10 of the most exciting A-list actors and actresses in the Barbie movie – Screen Shot
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10 of the most exciting A-list actors and actresses in the Barbie movie

It’s Barbie’s world and we’re just living in it. On 4 April 2023, girly pops everywhere were gifted with the official Barbie film trailer. The movie, due to be released on 21 July, and directed by certified creative babe and genius Greta Gerwig, has been one of the most highly anticipated productions of this decade and it’s safe to say that we’re all hysterically excited about it.

And while everyone is quite rightly still obsessing over the casting of Aussie queen Margot Robbie and Canadian heartthrob Ryan Gosling as the film’s premier Barbie and Ken, we’re also overwhelmingly shook at the rest of the Barbie star-studded cast, and it’s something worth delving into.

So, without further ado, let’s run through ten of the most exciting A-listers set to make an appearance in what’s likely to be the film of the year. From current rising stars to OG nostalgic besties, this cast truly hits the sweet spot.

1. Simu Liu

When Simu Liu isn’t saving the world in the Marvel multiverse, he’s splashing in the pool in Barbie Land and schmoozing his fellow dolls with his dazzling eyes and toned physique. The Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star will be playing one of the many Kens in the Barbie universe, and from the little we know about the upcoming film, it seems as though Liu will be competing with Gosling for Robbie’s (aka, supreme Barbie) attention.

2. Dua Lipa

One of the most unforeseen casting choices in Barbie has to be singer Dua Lipa, who’ll be gracing our screens as a mermaid Barbie. Lipa’s appearance in the blockbuster will mark her official acting debut. We’ve seen a number of artists sashay into the acting industry—Lady Gaga, Cher and Justin Timberlake to name a few (although, I’m not sure we can officially class Timberlake as an ‘actor’).

3. Will Ferrell

I can’t imagine there’s anyone on the planet who’s not a fan of OG actor Will Ferrell. Known for his iconic role as Buddy the Elf in, you guessed it, Elf, Ferrell is hanging up his jingle bells for the role of ‘unknown corporate boss’ in Barbie. Again, we’ve been kept very much in the dark in regards to the plot of Gerwig’s film and so all we can say is that Ferrell’s character seems to be some kind of business villain, but who knows? We’ll just have to wait and see.

4. Michael Cera

Any Juno or Superbad fans out there, this one’s for you. Michael Cera’s guest role in Barbie is as equally ambiguous as the rest, although in his case, we at least have a name: Allan. Fans have been going feral online, speculating what part Cera will play in the film, and reminiscing over the actor’s previous characters. Supposedly, Allan was a 1960s obscure Barbie doll created by manufacturers Mattel to be Ken’s best friends, but unfortunately, after not being received well by kids, Allan was never seen again.

5. Helen Mirren

Next up is British acting royalty, Helen Mirren. Heralded as one of this generation’s most celebrated and respected actresses, Mirren will take on the role as the coveted narrator of the Barbie film. With such a legendary voice, it’s no surprise that she was brought onboard to take us along the way.

6. Issa Rae

If you weren’t sure whether or not there’d be a President of Barbie Land, the news is officially in: yes. Not only is there going to be one, it’s going to be none other than American actress and comedian Issa Rae. Revered for showcasing the lives of actual women, Rae has been a tour de force in the creative industry for some time and it’s safe to say that fans were thrilled when it was revealed she’d be taking on the role of President.

7. Kate McKinnon

Not everyone in Barbie Land will be gorgeously tanned, with hair that always falls just right and an outfit tailored to perfection. SNL comedian and actress Kate McKinnon will be repping it for the slightly more unhinged dolls of the world. Described as the Barbie who is “always in the splits,” McKinnon’s costume is made up of a rather choppy and wild haircut, crayon drawings on the face, and a very chaotic pink outfit which looks like something you’d find at the bottom of the dressing up drawer.

8. Emma Mackey

The next three names are ones most gen Zers will be familiar with, all hailing from the iconic Netflix show Sex Education, these three British rising stars have been making serious moves in Hollywood circles. First up is Emma Mackey, a French-born actress who, over the past five years, has exploded in the acting industry. Her recent projects include a biographical drama, Emily, which follows the life of famed author Emily Brontë, and Eiffel, a romantic drama set in Paris. In Barbie, Mackey will play a Barbie who’s recently won a Nobel Prize in Physics.

9. Connor Swindells

Next up is Connor Swindells. Known best for his role as moody yet adorably innocent Adam in Sex Education, Swindells will now be portraying “an intern or something” in the upcoming Barbie. While it doesn’t sound like the most thrilling part, I can imagine Swindells will find a way to add some pizazz.

