But even though Gosling has been nominated for two Oscars (plus all the other awards that tend to precede that recognition) since they got together, ultimately it took a Hail Mary to reunite the couple in front of a camera.
Ahead of the 45-year-old's fourth time hosting Saturday Night Live -- and the upcoming release of his new sci-fi-action-adventure-in-space movie Project Hail Mary -- Mendes made a surprise appearance alongside Gosling on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on March 5 when the host and his guest enlisted a high school marching band to play "Happy Birthday" for the actress, who was turning 52.
They held hands and even shared a kiss, during what was their first joint showbiz appearance together since SXSW in 2015 -- where they appeared at a Q&A following the premiere of Lost River, directed by Gosling and starring Mendes, but did not stand next to each other.
Of course, it's not as if they haven't gone out over the last 13 years. They even take their children places, as parents do. After the family of four were spotted at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Mendes gave NBC Olympics an approving shout-out for leaving their daughters out of the frame when the couple's presence at a women's gymnastics event was duly noted.
But for almost the totality of their relationship, they have for the most part opted to run their respective professional lives solo, though obviously they have each other's back behind the scenes.
