In the world of cinema, Ryan Gosling is a star known for his versatile roles, from a romantic lead in The Notebook to a mysterious driver in Drive and the hilarious Ken in Barbie. But how well do we really know the man behind the characters?

Stephen Colbert’s The Colbert Questionert offered a fresh, authentic glimpse into Ryan Gosling’s personality through a series of rapid-fire, unexpected questions. Let’s take a look at the one-of-a-kind answers the actor provided.

Food and Fond Memories

When asked about the best sandwich, Gosling didn’t choose a complex dish but an ice cream sandwich. His reasoning? “You can have all the sandwiches in the world, but the moment an ice cream sandwich comes out, the decision is made for you.”

His earliest memory also involved food. Gosling shared that his earliest memory was waking up to the smell of a wedding cake his mom had baked. The cake had a unique waterfall feature powered by a motor, which made him think, “My mom is pretty cool.”

Music and Movies

Music is a big part of Ryan’s life. The first concert he ever attended was his Uncle Perry, who performed as Elvis Presley. Gosling even participated in the act, handing out teddy bears to the audience.

When asked to choose one song to listen to for the rest of his life, Gosling surprised everyone with “Push It” by Salt-N-Pepa. He joked that it’s great life advice that has yet to get old.

As for his favorite action movies, Gosling picked two: No Retreat, No Surrender and First Blood. He explained that No Retreat, No Surrender made him believe that anything was possible in movies, while he identified with Rambo in First Blood, a man who “just wanted a cup of coffee” but was forced to become a warrior.

Witty and Philosophical Questions

Colbert also posed some challenging questions, which Gosling answered with a mix of wit and sincerity:

Scariest animal? “Man,” or the mosquito, because “they kill more people than anything else.”
Apples or oranges? Oranges, because they prevent scurvy.
What do you think happens when we die? “We wake up.”
Favorite smell? Gosling surprised the audience by choosing dogs’ paws, which he said smell “like nachos or popcorn.”

When asked to describe the rest of his life in five words, he gave a heartwarming answer: “Run it by Eva first.” (referring to his wife, Eva Mendes).

The interview provided not only laughs but also a rare glimpse into a charming, witty, and deeply thoughtful Ryan Gosling.