They definitely revealed themselves in “Never Forget” in 2004 and then had a passionate love affair. However, the relationship between Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams had started in the worst possible way on the set of the film of Nick Cassavetes.
Never forget : the revelation film for Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams
End of 2002 and beginning of 2003, Nick Cassavetes turns Never forget and there directs youngsters Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. This film tells the story of an old man who reads a love story to Allie, a woman suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, a dazzling love story between two young people in the 1940s. This story, which ‘one believes at first fictitious, is in reality that of Allie and Noah. And this one is none other than the reader of Allie’s notes of youth, who thus tries to revive his memory by tirelessly telling him their own story.
In addition to Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams who play Allie and Noah in the many flashbacks, these two characters are played in their old age by Gena Rowlands, mother of Nick Cassavetes, and the legendary James Garner. Released in 2004, the film is a big commercial success and receives mostly good reviews. But above all, he reveals to the whole world the two young actors, whose chemistry in the film is remarkable, and whose careers will take off quickly thereafter.
Ryan Gosling: “I can’t do it with her. I can’t do anything.”
While all ended well for the writers and cast of the film, which received rave reviews for its performances, the shadow of disaster has loomed heavily over the conduct of the project. Indeed, and we will learn much later, the romantic magic of Never forget to be preserved, Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams started off on the wrong foot. A collaboration that to Ryan Gosling seemed impossible, so much so that the then 23-year-old actor asked that Rachel McAdams to be replaced by another actress, in the middle of filming. It was Nick Cassavetes who told it in 2014, during an interview given on VH1.
Maybe I’m not supposed to tell this story, but they just didn’t get along on set. But really not. Ryan came to me and he said, “Nick, come on.” He was shooting a scene with Rachel and said to me, “Can you make her go and get another actress to play on camera with me? I can’t, I can’t do it with her. to nothing.”
However, as the director and Ryan Gosling himself testified in a video returning to the set showing part of the auditions, Rachel McAdams had immediately established herself as the perfect interpreter. She had read the script only two days before this audition, and had obtained the role in the face of serious competition made up of Jessica Biel, Britney Spears, Ashley Judd or Reese Whiterspoon.
A conflict resolved beyond expectations
But from the start of filming Never forget the enchantment of the casting and the readings gives way to a very bad atmosphere. The two young actors do not get along at all and Ryan Gosling therefore asks that she leave, quite simply. Impossible for the director, who therefore organizes a confrontation between Ryan Gosling and Rachel MacAdams, in the presence of the producer, to try to calm the relationship.
They started yelling at each other. Me, I went out. I lit a cigarette and suddenly everyone came out. They said to me, “Let’s go, let’s do it.” And it got better afterwards. I think Ryan started to respect her because she stood up for her character, and Rachel was happy to have said what was on her mind.
Thus relieved of too much tension, Never forget ends his shooting and, ironically, the on-screen chemistry between the two is celebrated by critics. Better yet, when they had started by hating each other, Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams began a romantic relationship from 2005, thus becoming at the time one of the most publicized Hollywood couples.
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