“You hope he shows you the way of the Force”: why Ryan Gosling compared Anthony Hopkins to a Jedi
Ryan Gosling is an enigma in Hollywood, with a light-hearted and unbothered persona in real life that seems detached from the emotional depths seen in his work. Whether it be the devastating vulnerability of his performance in Half Nelson, the charming cynicism of his character in La La Land, or the desperate portrait of fading love in Blue Valentine, Gosling has had his fair share of dramatic roles alongside his well-known comedic projects.
Over the years, he’s worked with some of the most prolific modern directors and actors, frequently collaborating with Damien Chazelle and Emma Stone, as well as Denis Villeneuve, Greta Gerwig, Adam McKay and Terrence Malick. However, there is only one actor that he has compared to a Jedi, describing his surreal approach to creativity and being a true master of the craft.
Gregory Hoblit directed Fracture in 2007. The film follows a man on trial for murdering his wife and a district attorney intent on solving the deceivingly complex case as the two engage in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. Ryan Gosling and Anthony Hopkins star in the project, making for an unexpected but captivating duo as the pair circle around each other in this game of wits.
However, Gosling has fond memories of the project due to the experience of observing Hopkins on set, describing how the actor is a true creative force, something that countless filmmakers have recognised after years of gripping performances.
Hopkins is perhaps most revered for his terrifying performance as Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, who is largely heralded as one of the most iconic villains of all time. There’s a viscerally unnerving mood that is created through his controlled insanity that has surpassed the effect of time and remained a colossal achievement, sweeping at the Oscars the year it was released, including a ‘Best Actor’ win for Hopkins in 1991.
When describing working with Hopkins, Gosling detailed the inspiration gleaned from his creative process, saying, “It’s not every day you get to work with one of your heroes. Tony Hopkins is one of the greatest actors of all time, and for young guys like me, he’s like a Jedi or something”.
He added: “When you work with him, you hope he shows you the way of the Force. Tony is just one of those people who’s good at everything, a renaissance man who’s prolific, he paints, he writes music, he directs and he does great imitations of cats and dogs. He is fascinating to watch, and he never stops being creative. He’ll be in a scene and then he’ll go to his trailer and come back and he’ll have paint all over his hands, because he’s been painting in his trailer”.
The constant pursuit of creativity is undoubtedly something that shapes his work as an actor and nurtures his performances, with an appetite to try new things and expand his mind that only enriches each aspect of his creative identity. The combination of these qualities naturally feels somewhat fantastical, and Gosling’s comparison to a Jedi surprisingly makes complete sense, and his mastery of the medium is always on display.
