Hollywood actor Ryan Gosling was asked to be a member of ’90s boyband Backstreet Boys but turned the offer down, it has been revealed.

Gosling, who has gone on to achieve success in Hollywood with films such as The Notebook and Drive lived next door to AJ McLean of the group when they were both teenagers. Speaking to TMZ, McLean revealed that he asked Gosling to be in the band but had his offer spurned. However, Gosling subsequently returned to his neighbour and asked to be a part of the group, only for McLean to forget to return his call.

Adressing the actor in an interview, McLean said: “Ryan, I am so sorry that I didn’t call you back. If we ever want a sixth Backstreet Boy member I’m gonna call you. You can sing.” He added, “He can sing his ass off. He’s not only a great actor and a handsome man.”


In a recent interview to promote his latest movie Gangster Squad, Gosling admitted he felt that Backstreet Boys were too much of a “New Kids rip-off” to be successful.

Backstreet Boys went on to sell millions of albums without Ryan Gosling and released hit singles such as ‘I Want It That Way’, ‘As Long As You Love Me’ and ‘Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)’. The band reformed in 2004 minus original member Kevin Richardson, who left to pursue other interests.