Ryan Gosling is thrilled that Ken has become an inspiration to boys

He told The Sunday Times: "I've heard those stories and, of course, I love them. I think Greta had more affection for Ken than any other character. Even though she made a Barbie film, she was very conscious that she has two little boys, and so wanted to start a conversation.

"I heard about a kid whose girlfriend broke up with him and he'd watch 'I'm Just Ken' to make him feel it was OK. Like, 'I just wasn't the right person for her, but that doesn't mean there is anything wrong with me ...'"

But 'The Fall Guy' star mused that perhaps people are "sick" of the character when it was noted by the outlet that there is "very little left to ask" about Barbie's famous boyfriend.

His co-star Emily Blunt - who earlier this month dec lared that "Ken is dead" as part of a 'Saturday Night Live' sketch quipped: "You see, everyone's sick of him."

Ryan said: "I understand."

'I'm Just Ken' lost out the award for Best Original Song to Billie Eilish's 'What Was I Made For?' - which appears during the ending sequence of 'Barbie' - and Ryan previously revealed that he initially turned down the chance to perform it at the Oscars.

Speaking on 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon', he said: "(It was) 100 per cent no.

"There's a lot of ways that could go wrong."

When host Jimmy, 49, read positive reviews about Ryan's performance, he referenced the talk show host's house band when he jokingly replied: "Imagine the reviews I would have had if I'd have had The Roots."

Ryan's 'I'm Just Ken' performance saw him dancing in a pink suit and black cowboy hat while joined onstage by the song's writer and producer Mark Ronson as well as his fellow movie 'Kens' - Simu Liu, Scott Evans, Ncuti Gatwa and Kingsley Ben-Adir.

Ryan was also joined by Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash and Wolfgang Van Halen, and at one point the actor handed his mic to audience members Margot Robbie - who played 'Barbie' in Greta's blockbuster - as well as Emma Stone, America Ferrera and Greta.