There are movie stars, and then there's Ryan Reynolds, a man who somehow turned sarcasm into a multi-million-dollar business model. Blessed with movie-star looks and the sense of humour of someone who's spent his entire life winding up his mates down the pub, Reynolds has built a career on being effortlessly charming, relentlessly self-deprecating and permanently incapable of taking himself too seriously. Which, in Hollywood, is practically a superpower.
His journey to superstardom wasn't exactly an overnight success. For years, Ryan bounced between sitcoms, romantic comedies and action films, often threatening to break into the big leagues without quite smashing the door down. Then along came Deadpool, a character he fought to bring to the screen for years. Thankfully, because it turned out that a foul-mouthed mercenary with the emotional maturity of a fourteen-year-old and the face of one of People magazine's sexiest men alive was exactly what cinema needed.
The brilliant thing about Reynolds is that Deadpool doesn't feel like a role he's playing. It often feels like somebody simply handed Ryan a red suit and told him to carry on being himself. The quick-fire jokes, the constant sarcasm and the habit of turning absolutely everything into a punchline have made him one of the most likeable stars around. Even when he's saving the world, he somehow gives off the impression he'd rather be winding up Hugh Jackman.
And while acting has made him a household name, Ryan has quietly become something of a business wizard too. Between investments, production companies and marketing campaigns that seem specifically designed to make everyone laugh, he's built an empire that stretches far beyond Hollywood. But perhaps his most unexpected adventure came when he and Rob McElhenney bought Wrexham AFC. What initially sounded like the setup for a sitcom somehow became one of the most heart-warming stories in football, turning the Welsh club into a global sensation and winning over supporters who were understandably baffled when two actors from North America turned up and started caring more than half the owners in the Premier League.
Perhaps the most remarkable thing about Ryan Reynolds is that despite all the fame and success, he still comes across like the bloke who'd spend the entire barbecue taking the mickey out of everyone, including himself.
• Ryan spent over a decade trying to get Deadpool made properly after the character's infamous first appearance in X-Men Origins: Wolverine left fans sharpening their pitchforks. His persistence eventually paid off in spectacular fashion.
• He and fellow actor Rob McElhenney bought Wrexham AFC in 2020, and their ownership journey became the hugely successful documentary series Welcome to Wrexham. Not many Hollywood stars can say they've celebrated promotions while necking pints with Welsh football fans.
• Ryan has become famous for his playful "feud" with Hugh Jackman, with the pair spending years roasting each other online. Nobody is entirely sure where the joke ends and reality begins anymore.
Ryan Reynolds has somehow built an entire career out of acting like the funniest bloke in the group chat, and fair play to him because it's worked brilliantly. Whether he's wearing a red mask, launching another business venture or helping Wrexham dream of footballing glory, he brings a warmth and sense of humour that makes him incredibly easy to root for. And let's be honest, anyone who can make both Marvel fans and football supporters equally happy deserves a bit of respect.
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