Over the past couple of years, the online film community has truly blossomed. Thanks to the internet, the process of watching a movie and writing a review has become extradited. What once required a trip to the cinema, a media outlet to write through, or fellow cinephiles to converse with, now only requires a Netflix subscription and a a phone that can download Letterboxd.
The result of this streamlined process is a wide community stretching across several platforms with endless content to enjoy. Usually, this means film reviews or short videos, but it also extends to the wide world of memes. There have been many fantastic cinephile memes, like Scorsese's "absolute cinema" or Dune: Part Two's "Lisan al-Gaib," but none are quite as associated with this community as the "He's literally me" trend.
For anyone unfamiliar, "literally me" memes are pictures of movie or TV characters that resonate with people. They are usually complex loners who don't fit into society, but retain some sense of appeal.
Oftentimes, these characters are ones you would never want to emulate, such as Patrick Bateman or Walter White, but are still pretty popular. It's part of the meme that these characters usually aren't great people, but many miss that point entirely.
Overall, it's a fun meme, as long as one doesn't take it too seriously (which is how every meme should be). Still, if there's one actor who represents the "literally me" memes, it's Ryan Gosling.
The man with ceaseless charm, endless sex appeal, and enviable acting skills has found himself right at the center of this trend. He's played hunks, losers, and loners, all of which have led to someone posting the titular phrase, "he's literally me."
As an avid fan, I thought it would be fun to rank ten of Ryan Gosling's best roles, not by how good they are, but by how well they fit the "literally me" trend.
Of course, we must fully define that archetype. This "literally me" figure must be enviable, but also relatable. In some way, he must also be a loner or an outcast, who struggles to connect with others. Most of all though, there must be severe emotional turmoil present, as these characters represent the difficulty of the human experience.
The only other parameter here is that I'm only ranking films I've seen, so if there's a role missing, I probably haven't seen it. Thus, here are the ten most "literally me" Ryan Gosling roles.
Jacob Palmer- Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)
It might be hard to see why ladies man Jacob Palmer makes this list, given that he has no problem fitting into society. After all, he spends most of Crazy, Stupid, Love either picking up women or teaching Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) how to get the same results.
While it's true that Jacob is an absolute hunk with charm to spare, he does fit into the "literally me" archetype in a few ways. Primarily, he's quite enviable, as his good looks, style, and smooth talking prove to attract many women.
More importantly though, Jacob hides a soft interior you'd never expect from such a macho man. After Jacob finally gets Hannah (Emma Stone), a girl he's been chasing, to visit his place, she completely subverts his expectations. Instead of being seduced, Hannah gets Jacob to reveal some secrets, recreate the iconic lift from Dirty Dancing (1987), and fall asleep together in each other's arms.
Despite the tough playboy exterior, Jacob has a sensitive side that has been yearning for a meaningful connection. Throughout the film, he finds this initially in a friendship with Cal and then through his romance with Hannah.
Although he's not a loner like most "literally me" figures, he struggles to discern what he truly wants until the right people draw it out of him. A sensitive man with quite the looks, it's easy to see why many would want to be him.
Holland March- The Nice Guys (2016)
One of Gosling's most underrated films, The Nice Guys also gives us a solid "literally me" character, Holland March. A detective who's hired to solve a missing persons case, Holland ends up uncovering a huge scandal alongside his tough partner Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe). Together, their antics and questionable methods lead to a lot of laughs, but that's mostly because Holland is such a loser.
For most of this film, we wonder why Holland is a detective at all. He rarely displays any detective prowess and becomes easily distracted by booze and women. A borderline alcoholic, Holland often needs to be corralled by his partner and daughter (Angourie Rice), the latter of whom feels quite ashamed of him.
Yet, we eventually find out that Holland harbors strong grief inside his drunkard shell. Once a family man, Holland lost his wife and house in a fire. Consequently, he now drinks instead of processing his grief and only takes cases for money. But in the film's climax, Holland proves there's still a great detective inside of him and cracks the case wide open.
In terms of being a "literally me" figure, Holland exemplifies a loser who has given up. He falls short of his potential constantly and disappoints those he cares for. Most of all, he retreats from his human pain and failures, opting for the comfort of alcohol instead.
Of course, Holland overcomes his flaws to become whole again, weakening his "literally me" me attributes. Still, he's a great example of a struggling loser drenched in 70s style, making him a prime character to relate to.
