How Margot Robbie Prepared for Barbie
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VOICE OVER: Rebecca Brayton
WRITTEN BY: Cassondra Feltus
All hail the queen of the dolls! For this video, we'll be looking at the actress-producer's transformation into the iconic doll and the journey to bring her from script to screen. We'll have a look at previous possible Barbie films, couture, stereotypes and more!
Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re discussing How Margot Robbie Prepared for Barbie. For this video, we’ll be looking at the actress-producer’s transformation into the iconic doll and the journey to bring her from script to screen. Are you excited to see Margot Robbie as Barbie? Tell us in the comments.
With all the hype surrounding the Margot Robbie-led “Barbie” movie coming out in July 2023, you’d think bringing Barbie to the big screen would be a no-brainer. However, the process was anything but simple.
Rumors about a live-action Barbie movie first swirled in 2009 with Universal Pictures obtaining the rights from Mattel. But things really took off in 2014 when Sony Pictures got the rights and hired writers Jenny Bicks and later Diablo Cody to develop a script. By the end of 2016, actress-comedian Amy Schumer was in talks to star as Barbie and possibly get involved with another rewrite of the script. However, Schumer dropped out due to what was later revealed to be disagreements with Sony execs on the creative vision. In 2017, the studio hired a different writer with the hopes that Anne Hathaway would play the lead. But a year later, the project was scrapped yet again after Sony’s rights expired and went back to Mattel.
Barbie’s saving grace came later in 2018 when Warner Bros partnered with the toy brand. Margot Robbie was rumored to step into the role of Barbie and her company LuckyChap Entertainment was set to produce. The multitalented Greta Gerwig was in mind to helm the project and in July 2019, along with confirmation of Robbie’s casting, it was announced that Gerwig and her partner Noah Baumbach would be penning the new script. Two years later, Gerwig was also in the director’s chair.
Margot Robbie succeeded in getting the long-awaited “Barbie” script off the ground and into production with some of the most talented creatives in the industry behind the camera. But could she actually become Barbie? While we may think it’s an obvious “yes”, Robbie had her doubts.
Since making her debut on March 9, 1959, Barbie has sparked controversy after controversy.
The doll quickly became a cultural icon that represented the endless possibilities available to young children. Barbie has always been an image of an independent woman, owning her own car and house, jumping into hundreds of careers and hobbies, and casually dating Ken. Barbie is everything because she does everything.
Barbie was and still is an inspiration to people of all ages, so it’s no surprise that Robbie would feel the pressure to step into her plastic pumps. However, the two have some things in common. In the relatively short span of her career, the Australian actress has proved she’s just as versatile as the ever-evolving Barbie, playing everyone from psychiatrist-turned-psycho-villain Harley Quinn to Hollywood actress Sharon Tate to Queen Elizabeth I. Through these characters, Robbie developed skills like ice skating, gymnastics, boxing, and rollerskating at a derby-worthy level. And as we’ve seen in on-set photos and trailers, Barbie is all about dancing and rollerblading, and even throws her first punch in the movie.
With her reputation for heavy preparation and overall athletic lifestyle, Margot Robbie is beyond prepared to slip into the physicality of a Barbie doll…whatever that might look like.
If you’re familiar with Oscar-nominated filmmaker Greta Gerwig’s work, you’ll know that “Barbie” won’t be the kind of movie people expect. Sure, Barbieland and its inhabitants are colorful and seemingly always having a perfect day. But Margot Robbie’s Barbie gradually realizes things in paradise are getting weird for her. This existential crisis sends Barbie on a journey to self-discovery and to the real world where her concept of life is challenged. Gerwig likens the story to the insecurities teenagers develop when they start to see the world differently. Yeah, pretty heavy stuff.
Given the complexity of Gerwig’s version of Barbie, Robbie’s regular process of getting into character just wasn’t working. Instead of doing the “animal work” techniques that she’s done in the past, Gerwig had her listen to an episode of the podcast “This American Life” about a woman who lacks the internal monologue most people have. Essentially, Robbie needed to master a certain naivete and carefree attitude.
Barbie’s often been a reflection of the times, particularly when it comes to fashion and style. After all, she’s inspired a whole fashion movement with Barbiecore. The doll’s earliest careers include fashion model and fashion designer but no matter the job, task, season, event, or latest trend, she always has the perfect outfit and matching accessories. In the movie’s main trailer, a range of outfits appear in the montage of Barbie and Ken on their way to the real world from casual pink and white sailor looks to white and brown astronaut suits. And you may have noticed, Ken usually just wears his own version of whatever Barbie’s wearing.
While pink is Barbie’s signature color, there’s not a shade she hasn’t worn. The trailers show Margot Robbie wearing light pink patterned dresses, a sparkly disco jumpsuit, a mod-inspired blue dress, an all-pink cowgirl outfit, and many other fabulous ensembles. In the movie’s first teaser, she wears the OG doll’s striped swimsuit circa 1959, along with black heels, white sunglasses, and even the bangs! If there’s one image to convince you that Robbie is the perfect Barbie, this is definitely the one.
“Barbie” costume designer Jacqueline Durran looked to the doll’s history for inspiration, blending multiple eras, especially the 1980s and 90s. Those decades’ influences come through the most in Barbie and Ken’s neon rollerblading outfits. Robbie admitted she was embarrassed by the leaked behind-the-scenes photos of her in the wild getup, but we’d argue that she rocked the look just fine.
An important thing to know about Barbie is that even though her general style is hyper-feminine, she dresses for herself. According to Durran, Barbie “dresses with intention” and her goal isn’t to be sexualized. Robbie agrees, because in preparation for the role, she thought about the plastic doll’s anatomy and lack of reproductive organs. She concluded that since Barbie wouldn’t experience sexuality, she “should never be sexy.” It makes sense that Barbie wouldn’t think about her sexiness. It’s safe to say Robbie truly knows her character inside and out.
Throughout the decades, Barbies have come with different identities and occupations, and in the later years, a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes.
Margot Robbie plays Stereotypical Barbie, the blonde-haired blue-eyed doll with a sun-kissed tan. Visually she most resembles Malibu Barbie, and although she doesn’t stay in beach attire throughout the entire movie, “beach” was clearly a touchstone for the film. And to help Ryan Gosling get into his Ken character, Robbie surprised him with various beach-inspired gifts. Of course, everything was wrapped in pink with bows and sweet messages from Barbie Margot.
Just like Gosling isn’t the only Ken, Robbie’s not the only Barbie. She’s joined by a star-studded array of actresses playing Barbies holding careers in government, law, science, medicine, and more. The cast includes Issa Rae as President Barbie, Emma Mackey as a Nobel Prize-winning Physicist Barbie, Alexandra Shipp as a “celebrated author” Barbie, Ritu Arya as a Pulitzer-winning Barbie, Hari Nef as Doctor Barbie, Ana Cruz Kayne as Supreme Court Justice Barbie, Nicola Coughlan as Diplomat Barbie, and Sharon Rooney as Lawyer Barbie. Two standouts are Dua Lipa as Mermaid Barbie and Kate McKinnon as a visibly trashed Weird Barbie.
In 2023, Robbie confessed to Vogue that she had her heart set on Gal Gadot to play one of the dolls because she felt the “Wonder Woman” actress was the definition of “Barbie energy.” Gadot was unavailable at the time, though the actress would later state her interest in participating in a future installment on social media.
Margot Robbie certainly put in the work finding Barbie’s mindset. And through masking her Australian accent with a generic American non-accent, analyzing Barbie’s sexuality (or lack thereof), and donning beautifully designed outfits, she undoubtedly mastered the physicality. But another contributing factor to her transformation was the atmosphere on-and-off-set.
“Barbie”’s set design is nothing less than mind-blowing, so much so that Greta Gerwig was brought to tears at the sight. A lot of detail went into creating Barbieland, including little touches to reportedly mimic the plasticity of the actual toys.
Robbie and her fellow Barbies bonded at a fun-filled hotel slumber party. Kens were invited, but the sleepover was strictly No Kens Allowed. Gerwig also showcased some of the films that inspired the look and tone of “Barbie” in weekly gatherings they called “movie church” to the entirety of the cast and crew. Showings included colorful classics like “The Wizard of Oz” and “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure.”
Being immersed in a tangible environment that consists of actual Dreamhouses was reportedly a massive source of happiness for the cast. And as audience members, those good vibes are contagious.
