Ryan Reynolds says 'I owe a lot of who I am to Canada'

Unlike some other Canadian-born celebs who have made it big in Hollywood, Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds has never turned his nose up at his hometown (A.K.A. all of Canada). Everything from his Twitter handle (Vancouver reprazent!), to the charities he supports (SickKids Hospital), to the causes he takes up (remember when he helped return this BC girl’s teddy bear?) is rooted in his love of Canada.

Now, in a new interview with Canadian political magazine Maclean’s, Blake Lively’s other (and goofier) half reveals that his identity is very much rooted in his Canadianess.

“I think it’s part of how I was raised,” he says, replying to a comment about his wholesome and relatable humour. “And I don’t just mean my parents, I mean being born and raised in Canada and having close ties to Canada. I learned at a young age to laugh at myself. I think self-deprecating humour is something Canadians are well known for all over the world.”

“I’m very connected to it. I owe a lot of who I am to Canada,” he added.

When reporter Jen Gerson points out that he seems emotionally connected to Canada in a way that other Canadian celebs who flew the coop don’t, Ryan replies that he has actively rejected the old ways of being a Canadian-celebrity-who-wants-you-to-forget-they're-Canadian.

“When I was starting out, the people who were quite famous tended to have a different outlook on celebrity,” he says. “That it was something to begrudge, or that it was this burden to carry. I just found that it felt really good to share it; I share it with Canada.”

He continued, “I like to share power, I like to step aside where necessary. I think all of those things are signs of strength, not weakness. I love where I grew up, I love everything about it. My brothers all live there, my mother lives there.”

“The causes that are important to me are often causes that are important to Canadians. I’m proud of carrying that with me,” he added.

It’s true, he has really stepped up his support for Canadian causes during the pandemic.  He and Blake donated $250,000  to support an Indigenous mentorship program and then $200K to support an Indigenous woman’s program. He sent parkas to 300 students in need in Nunavut and Vancouver wants to name a street after him (but of course!) even though he’s too humble to accept. 

Sounds like that patented self-deprecating humour and self-awareness also comes out in how he parents his kids. Mostly, how he tells them that happiness shouldn't be a life goal. 

"I read this thing that talked about how it’s probably best not to strive for happiness for your children, but rather for self-awareness," he said. "That really stuck with me. Happiness is a recipe for disappointment; it’s a recipe for evaluation instead of observation." 

"It’s a recipe for kids thinking, 'Why am I not happy at this moment?' Instead you want to welcome every feeling: sadness, anger, grief, anxiety, anything that is coming up."

When it comes to how he interacts with other celebs, the Van Wilder star says that he prefers to punch up rather than punch down, something that is just soooooo Maple-Leafy.

“When I was a young buck starting out in Hollywood, I made a couple of jokes at the expense of someone else, and I remember noting how that didn’t feel good. Despite the fact that it got a laugh, there was something darkly icky about it, and I made this promise to myself that I wouldn’t do that anymore.”

Before you ask, no the other person wasn’t Hugh Jackman (although he probably had it coming).

“Hugh and I have had a decades-long rivalry that I hope will end sometime around 2063,” he deadpans. “There is no winning here. We’re both losers. We’re both losing hideously.”

BEFORE YOU GO: Jason Sudeikis talks being back on the field as ‘Ted Lasso’ in new season

[video_embed id='2236341']BEFORE YOU GO: Jason Sudeikis talks being back on the field as ‘Ted Lasso’ in new season[/video_embed]