Lead: Three-time Oscar-nominated actor Ryan Gosling has confirmed he will visit the set of NBC’s long-running soap opera “Days of Our Lives” following his public praise of veteran actress Deidre Hall, capping an unexpected week-long social media exchange between the Hollywood star and the daytime television icon.

The Details

In a remarkable moment of genuine Hollywood admiration crossing generational and format boundaries, Ryan Gosling’s recent appearance on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast revealed an unexpected source of his artistic foundation. While promoting his 2021 film “Project Hail Mary,” Gosling candidly discussed how Deidre Hall—the longest-serving female lead on a soap opera in television history—shaped his early understanding of craft and dedication to acting.

Hall, who has portrayed Marlena Evans on “Days of Our Lives” since 1974, promptly extended an invitation for Gosling to visit Salem, the fictional town where the show is set. Gosling’s enthusiastic acceptance of this invitation sparked genuine excitement across both daytime television and mainstream cinema communities. This exchange underscores a rarely acknowledged truth: soap operas have historically served as critical training grounds for professional actors, offering daily performance opportunities that build discipline, emotional range, and character development skills.

For Gosling, whose career trajectory has included indie darlings like “Drive” and major studio productions, acknowledging Hall’s influence represents a humble recognition of television’s foundational role in American acting. His willingness to publicly credit a soap opera star as his “OG acting inspiration” challenges long-standing Hollywood hierarchies that often dismiss daytime television as a lesser art form.

What This Means for Cinema

Gosling’s endorsement carries significant cultural weight in an era when traditional hierarchies between film and television are rapidly dissolving. By publicly celebrating Hall and “Days of Our Lives,” Gosling legitimizes daytime television as serious craft—a message particularly important given streaming platforms’ recent acquisition of prestige content from network television.

This moment reflects broader industry evolution. A-list film actors increasingly acknowledge TV roots: Jon Hamm, Bryan Cranston, and countless others built careers on television foundations. Gosling’s explicit tribute to Hall suggests the artificial boundary separating “film acting” from “television acting” continues eroding.

Furthermore, this cross-platform visibility could reinvigorate interest in “Days of Our Lives,” historically a cultural phenomenon facing viewership challenges in the streaming era. Gosling’s involvement—even as a guest—represents valuable contemporary cultural capital that daytime television rarely receives from his demographic sphere.

What We Know So Far

Ryan Gosling publicly identified Deidre Hall as his “OG acting inspiration” during a “Happy Sad Confused” podcast appearance promoting “Project Hail Mary”
Deidre Hall extended a formal invitation for Gosling to visit the “Days of Our Lives” set in Salem
Gosling accepted the invitation, confirming the set visit will occur
Hall has portrayed Marlena Evans continuously since 1974, making her daytime television’s longest-serving female lead
The exchange sparked substantial media attention and positive reception across entertainment communities

What’s Still Unknown

Specific timing for Gosling’s set visit and whether he will appear on-screen or participate in scenes
Whether this appearance will result in an official episode cameo or remain a behind-the-scenes educational visit
Additional details about other acting influences Gosling mentioned during the podcast conversation
Whether other A-list actors might follow Gosling’s example in publicly