Gosling did comedy on doctor's orders

Ryan Gosling was told by a doctor to make a comedy movie after working on 'Blue Valentine'.

The 30-year-old actor – who was nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance in the 2010 romantic drama alongside Michelle Williams – admits he signed up to 'Crazy, Stupid, Love', where he plays perpetual dater Jacob, because he needed some relief.

He joked: "When I finished 'Blue Valentine' I had to go get a physical from the doctor and he gave me a prescription and it said: 'Do a comedy'. So I did.

"I do feel better, so I think he was right."

However, it was not the only reason for him to sign up – he also wanted to work with comedy star Steve Carell, who plays a despondent man whose wife has cheated on him.

He added to Collider.com: "I just love Steve Carell, always wanted to work with Steve. When I first moved to Los Angeles I did a pilot, was 17, had a small part, so did Steve.

"We didn’t get to work together but he was so funny I would go to set just to watch him work. One time the boom guy just threw down his mic and had a laughing attack in the corner in the middle of a take. It was the first time I worked with someone who was so good it was a problem.

"I got this opportunity to work with him so I decided to jump at it."