Colt Seavers- The Fall Guy (2024)
The newest addition to the "literally me" cannon, Colt Seavers offers everything you might want from a Ryan Gosling role. He's funny, he's hot, and he brings a down to earth appeal to the fantastic world of stunt work. Most of all, Colt is another "literally me" figure to swoon and feel for.
Once again, Gosling's hero starts off as a loser. After a tragic accident derails his stunt career, Colt abandons both Hollywood and his girlfriend, Judy (Emily Blunt). He's now a valet driver who spends his time drinking and lamenting the life he left behind.
Just as in The Nice Guys, Gosling's character fails to deal with his emotions, rendering him an underachiever. But while Holland works through his issues, Colt avoids his problems for as long as he can. Instead of talking with Judy about why he left, Colt becomes caught up in a convoluted murder plot because he thinks it will help Judy's career.
As such, Colt's reluctance makes him a slightly better "literally me" figure than Holland. He refuses to speak with Judy until he has to, even though he's willing to go on some great adventure to help her. Like many people who struggle with relationships, Colt makes sacrifices he doesn't have to instead of just talking things out.
Ultimately, Colt's actions are as endearing as they are misguided. His charm and dedication to Judy make him a great hero, while his inner turmoil makes him a layered character. He's surely a relatable figure, even if a basic conversation would've saved everyone a lot of time.
Court Gentry- The Gray Man (2022)
Alas, we arrive at the least talked about Gosling film of the decade, The Gray Man. Despite having three A-List actors and the directing duo behind Avengers: Endgame, this film made little cultural impact of any kind. To be fair, it was quite an average film, albeit one I still enjoyed. However, it's main character, Court Gentry, undoubtedly fits the "literally me" description.
A prisoner turned assassin, Court is a man who has experienced very little freedom in his life. As a government agent, he has little control over his assignments, leading to a morally grey character. However, when a young girl becomes endangered, he does everything he can to make sure she stays safe.
What really makes Court a great "literally me" figure is how he holds himself. He's often stoic, appearing more like a killing machine than human. His incredible skills certainly make him enviable, but his lack of autonomy makes him a tragic figure that many can relate to.
Yet, Court's tough exterior provides a sharp contrasts from the heart of gold he hides inside. Despite only knowing killing for most of his life, he still knows he has to protect this helpless girl. He might be a tough assassin, but there's an inner call to do the right thing that he won't ignore.
As a result, Court provides a complex character caught between being a killer and hero. It's easy to sympathize with his robotic demeanor and inner struggle, even as he deals with far fetched action scenarios. Court offers up quite the "literally me" figure, even if Gosling played a better stoic assassin earlier.
Noah Calhoun- The Notebook (2004)
For a longtime, Noah Calhoun was the definitive Ryan Gosling role. From the iconic romance film The Notebook, Noah not only made Gosling a household name, but it turned him into one of the most popular heartthrobs of the 21st century. While this might have typecast him as a hunky love interest for a while, it also made him incredibly popular and allowed for more diverse roles down the road. Looking back now though, it's clear that Noah embodies the "literally me" figure before it ever was really a thing.
Throughout the film, Noah embarks on and on and off again romance with Allie Hamilton (Rachel McAdams) that's filled with fighting, breakups, and passion. For every sensual kiss in the rain, Noah and Allie have a devastating fight that's cringe inducing. Many deem this relationship toxic now, but the story itself showcases how strong couples can overcome challenges if they are willing to.
As for Noah though, this whirlwind romance turns him into a troubled figure. He commits to her only moments after seeing her, shocking Allie and her family. Once she leaves though, he becomes distraught and spends all of his time building a house for them. While this action is romantic, it's also disturbing given Allie's low chances of returning.
Like all "literally me" figures, Noah can't comprehend his feelings. Instead of working through his grief, he builds her a house. He's an outcast here of his own design, as he feels he doesn't belong with anyone but Allie.
Most importantly though, it's clear that Noah loves Allie as much as one person can love another. Noah struggles to show affection in a healthy way, but he does ultimately take care of Allie when it matters most. Noah has every failure of a "literally me" figure, as well as the romantic endurance to make him an enviable character.
Ken- Barbie (2023)
While Gosling's career has seen a fair share of successes, none have quite had the phenomenal impact as 2023's Oscar winning Barbie. It was a highly anticipated film from the get-go, but nobody quite anticipated how perfectly Gosling would capture the iconic Ken. As Ken became one of the most talked about characters of 2023, his "literally me" attributes became apparent, this time in the form of a misguided antagonist.
In the film, the Kens are a marginalized group in Barbieland. These secondary citizens essentially serve the Barbies, grasping for whatever attention they can get and fighting each other to get it. Eventually though, the Kens learn how to create a patriarchy and send Barbieland into complete upheaval.
In all honesty, it's clear why Ken became such an idolized character. His struggles, although presented humorously, showcase a man who just wants to be appreciated. His attractiveness, campy style, and dance skills are make him seem cool, but earn him nothing. As such, he's as relatable as he is artificially cool, at least in Barbieland.
Of course, he ends up leading a coup and overthrowing the Barbies, which is less than stellar. However, that attests to how the "literally me" trend overlooks flaws to glamorize the tortured soul inside Ken.
Speaking of which, Ken's inner turmoil constantly eats away at him, even after he takes over Barbieland. This culminates in the film's most iconic scene, the "I'm Just Ken" dance number. While every Gosling character experiences neglect, struggle, and self doubt, only Ken turns that despair into a dance fight full of flare.
To complete his arch, Ken even learns from his mistakes and vows to work on himself instead of pursuing Barbie (Margot Robbie). It's a fitting ending, one that attests to the complex journey of wannabe lover to enemy to friend. Still, Gosling's commitment to making a piece of plastic such an overlooked human makes Ken essential to the "literally me" pantheon.
Sebastian- La La Land (2016)
While The Notebook was Gosling's career defining role for over a decade, it has arguably been supplanted by the Oscar winning La La Land. A throwback to the musicals of Hollywood's Golden Age, La La Land focuses on the romance of Mia (Emma Stone) and Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) as they struggle to realize their dreams in Los Angeles. The film has been discussed, dissected, and debated to death since its release, but it's important to note how well Sebastian fits into the "literally me" role.
Sebastian fits the "literally me" archetype well, but what makes him stand out is his unhealthy fixation on jazz. Although he loves Mia, jazz defines his character most, as it practically dominates his life. His strict adherence to classical jazz ultimately renders him an outcast in the ever changing Los Angeles.
It's easy to relate to Sebastian's hyper fixation because of how pure his passion. His inner drive and focus hardly ever wavers, even as it gets in the way of his relationships.
Speaking of which, Sebastian will always be remembered for the film's iconic ending (spoiler warning) that sees him and Mia accomplish their dreams without each other. This bittersweet ending epitomizes the "literally me" experience as it expresses a brutal truth of life: some people don't stay in our lives forever.
After months of struggle and turmoil, Sebastian can't make his relationship with Mia work. He can regret what he did and fantasize about a future they'll never have, but it's too late to be with her.
In a way, Sebastian symbolizes regret. His mistakes are painful to watch, but ultimately relatable in the loss they sew. Anyone who has had to move on from someone has at least fancied a few "what ifs" that are ultimately pointless. Though Sebastian accepts his fate, his passions and failure make him the perfect "literally me" role for hopeless romantics.
Lars Lindstrom- Lars and the Real Girl (2007)
Entering the top three, we start with one of the most peculiar Gosling films, Lars and the Real Girl. Playing the title role, Gosling delivers one of his most moving portrayals of a broken human. As it happens, Lars might also be Gosling's loneliest character as well.
In the film, Lars has crippling anxiety and struggles to communicate with others, including his own family. When his loneliness becomes too much to bear though, he orders a life-size plastic woman and pretends that she's his girlfriend. His delusion becomes quite grand, prompting many to question Lars' sanity.
Obviously, Lars fits well into the "literally me" role by being a complete social outcast. He doesn't struggle to talk to others; it's almost as if doing so would kill him. While many of Gosling's characters don't fit into society, Lars takes this to an entirely new level. By creating a fake girlfriend, Lars practically enters a fantasy world to find fulfillment.
What makes Lars a particularly compelling figure though is his likeability. The town truly adores him, even agreeing to comply with his fantasy because of how nice he's always been.
The audience can clearly see how lovable Lars is too. Gosling doesn't retain his signature sexy style here, instead opting for comfy sweaters and a warm look. It's hard not to feel a warmth from Lars, making his emotional struggles all the more moving.
