Sad truth behind Ryan Reynolds' sense of humor and where it really comes from

When he's not making audiences howl in their seats as the Merc with a Mouth, Ryan Reynolds is actually a self-proclaimed softie.

Throughout his career, the actor has never shied away from being vulnerable on subjects like mental health and his struggles with his own anxiety.

In fact, Reynolds has even gotten candid on how his upbringing informed his sense of humor and introduced him to the world of acting.

During a 2019 interview with WSJ Style, Reynolds opened up on how being the youngest of four sons was oftentimes difficult and meant that he had to rely on his 'wits' to get along with his siblings.

"You get by on your wits, that's how you do it, you don't get by on your fists," the actor recalled.

"I think in any household it's hard being the fourth kid. That's the kid that's sort of watching and learning constantly, as opposed to the trailblazing eldest," he continued.

"You get by on your wits," Reynolds shared. (Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Reynolds went on to explain that he never thought he would be an actor as a child, and that he mainly used the craft as a means to cope.

"I always thought I'd end up in law enforcement like my family so I didn't imagine that [I'd be an actor].

"Acting was a way to get out of the house. It wasn't really like a passion when I was a kid. It was something I was already doing at home, you know, to survive," he added.

"Making people laugh was a great self-defense mechanism." (Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Disney)

"I noticed when I was a kid, making people laugh was a great self-defense mechanism. It really helped me kind of navigate my way through my own home with my older brothers and my dad.

"I could diffuse them by making them laugh," the actor continued.

Reynolds opened up about his anxiety in 2022. (Lewis Storey/Getty Images)

Reynolds previously shared that he's dealt with anxiety since he was a child telling CBS Sunday Mornings in a 2022 interview: "I've had anxiety my whole life really. And you know, I feel like I have two parts of my personality, that one takes over when that happens.

"When I would go out on, like, Letterman, back in the day, I was nervous. But I remember I'd be standing backstage before the curtain would open, and I would think to myself, 'I'm gonna die. I'm literally gonna die here,'" the actor shared. "'The curtain's gonna open and I'm just gonna be, I'm just gonna be a symphony of vomit, just, like, something horrible's gonna happen!

"But as soon as that curtain opens — and this happens in my work a lot too — it's like this little guy takes over. And he's like, 'I got this. You're cool.' I feel, like, my heart rate drop, and my breathing calm, and I just sort of go out and I'm this different person. And I leave that interview going, 'God, I'd love to be that guy!'"