While promoting Project Hail Mary, Ryan Gosling revealed that one of the biggest inspirations as an actor came from the daytime drama Days of our Lives.  “When Marlena, Deidre Hall, gets possessed…it was an incredible acting class.”  When Hall heard about this, she went online and extended an invitation.  “Hi Ryan, this is an open invitation to visit the Days of our Lives set.  Nobody will be possessed.”   In record time, Gosling responded.  “Deidre Hall, are you kidding me?  Yes, I will be there to thank you in person for being my OG acting inspiration.  It wasn’t Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront, it wasn’t DeNiro in Taxi Driver.  It was you.  I’m not worried about the possession.  I’ll say a Hail Mary before I get there.  I’ll be fine.  See you on set.” 

In case Deidre Hall and Ryan Gosling weren’t strange bedfellows, let me direct your attention to Daniel Radcliffe, who is currently knocking ‘em dead with Every Brilliant Thing on Broadway.  Since this is a solo show (with copious amounts of audience participation), the casting of his replacement is tricky.  Someone with the right set of skills was needed.  Drama, comedy and improv.  Naturally, the first person who came to mind was…Mariska Hargitay!  This will mark Hargitay’s Broadway debut.  It should be noted that her mom, Jayne Mansfield, made her Broadway debut in 1955 at the tender young age of 22.  When Mariska takes over on May 26^th, she’ll be 62.