is one of the most revered actors of his generation, so many fans may be surprised to learn that he's a fan of daytime soap operas.
In a new interview with Josh Horowitz's Happy Sad Confused podcast, Gosling praised Days of Our Lives star Deidre Hall for her 'incredible acting' in the long-running soap.
He specifically singled out her infamous possession storyline, which saw her character, Marlena Evans, possessed by Satan in 1994.
'This was right around when X-Files was a big deal, right? Suddenly everything got supernatural,' Gosling explained.
'She was possessed by the Devil. So Deidre Hall has to suddenly, after playing just a normal person, then she's gotta ... It was an incredible acting class.'
He continued, 'I remember thinking, "God, Deidre Hall is a great actress because she's having to act possessed right now." That just seems like a lot to ask of her.'
Ryan Gosling has praised the 'incredible acting' from Days of Our Lives star Deidre Hall during her infamous possession storyline
Gosling also praised soap stars for their talent, especially when it comes to memorizing pages of dialog and filming scenes 'in one take'.
'Just soap opera actors in general, they do not get the love they deserve,' he said.
Marlena's possession is one of the most iconic and memorable soap opera storylines of all time.
It became a cultural phenomenon in the mid-'90s and helped bring Days of Our Lives to mainstream audiences.
It was so popular that writers brought the storyline back in 2021 for a brief time.
Hall, who plays Marlena on the series, reflected on the storyline during an interview on The Kelly Clarkson Show in 2020.
'When we embarked on the storyline, our executive producer and showrunner, Ken Corday, actually sent over holy water and a crucifix,' Hall shared.
'And every time we do a scene where I'm possessed, I've taken it on stage and offered anybody who would like to have some holy water – and everybody says yes. So, we go around the whole set.'
Hall's character Marlena Evans was possessed by the devil in 1994
The storyline became a cultural phenomenon in the mid-'90s and helped bring Days of Our Lives to mainstream audiences for a period of time
Hall has been an enduring force on Days of Our Lives since 1976, making occasional exits but always returning to the role that cemented her soap opera legacy.
The now-iconic demonic storyline first emerged in 1994 when villain Stefano DiMera (Joseph Mascolo) hypnotized Marlena in an attempt to make her fall in love with him.
Instead of falling under his spell, she became vulnerable to dark forces, leading to one of the most memorable supernatural twists in daytime television history.
Her possession was marked by eerie, unforgettable moments—Marlena levitating off her bed, eyes glowing a sinister yellow, and unleashing chaos across Salem.
At the height of her reign, she bound victims to altars and even disrupted weddings in true soap opera fashion.
Hall, now 78, is pictured at a charity event in Los Angeles in November, 2025
While she was Satan’s primary vessel, other characters also faced temptation, with varying degrees of resistance.
The storyline spanned into the summer of 1995, culminating in an emergency exorcism performed by John Black, Marlena’s husband, who at the time was believed to be a priest.
Beyond her on-screen dramatics, Hall has built an impressive career, earning multiple Soap Opera Digest Awards and receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2016.
Meanwhile, Gosling is currently promoting his latest film, Project Hail Mary.
The sci-fi adventure has already won praise from critics and opened at the box office with an impressive $80million.
