Ryan Gosling totally not embarrassed by cringey ‘90s show Young Hercules

Before he became a major Hollywood heart-throb, Ryan Gosling had more than his share of questionable acting roles.

But the former Mickey Mouse Club member is proud of his past work, especially the ‘90s TV show Young Hercules in which he played a younger version of Kevin Sorbo’s character, the demi-god Hercules.

One of many spin-offs from Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Ryan’s show was not nearly as successful.

However, in an interview promoting his new movie, Gangster Squad, the 32-year-old actor claimed that his “work on Young Hercules" was not as appreciated as well as it should have been. "I had a fake tan, leather pants," Gosling told entertainment reporter Jake Hamilton. "I was fighting imaginary monsters -- they weren't really there, but I was acting like they were there.” It doesn’t sound that different from his new movie role.

Also set in a previous era, involving Ryan in elaborate costumes and fighting bad guys, Gangster Squad is a 1940s crime drama in which he stars as a cocky policeman taking down a drug, prostitution and gambling ring in Los Angeles.

Directed by Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland), and also starring A-listers Josh Brolin, Sean Penn and Emma Stone, we predict a hit of Herculean proportions. View slideshow: Before They Were Famous!