We’ve had them all: the Robert Redford’s, the Paul Newman’s and the George Clooney’s. All have been or once were Hollywood’s leading man, and in these modern times, we are welcoming a rather new face to this line of star power who captures the screen and keeps audiences of all ages coming back for more.

His name is Ryan Gosling, and unlike many young, early 30-year-old actors, Gosling is already able to call himself a well-renowned star with the title of “Academy Award Nominee” tied to his name. Originally capturing wide exposure in one of the top romantic films of all time, 2004’s The Notebook, most audiences didn’t know that this unknown actor from little London, Ontario had originally starred with such names as Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears in the TV series “The Mickey Mouse Club” at the tender age of just 13.

With no formal acting training, Gosling would appear in further television series before receiving a huge breakthrough role in the film Murder by Numbers in 2002, when he appeared beside well-known actress and then off-screen girlfriend Sandra Bullock. Gosling had also attracted a great deal of critical acclaim for his role as a Jewish neo-Nazi in The Believer just a year before.

Few even remember him as the shy, awkward football player alongside Denzel Washington in 2000’s hit Remember the Titans. This minor role hardly seemed to matter, however, once The Notebook hit screens and eventually made its way to the living rooms of romantics, in turn making Gosling a household name.

From The Notebook, Gosling’s career would only continue to skyrocket in 2006 with his first Academy Award nomination in the coveted category of “Best Actor” for the film Half Nelson, which proved to be another pinnacle performance that jolted his career into the category of fully fledged, extremely talented movie star.

Now in 2011, this is proving to be Gosling’s year once again. With hits already released, such as the romantic comedy Crazy, Stupid, Love and the critically acclaimed drama Drive, Gosling is back with his acting skill on full display in the political drama The Ides of March. The film depicts how corrupt the race for political success can be and how even with the best of intentions, no one is safe from becoming cold and cynical based on its outcome.

In the film, Gosling proves once again just how talented and charismatic he is and showcases how raw his ability to act and portray the characters to which he gives life can be, making a film with a flourishing all-star cast such as George Clooney (who also directed the film), Marissa Tomei, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, and Evan Rachel Wood even better. And for it, Gosling just might see a chance at Oscar gold come back his way again in 2012.

“I’ve learned it’s important not to limit yourself,” Gosling has been quoted saying. “You can do whatever you really love to do, no matter what it is.”