He’s perhaps best known for playing smouldering emotionally distant characters who don’t say all that much. And for that kiss in the Notebook. Oh and that scene when he took his shirt off in Crazy Stupid Love. OK we could go on.

But for all the memes circulating online with various “hey girl” messages, Ryan is actually a pretty interesting guy too.

Ryan Gosling arriving at the Drive premiere, the Palais De Festival. Part of the 64th Cannes Film Festival.
Yes he does have a pretty face and happens to be wearing a blue tux, but we must focus on what’s inside (Doug Peters/EMPICS)

So, as it’s his 34th birthday today, here’s everything you’d need to know if you were taking a Gosling pub quiz.

1. In 1993 he beat 17,000 aspiring actors to make it onto the Mickey Mouse Club (he was on the show with Justin Timerlake and even lived with his family). At this time young Ryan was his family’s only source of income.

2. Yep, he was a star even as a child. Check out this adorable performance with his sister Mandi.

3. He turned down a place in the Backstreet Boys. Smart move Ryan, smart move.

Backstreet Boys (l/r) Howie D, AJ, Brian, Nick and Kevin
(Fiona Hanson/PA)

4. After several early films, he received critical acclaim for his performance as the Jewish neo-Nazi in The Believer (2001). It was a pretty controversial film but won the Grand Jury Prize at that year’s Sundance Film Festival.

5. He came across a fight in the street in New York once and stopped it.

6. It was the Notebook (2004) that really made him a household name though. Suddenly women were falling over themselves for the Gosling.

7. He says inspirational things sometimes.

Canadian actor and director Ryan Gosling poses during a photocall for the film 'Lost River'
(AA / TT)

8. He’s an accomplished jazz guitarist and plays in a band called Dead Man’s Bones.

9. He was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Actor for the 2006 film Half Nelson (the first Canadian to be nominated for the award since 1943).

10. He co-owns a Moroccan restaurant in Beverley Hills.

11. He has a sense of humour. 

Ryan giving Drive director Nicholas Winding a kiss for photographers (Matt Crossick/Empics)
Ryan giving Drive director Nicholas Winding a kiss for photographers (Matt Crossick/Empics)

12. In 2005 he went to Chad in central Africa to make a documentary on the Darfur refugees.

13. He keeps some perspective.

Actor Ryan Gosling arrives for the screening of Drive at the 64th international film festival, in Cannes
(Joel Ryan/AP)

14. He directed his own film – Lost River. OK, it was a bit of a flop but at least he gave it a go.

15. He seems to be remarkably self-aware.

Actor Ryan Gosling poses for a portrait during the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto
(Carolyn Kaster/AP)

16. When Blue Valentine was going to receive a strict NC-17 rating (the toughest one) Ryan wrote to the Motion Picture Association and accused them of sexist double standards. It was changed to R rated, the next one down.

17. He saved a woman from being hit by a car. British writer Laurie Pennie.

18. Considering he’s all Hollywood and that, he doesn’t seem to have a big ego.

Ryan Gosling attending the premiere of "The Place Beyond The Pines"
(Dennis Van Tine/Starmax/EMPICS)

19. He’s a do-gooder, involved in lots of humanitarian work with the likes of Invisible Children, SickKids Foundation and PETA. Ryan also helped clear up the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. 

20. He’s apparently super close with his mum Donna.

Cast member Ryan Gosling, left and his mum Donna at the premiere of Gangster Squad
Ryan often takes his mum to red carpet events (Matt Sayles/Invision)

21. He’s a daredevil. He did his own stunts for A Place Beyond The Pines. 

22. When did you ever see Ryan in any kind of public scandal? Never that’s when. He’s got a good (not just pretty) head on his shoulders.