Ryan Gosling might be heading to Salem.
The three-time Oscar-nominated actor said yes to Deidre Hall’s invitation to visit the set of “Days of Our Lives,” capping off a weeklong exchange sparked by his praise of the longtime soap star.
Gosling, speaking on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast while promoting “Project Hail Mary,” said he grew up watching the long-running daytime drama and singled out Hall’s portrayal of Marlena Evans. He pointed in particular to the show’s possession storyline, recalling how it shaped his appreciation for the craft.
“They do not get the love they deserve,” Gosling said of soap actors. “The amount they have to memorize the night before — like 10 pages of dialogue. They get one take, and it’s impossible scenarios.” He added that watching Hall shift between a “normal person” and someone “possessed by the devil” was “an incredible acting class.”
Hall, who has played Marlena since 1976, responded days later with a video message thanking Gosling and inviting him to visit the set. “We’re just thrilled to be acknowledged and to be so well spoken of,” she said, noting that the cast shared the clip with her behind the scenes.
Gosling accepted in a follow-up video posted to his partner Evan Mendes and “Project Hail Mary’s” Instagram accounts, calling Hall his “OG acting inspiration.”
“This is a very enthusiastic yes to a very cordial invitation,” he said. “I will be there to thank you in person… It wasn’t Marlon Brando. It wasn’t De Niro. It was you.”
A visit, however, may take some coordination. There is no set filming schedule currently in place, and Peacock said the show will not be filming next week.
“Project Hail Mary” is playing now in theaters, and new episodes of “Days of Our Lives” stream on Peacock.
