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Twenty years ago, moviegoers were blessed with The Notebook, an epic love story based on the Nicholas Sparks novel of the same name. Starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, the film made more than $100 million at the box office and catapulted its leads to fame.
In the months surrounding the film’s premiere, the actors hit the promotional circuit, popping up on red carpets and afterward, recreating their famous kiss at the MTV Movie Awards.
Here, as The Notebook celebrates its 20th anniversary, enjoy these throwback photos of stars Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams on their press tour.
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Premiere Pair
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Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams were 23 and 25, respectively, when The Notebook hit theaters in 2004.
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Award Worthy
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The pair scored all sorts of honors for their work, including a superstar of tomorrow award for Rachel McAdams.
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On Board
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And the choice movie chemistry, liplock and love scene awards at the Teen Choice Awards in 2005.
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Near Miss
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At the awards, Rachel McAdams went to recreate her kiss … and ended up smooching presenter Ryan Reynolds. “I think I got the wrong Ryan,” she joked. “They’re both Canadian.”
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Pop Stars
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Backstage at the 2005 MTV Movie Awards, the stars shared a celebratory smooch.
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Winning Looks
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Their gazes said it all.
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Kiss This
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At the 2005 MTV Movie Awards, the pair actually recreated their romantic movie scene while accepting the award for best kiss.
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Be Best
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“You have to be born with a magic mouth,” Ryan Gosling joked to ET afterward of what makes a movie kiss the best kiss.