Ryan Gosling says that despite his status as a Hollywood heartthrob he still needed help on how to seduce women.

The Canadian actor is currently dating Latin beauty Eva Mendes so he obviously knows a thing or two.

But he told Britain's The Sun newspaper that when he was preparing for his role in Crazy, Stupid, Love he had to do a lot of research on what women want in a man.

"I don't want to disappoint you, but it's not really like the film," he said of his skills.

"I just tried to follow all the rules that men's magazines give you, like all the ways you're supposed to dress, all the exercises you're supposed to do, and all the things you're supposed to say. Just follow the letter of the law.

"I read that book, The Game. I like to call it The Lame. Or that TV show, The Pick Up Artist. I watched that.

"I don't know whether seduction can be taught or not. But these gentlemen seem to think that they have something to say, and they have devotees."

Ryan's own devoted fans caused a furor when he did not win People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive honour last year and it was instead given to Bradley Cooper.