Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes are usually incredibly private about their personal lives and their family.

However, in an emotional speech at the Golden Globe Awards, Gosling made sure to honour his partner and thank her for supporting his career – particularly when the Training Day actor was going through such a difficult time herself.

“I would like to try to thank one person properly,” he said. “While I was singing and dancing and playing piano and having one of the best experiences I've ever had on a film, my lady was raising our daughter, pregnant with our second, and trying to help her brother fight his battle with cancer,” he told the audience.

“If she hadn't have taken all that on so that I could have this experience, it would surely be someone else up here other than me today. So sweetheart, thank you.”

Ryan Gosling honours Eva Mendes and her late brother in emotional Golden Globes speech