Ryan Gosling has shared that his two daughters played an unexpected but vital role in the filming of his latest movie, Project Hail Mary. During production, the actor’s daughters, Esmeralda Amada and Amada Lee, assisted by voicing the lines for his alien co-star, helping Gosling interact more naturally with the CGI character on set.
At 45 years old, Gosling explained to PEOPLE that performing opposite a computer-generated character named Rocky proved challenging because the actor had no physical scene partner. To overcome this, his daughters, aged 11 and 9, came on set and spoke Rocky’s lines through an earpiece while Gosling acted alongside them.
Children Bringing Life to Rocky’s Character
“Sometimes when I was working and I needed to sort of switch things up or whatever, my kids would come in and I had an earpiece in my ear and they would talk for Rocky, so I could talk to them as Rocky,”
Gosling explained. This involvement created authentic chemistry on screen that viewers can perceive in the final film.
“There’s some moments in the movie where I’m laughing or I’m just so charmed by him, which is like, it’s actually my kids talking to me and helping me out,”
he added, highlighting the unique dynamic his daughters contributed to his performance.
While the girls provided voice lines during filming, the official voice for Rocky in the completed movie is performed by James Ortiz.
Daughters’ Role Beyond the Filming Process
The influence of Gosling’s daughters extended past the set, as both Esmeralda and Amada viewed several edits of the film and offered candid feedback. Gosling has expressed that their opinions are among the most important critiques he values.
Recalling a memorable moment during pre-production, Gosling shared a lighthearted interaction with his eldest daughter, who complimented his look for the character.
“When I was trying on stuff for the character and my daughter came by, and she was like, ‘You look smart in glasses,’”
he said with a laugh,
“And I was like, ‘I need to look smart in this, so I will thank you for that.’”
Motivation Behind Taking the Role
In a candid February interview with Access Hollywood, Gosling explained that the primary reason for accepting the Project Hail Mary role was his family, revealing that his daughters’ opinions heavily influenced his performance and connection to the film.
“My kids have seen multiple cuts. They give me multiple notes. They’re basically the only critics I care about, and they are very critical and very honest,”
he stated.
“I made this for them essentially. As a family, I’d like a movie like this that I’d like to see. I just feel really honoured that I got to make one,”
Gosling added about the personal importance of the project.
He shares Esmeralda Amada and Amada Lee with longtime partner Eva Mendes.
Overview of Project Hail Mary’s Story
The film centers on a science teacher who is sent into space on a crucial mission to save humanity. During his journey, he discovers that he is not alone and forms an unlikely friendship with an alien, portrayed digitally as Rocky, the character Gosling interacted with through his daughters’ voices on set.
This collaborative approach between Gosling and his daughters added a genuine emotional layer to the story, enhancing the film’s hopeful and resilient themes.
