Flashback: Watch 18-Year-Old Ryan Gosling's Adorable Pick-Up Attempt

Ryan Gosling turns 34 today – and what better way to celebrate the new dad than time traveling back to 1998 for our very first interview with the Hollywood heartthrob as he trained for his lead role in the TV series, Young Hercules.

[jpr]

This is what genuine 18 year old boys look, act and sound like. A far cry from the 28 year old men that play surly high schoolers in most tv shows.

[kassandrad]

His personality really hasn't changed he's just more mysterious now 😩

[danil.]

Ryan always had that mischievous smile. I think that's the main thing that draws people.

[weentsie]

It's his whole body language thing that he expresses, when he talks, which makes him adorable.

[felixshengyang]

Wtf at 18 he had the confidence of a 40 year old

[alorenzo]

It's so cute he says sorry a lot.

[TheCNRProject]

It blows my mind how long he’s been acting since this interview when you think about how much the world has changed since. 1998 feels like a lifetime ago to me as a 90s kid and he has an extensive filmography. Yet he’s only early 40s. But you can see the passage of time not just in his looks obviously but in the change from the boyish charm to his very dry humour and mellowed persona (even more charming in my opinion!)

[sara_jane]

He is so cute, I actually love this interview

[actualkarenokboomer]

He is a doll and a sweetheart, then and now.

[Thev]

What an awesomely supportive mother. Wish my mom did that. That's cool.

[Nick]

He had more charisma at 18 then I do now at 28! 😭

[fvntmiix]

He kinda looked like a healthier version of Macaulay Culkin when he was young...

[shantoo]

Ryan would make a good Draco Malfoy :|

[claudettemoran]

"The Notebook" with Ryan Gosling, and Rachel McAdams is my favorite.

[lissychangdgo]

What a lovely smile, and his sigh made me sigh! I'm just adore Ryan. <3

[MaggiePayne]

My mom calls every kid that used to beat me and she's like, "Remember Ryan, used to beat him up? HUH? Well, he's Hercules now so you should shut up!" Best mom ever!

[drewski]

What girl wouldn't go out with HIM?

[igloozoo]

Amazing how quickly life passes us by and we become senior citizens.

[nooraqueen]

Back in the day 18 looked 18 now when you look at 18 year olds they look 25

[BradleyCoopertest]

He just turned 17 in that video a couple months prior to this interview. This was early 1998, and Gosling was born november 12th 1980. So he turned 18 in late 1998.