While little is known about the plot of Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” the Mattel adaptation is one of the most anticipated movies of the year — and one that almost every Hollywood actor wants to be in.
A series of viral set photos featuring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling dressed in meme-like Barbie and Ken outfits only added to the hype, and the film’s Kubrick-inspired trailer fueled even more speculation about the film’s story. As the film’s summer release date nears (it hits theaters the same weekend as Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” which will give cinephiles a real Christmas in July), “Barbie” looks more and more like a cultural phenomenon that could make it into the supporting cast. major stars.
So how did the cast of the film land their coveted roles? If you believe Hari Nef, it’s because she broke with traditional Barbie doll stereotypes. In an interview with New York Timesthe actress explained that she believed Gerwig chose her because she offered a femininity that differed from the one-dimensional character mold one would expect from a Barbie film.
“I play a lot of skirts,” Nef said. “I’m not smart.” I’m a writer, and many of the bitches I’ve played are also writers and thinkers. Clever. “Bitch” is often a filler for intelligent, articulate, opinionated, quirky, unconventionally feminine or unconventionally beautiful. I think the ‘Barbie’ thing happened because I didn’t play dumb, I didn’t play stupid, I didn’t play plastic in the audition.”
Gerwig was never shy about auditioning Nef for the film. In a recent interview, the filmmaker recalled his overwhelmingly positive reaction to the actress’ audition tape.
“I saw Hari’s audition tape for ‘Barbie,’ and I just flipped it,” Gerwig said. “I ran into the producer’s office with a computer, hit play and said, ‘This is it. This is our movie. He had gaiety, playfulness and sparkling intelligent humor, which was exactly the voice: knowledgeable but not acerbic, energetic but not stupid.
“Barbie” opens in theaters on Friday, July 21. Click here for all the details of the film.
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