook. Instead of a spoiled murderer or a neo-Nazi, Gosling got to play a likable lead, a cute '40s carpenter who just wants to build his dream girl (eventual real-life love interest Rachel McAdams) her dream home. The movie earned him heartthrob status, box office popularity and an MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss.

Stay (2005)

Rather than stay on the mainstream lead track, Gosling made the decision to return to supporting roles and indie films. His first post-Notebook role in Stay, the forgotten Marc Forster psychodrama, proved that Gosling was still fallible even after winning hearts of moviegoers. The actor plays a slightly disturbed car crash survivor whom Ewan McGregor's psychiatrist tries to talk out of suicide. Although critics gave the film mixed reviews, the $50 million film grossed under $4 million at the box office, making it the biggest commercial failure of Gosling's career.

Half Nelson (2006)

And then came a very special milestone for the actor: his first Academy Award nomination for Ryan Fleck's drama Half Nelson. About an inner-city middle school teacher/addict who forms a special bond with one of his students, Gosling earned the best reviews of his career at that point. With two equally celebrated follow-up films Lars and the Real Girl as well as Blue Valentine, Gosling cornered the market on the young, vulnerable, slightly disturbed lead.

Crazy Stupid Love (2011)

It took over 15 years before Gosling found his first pure comedic role in Crazy, Stupid, Love, from directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa. Playing an impeccably-dressed Casanova who whips Steve Carell's character into shape following a surprise separation, Gosling managed to out-funny Carell and have audiences wishing that every romantic comedy would star Gosling and Emma Stone.

Drive (2011)

Over the course of his career, Gosling has proven that he can carry a mainstream movie or deliver as a shaky, suicidal supporting character. He is endlessly watchable, whether playing a murderer, a hopeless romantic or a demon-plagued inner city teacher. And this weekend, for the first time, Gosling explores action in Nicolas Winding Refn's poignant tale of a loner stunt driver who winds up in a heist gone wrong -- his most recent award-worthy performance, but certainly not his last.

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