Ryan Gosling Opened Up About The One Regret He Has With His "La La Land" Performance And How People On Set Warned Him Not To Do It

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Ryan Gosling is reflecting on his time filming La La Land and the one thing he wishes he could change about his performance.

Man with a slight stubble wearing a casual light green suit and shirt on a bright background
Axelle / FilmMagic / Getty Images

During a recent episode of the Wall Street Journal's The One series, Ryan opened up about the biggest regret he's been living with for the past seven years regarding the 2016 romance musical.

Man in sunglasses and a brown shirt sitting in front of a mural with text "Californian oranges."
Lions Gate / ©Lions Gate/Courtesy Everett Collection

When asked to name the role he'd like to do over, Ryan immediately said La La Land. He revealed that he regretted the way he put his own spin on the film's iconic dance sequence with co-star Emma Stone. That image ultimately became the movie poster.

Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling dancing outdoors in 'La La Land', she in a yellow dress and he in a white shirt and black pants
Dale Robinette/©Summit Entertainment / courtesy Everett Collection

“There’s a moment that haunts me where we’re dancing, Emma and I. I didn’t know this would become the poster for the movie,” The Fall Guy star said. “But I thought we were supposed to have our hands up and I thought it’d be cool to put my hand like that.”

For reference, Ryan demonstrated that his hand should have been pointed straight up, but instead, he gave it a slight bend. People on set told him it didn't look cool, but, at the time, Ryan disagreed.

Man in a red jacket over a tee, seated, raising hand, with a chandelier behind
Man in a red jacket over a tee, seated, raising hand, with a chandelier behind
Ryan Gosling seated, gesturing, in red jacket and graphic shirt, with chandelier and balcony in background
Ryan Gosling seated, gesturing, in red jacket and graphic shirt, with chandelier and balcony in background

“It just killed the energy that way,” Ryan said. “It was sort of like, all leading to what? Just like a lazy…I call it ‘La La Hand.'”

Man in red jacket and white shirt sits on a chair, gesturing with hands, indoors with arched windows

The WSJ reporter confirmed that dancers also have a similar term for that gesture/hand movement, and it's called "hamburger hands."

WSJ

The former Mickey Mouse Club entertainer thought his dance background would help him with his performance, but, boy, was he wrong: “I thought it would help in La La Land and then, of course, hamburger-hands Gosling over here — it didn’t help me at all in the end.”

A man and a woman seated in a theater, the man in a suit and the woman in a green dress, both looking at each other
Summit Releasing / courtesy Everett Collection

It's always interesting to hear how actors view their own work, whether it's what they enjoyed the most about the role or their biggest regret. I didn't think twice about the positioning of Ryan's hand, but that detail has been eating at him for years. Who would've thought?

Man driving a classic car, with a focused expression on his face
Dale Robinette, ©Summit Releasing / courtesy Everett Collection

To learn more about Ryan and his filmography, be sure to watch his full WSJ series episode below: