With the enchanting chords of his piano and his effortless charisma and charm in the modern classic La La Land, Ryan Gosling has swept back onto our screens and confirmed himself as one of Hollywood's greats.

Born into a modest family in Ontario, Canada, it certainly didn't seem likely that Ryan Gosling would grow up to become one of the world's most popular movie stars. However, at the age of 12, his first break came. Beating 15,000 hopefuls to become a Mouseketeer in Disney's All-New Mickey Mouse Club, young Ryan found himself performing alongside a whole host of future stars including Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera. However, his remarkable acting ability allowed him to break free from the Disney mould.

Since his breakthrough role as Noah in romantic weepie The Notebook, Ryan Gosling has gone on to star in films as diverse as Half Nelson, Crazy Stupid Love and The Big Short, and become a global star. With a legendary compulsion to lose himself in every role he takes on, he has been named by many as this generation's Marlon Brando. However, he has remained resolutely humble despite his success, and keen to keep his life private, even in the glare of the spotlight placed on himself and his partner, fellow actor Eva Mendes, and their two young children.

In this career-spanning biography, journalist Nick Johnstone looks into the life and career of this most gifted, charming and enigmatic leading man.