10. Ncuti Gatwa

Last but not least is our final Sex Education alum, Ncuti Gatwa, who will be playing another Ken doll in the summer flick. Gatwa has also had an incredibly busy few years, particularly as it was recently announced that he would be taking on the role of the next Doctor Who, with his first episode airing around Christmas in 2023.

Margot Robbie broke the Chanel curse, and then she broke the internet in Bottega Veneta

It’s official—Margot Robbie has been unshackled from her Chanel contract and the internet is going feral with excitement. The Suicide Squad actress has ditched the bizarrely tailored jumpsuits, burned the stiff-looking mini shorts which should’ve been left in the 2000s, and is now leaping towards a far more modern and youthful red carpet look. Following her departure from the French fashion house, netizens everywhere are wondering what’s next for Hollywood’s favourite Aussie it girl.

Celebrity fashion is a perpetual staple in mainstream media. Whether it be tabloids, magazines, online publications or opinions shared on TikTok—it’s a constant cycle that we all pretend to not care about but secretly obsess over. And in the case of Robbie, the second she stepped in front of the cameras at the 2022 Governor Awards in Los Angeles on 19 November in a floor length olive green Bottega Veneta gown, the internet fully lost it.

@totallyyoubygq

margotrobbie’s contract with #chanel has offically ended and she is now in her #bottegaveneta era and are so here for it! ❤️‍🔥 See her #bottega looks from the green dress onwards. 👗 #totallyyoubygq #fyp #fashion #fashiontok #redcarpetlooks #fashionicon

♬ Untouchable (No) Sped Up - Remix - Xanemusic & NVBR & kevoxx

Since 2018, after signing on to become an ambassador for the brand, Robbie has exclusively worn Chanel looks on the red carpet. While a number of publications, notably Vogue, deemed the actress a “mesmerising 21st century Chanel muse,” others found the luxury fashion house’s vision to be rather restrictive and unreflective of Robbie’s magnetism and personality. In layman’s terms, the partnership made Robbie look a tad boring.

While the iconic brand has served a number of celebrities very well (Penélope Cruz, Keira Knightley, and Lily-Rose Depp, to name a few) there was a resounding feeling among fans that Chanel’s style didn’t quite fit the aura and vibe of everyone’s much-anticipated Barbie girl.

Strangely enough, you don’t have to look very hard to find other celebrities who’ve been unfortunately burnt by the Chanel brush over the years. When Kristen Stewart, the brand’s newly appointed muse for 2023, took to the 2022 Oscars red carpet in those shorts—c’mon we all remember them—Twilight stans swarmed TikTok begging the actress to reconsider her choices.

@sadafd_

The shorts heard around the world 😂 still not over it. Chanel has some explaining to do!!! #greenscreen #oscarsathome #fashiontiktok #oscars2022 #myenemy #kristenstewart

♬ I HATE U MISS PALTROW - slay

As resident fashion analyst and TikToker @oldloserinbrooklyn tells us, Stewart has been attached to the Chanel label since 2013—in fact, she was hand-selected by the late creative director Karl Lagerfeld as one of the recognisable faces of the brand before he passed in 2019. As the creator further explains, Chanel’s two-silhouette approach when it comes to Stewart’s red carpet outfits has massively restricted the actress from serving us killer looks.

@oldloserinbrooklyn

Kristen Stewart’s chanel contract #OscarsAtHome #oscars #chanel #kristenstewart

♬ You - Petit Biscuit

But back to the Australian actress. Robbie’s stylist for the evening, Kate Young, shared images of the 32-year-old’s look at the Governor Awards and fans flooded Instagram to show their appreciation for the recent style overhaul. One user commented: “Never ever stop dressing her in Bottega!” While another fan of The Wolf of Wall Street star wrote, “Margot Robbie being a Bottega girl makes so much sense.”

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A post shared by Kate Young (@kateyoung)

TikTok also hosted a fair few videos from netizens praising Robbie’s fashion turnaround. In one video, which at the time of writing has amassed over 135,000 views, images were showcased from the past week where Robbie stepped out in three different equally iconic Bottega Veneta looks.

@madisonvdt

#greenscreen #margotrobbie #bottega #bottegaveneta #chanel

♬ original sound - madisonjade

One fan commented, “the Chanel curse has been broken!” while another chimed in, “her new era is stunning!” Now it seems gen Zers and millennials are collectively speculating if Robbie will dedicate her allegiance to the considerably cooler Italian brand.

Much of Bottega’s revival is accredited to Daniel Lee, creative director from 2018 to 2021, and Matthieu Blazy, the current director. Both men are far younger than Chanel’s presiding executive team and have brought a breath of fresh air to the brand—cementing Bottega Veneta as a favourite among celebrities and fashion insiders alike.