Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling made movie lovers swoon with their chemistry in 2004’s The Notebook.
Based on the Nicholas Sparks novel of the same name, the film centers on Allie (McAdams) and Noah (Gosling), who were star-crossed lovers in the 1940s. Their story is recounted by a man in the present day named Duke who reads it to a woman at a nursing home. It’s later revealed that the modern duo are the older versions of Noah — using an alias — and Allie, who is suffering from dementia.
Years after its premiere, The Notebook still hits home for viewers of all ages. Gosling previously opened up about being approached by director Nick Cassavetes because of his ability to convey determination on camera.
“[He] called me to meet him at his house,” Gosling recalled to the U.K.’s Company in 2011. “When I got there, he was standing in his backyard, and he looked at me and said, ‘I want you to play this role because you’re not like the other young actors out there in Hollywood. You’re not handsome, you’re not cool, you’re just a regular guy who looks a bit nuts.’”
Scroll down to learn more about what the cast of The Notebook is doing now: