Ryan Gosling reveals his daughters were ‘confused’ about why he wanted to play Ken in Barbie movie

Ryan Gosling recently revealed that his kids didn’t understand why he wanted to play Ken in the upcoming Barbie movie.

The 42-year-old actor said his two daughters – Esmeralda, eight, and Amada, seven – didn’t know why he took the role in an interview with People that was published on Friday.

Ahead of the live-action film’s premiere, he opened up about the reaction his kids — who he shares with his longtime partner, Eva Mendes, 49 — had when he told them about his latest role.

“I think they’re confused about why I’d want to play Ken,” he revealed. “They can’t use Ken.”

The Notebook star – who joined his costars for a celebratory party after attending the film’s London premiere – also said his daughters were the ones who introduced him to the world of Barbie, as he didn’t play with the dolls himself when he grew up.

Chatting about his latest role: The 42-year-old actor said his two daughters — Esmeralda, eight, and Amada, seven — didn’t know why he took the role in an interview with People published on Friday

“My kids were my introduction to [Barbie],” he told the publication.

Despite their initial reaction, Gosling said his daughters supported him and even helped him prepare for the role.

“My kids were home for the months while I prepared for it,” he recalls.

“So they were inadvertently preparing for it too,” Gosling continued. “And they came to set that day and were a huge sense of support and did it with me off camera.”

The proud father shares his two daughters with his wife, whom he met while filming The Place Beyond The Pines in 2011.

In the 2012 crime drama, Gosling and Mendes played an on-screen family and it made him want to start his own family with the Ghost Rider actress.

“I didn’t think about kids before I met her,” he said GK in May. “But after I met Eva, I realized I just didn’t want to have kids without her.”

“And there were times at The Place Beyond The Pines where we acted like we were family,” he added. “And I really didn’t want it to be pretend anymore.”

The mother of his children: Ahead of the live-action movie’s premiere, he talked about the reaction his children – who he shares with his longtime partner, Eva Mendes, 49 – had when he told them about his latest role. Despite their initial reaction, Gosling said his daughters supported him and even helped him prepare for the role

Their first collaboration: The proud dad shares his two daughters with his wife, whom he met while filming The Place Beyond The Pines in 2011. In the 2012 crime drama, Gosling and Mendes played an on-screen family that left him wanting for himself starting with the Ghost Rider actress

Barbie & Ken: The film stars Gosling as Ken and Margot Robbie as Barbie

Into a Barbie World: The highly anticipated movie — directed by Greta Gerwig — follows Barbie and Ken as they “have the time of their lives in the colorful and seemingly picture-perfect world of Barbie Land.”

Plot twist: “However, given the chance to venture into the real world, they soon discover the joys and dangers of life among humans,” reads the official synopsis

A-List Cast: The star-studded cast also includes Simu Liu, Emma Mackey, Will Ferrell, Michael Cera, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae and more

Coming Soon: Barbie will premiere in theaters on Friday, July 21

In the movie, Gosling plays the role of Ken and stars opposite Margot Robbie as Barbie.

The star-studded cast also includes Simu Liu, Emma Mackey, Will Ferrell, Michael Cera, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae and more.

The highly anticipated film — directed by Greta Gerwig — follows Barbie and Ken as they “have the time of their lives in the colorful and seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land.”

“However, given the chance to go to the real world, they soon discover the joys and dangers of life among humans,” reads the official synopsis.

Barbie premieres in theaters on Friday, July 21.