Ryan Reynolds reveals the career changing advice he learned from Richard Curtis

Ryan Reynolds recently reflected on an important piece of advice which he received from filmmaker Richard Curtis, the creative mind behind beloved romantic comedies like Bridget Jones's Diary and Love Actually.

Speaking at The Wall Street Journal’s CMO Summit in New York City on November 18, the Deadpool & Wolverine star recalled how Curtis’ guidance stayed with him throughout his career.

Reynolds shared the moment with humour, saying, “I remember he once said to me when I was very young — I was like 40,” which drew laughter from the audience.

He went on to explain the lasting impact of Curtis’ wisdom, “He said every character has to have a beginning, a middle and an end. [The advice] really kind of stuck with me.”

The actor and producer added that he has applied this storytelling principle to his work in advertising, particularly when promoting brands such as Aviation Gin and Mint Mobile.

“I sort of brought that even into that space with, ‘How do you do that in 30 seconds or 15 seconds as well?’” he said.

The Free Guy star also emphasised the importance of limitations in creativity, noting, cI really do believe that too much time and too much money will murder creativity — it will just kill it.”

Throughout the discussion, Reynolds also revealed how he strategically uses humour in advertising. 

“Well, humour and emotion are the two feelings that I think travel the most,” he said.

Ryan Reynolds added that while humour and emotion work ”so well”, bringing them together ”really, really just creates togetherness.”