As a "literally me" character, Lars represents how hard it can be to operate in a social world with severe anxiety. While his issues are quite extreme, his struggles are as relatable as they are endearing. That Lars is able to overcome them and begin a real relationship by the film's ending should give a dash of comfort to all.
Officer K- Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
While nearly ever Gosling character fits the "literally me" archetype a bit, there are two characters most associated with this particular meme. The first on this list is Officer K the main protagonist of Ridley Scott's Blade Runner 2049.
There are numerous reasons why K exemplifies the "literally me" mentality, but it all starts with him being the ultimate outsider. Although other Gosling characters struggle to fit into society, K is never really given a chance. He's an android, rendering him an immediate outsider, as well as a practical slave.
Even worse, K's job as a blade runner requires him to hunt down and "retire" other androids who have gone rogue. Not only is K an outsider in human society, but he doesn't fit in with androids either, making him a double outcast. Consequently, K lives a lonely life, only finding any sort of happiness with Joi (Ana De Armas), an artificial intelligence program.
As an android, you'd expect K to be okay with his life, focusing on his job and doing what he's told. This appears to be true for a while, as K sports a stoic, indifferent demeanor. But the movie eventually reveals he has desires, such as physically being with Joi and accomplishing something meaningful.
But it's that inner turmoil, K's struggle between being a compliant android and living the life he wants that makes him such a compelling "literally me" figure. In such a technology reliant world, K should be just as indifferent and cruel as his masters. But the more he experiences and feels, the more he wants to be with Joi. With meaningful connection becoming harder to obtain, K's glowing dystopia seems more familiar.
Finally, K's world seems to be stacked against him from the beginning, meaning that he never had a chance to find happiness. For many, the "literally me" figure is a hopeless position, as the obstacle of being an outcast is just too much to overcome. That's certainly reflected by K's story, as he fails to protect Joi and ends up dying by the film's ending.
As such, K's "literally me" identity is marred by hopelessness. His world is as cruel and cold as it is initially alluring. Despite being an android, K showcases some of humanity's greatest emotional struggles, which is why he continues to resonate with fans.
The Driver- Drive (2011)
As this list has demonstrated, just about every Gosling character has a little "literally me" in them. But there's only one role that features such an extreme loner mentality, constant inner turmoil, and an absolute inability to foster a relationship, all while looking cool. That role is of course the Driver from Drive.
A getaway driver who ends up getting caught up in an organized crime scheme, the Driver exemplifies the "literally me" figure. First off, he maintains a stylish, but cool look with a sharp silver jacket and driving gloves. This badass appeal is only completed behind the wheel, as it's there that he proves his value.
Next, he's of course a loner. He does little conversing with anyone else, except for his neighbor Irene (Carey Mulligan), who he eventually starts to like. Even then though, he's never able to start a real relationship with her, as he eventually sabotages their romance before it can begin.
Lastly, the Driver does indeed struggle with his feelings, most of which are for Irene and her son. It's clear that he ends up caring for her, despite not being able to really talk to her. This is best exemplified by the film's iconic elevator scene. When the Driver and Irene are trapped in an elevator with a hitman, the Driver kisses her in slow motion before brutally killing the man. It's a tough scene to watch, but it showcases how the Driver will sacrifice their potential future to keep her safe.
In fact, it's this sacrifice that renders him such an intense "literally me" character. The Driver can't start a relationship with Irene, but will do anything for her. Those who resonate with the Driver may similarly struggle starting relationships, despite having immense hearts.
Lastly though, what really defines the Driver and, by extension, the "literally me" fandom is delusion. The Driver's sacrifice is moving, but probably unnecessary. There are a number of other ways for them to have gotten out of that situation, but the Driver escalates things to make himself the sacrificial hero.
It's something that many of us are guilty of too. We can feel like loners and outcasts and end up making some unnecessary gesture or doing nothing altogether instead of just working on a strong relationship. Of course, this isn't easy for everyone, as it can be difficult to connect with people. But it is something we should work at if we want a deeper connection as opposed to wallowing in self pity.
While the "literally me" cannon of characters are fun to explore, what's important to takeaway is that we can do better. The Ryan Gosling characters include playboys, plastic toys, androids, and stunt drivers, but all struggle with the human experience. As such, the "literally me" experience is an inherently relatable one, but it best functions as a reminder that being human is hard, but worth the struggle if you want a Mia, Joi, or Irene.