Barbie’s Long Road to Hollywood
With all the hype surrounding the Margot Robbie-led “Barbie” movie coming out in July 2023, you’d think bringing Barbie to the big screen would be a no-brainer. However, the process was anything but simple.
Rumors about a live-action Barbie movie first swirled in 2009 with Universal Pictures obtaining the rights from Mattel. But things really took off in 2014 when Sony Pictures got the rights and hired writers Jenny Bicks and later Diablo Cody to develop a script. By the end of 2016, actress-comedian Amy Schumer was in talks to star as Barbie and possibly get involved with another rewrite of the script. However, Schumer dropped out due to what was later revealed to be disagreements with Sony execs on the creative vision. In 2017, the studio hired a different writer with the hopes that Anne Hathaway would play the lead. But a year later, the project was scrapped yet again after Sony’s rights expired and went back to Mattel.
Barbie’s saving grace came later in 2018 when Warner Bros partnered with the toy brand. Margot Robbie was rumored to step into the role of Barbie and her company LuckyChap Entertainment was set to produce. The multitalented Greta Gerwig was in mind to helm the project and in July 2019, along with confirmation of Robbie’s casting, it was announced that Gerwig and her partner Noah Baumbach would be penning the new script. Two years later, Gerwig was also in the director’s chair.
Barbie Is Everything
Margot Robbie succeeded in getting the long-awaited “Barbie” script off the ground and into production with some of the most talented creatives in the industry behind the camera. But could she actually become Barbie? While we may think it’s an obvious “yes”, Robbie had her doubts.
Since making her debut on March 9, 1959, Barbie has sparked controversy after controversy.
The doll quickly became a cultural icon that represented the endless possibilities available to young children. Barbie has always been an image of an independent woman, owning her own car and house, jumping into hundreds of careers and hobbies, and casually dating Ken. Barbie is everything because she does everything.
Barbie was and still is an inspiration to people of all ages, so it’s no surprise that Robbie would feel the pressure to step into her plastic pumps. However, the two have some things in common. In the relatively short span of her career, the Australian actress has proved she’s just as versatile as the ever-evolving Barbie, playing everyone from psychiatrist-turned-psycho-villain Harley Quinn to Hollywood actress Sharon Tate to Queen Elizabeth I. Through these characters, Robbie developed skills like ice skating, gymnastics, boxing, and rollerskating at a derby-worthy level. And as we’ve seen in on-set photos and trailers, Barbie is all about dancing and rollerblading, and even throws her first punch in the movie.
With her reputation for heavy preparation and overall athletic lifestyle, Margot Robbie is beyond prepared to slip into the physicality of a Barbie doll…whatever that might look like.
She’s a Barbie Girl in a Real World
If you’re familiar with Oscar-nominated filmmaker Greta Gerwig’s work, you’ll know that “Barbie” won’t be the kind of movie people expect. Sure, Barbieland and its inhabitants are colorful and seemingly always having a perfect day. But Margot Robbie’s Barbie gradually realizes things in paradise are getting weird for her. This existential crisis sends Barbie on a journey to self-discovery and to the real world where her concept of life is challenged. Gerwig likens the story to the insecurities teenagers develop when they start to see the world differently. Yeah, pretty heavy stuff.
Given the complexity of Gerwig’s version of Barbie, Robbie’s regular process of getting into character just wasn’t working. Instead of doing the “animal work” techniques that she’s done in the past, Gerwig had her listen to an episode of the podcast “This American Life” about a woman who lacks the internal monologue most people have. Essentially, Robbie needed to master a certain naivete and carefree attitude.
Couture, Barbiecore & So Much More
Barbie’s often been a reflection of the times, particularly when it comes to fashion and style. After all, she’s inspired a whole fashion movement with Barbiecore. The doll’s earliest careers include fashion model and fashion designer but no matter the job, task, season, event, or latest trend, she always has the perfect outfit and matching accessories. In the movie’s main trailer, a range of outfits appear in the montage of Barbie and Ken on their way to the real world from casual pink and white sailor looks to white and brown astronaut suits. And you may have noticed, Ken usually just wears his own version of whatever Barbie’s wearing.
While pink is Barbie’s signature color, there’s not a shade she hasn’t worn. The trailers show Margot Robbie wearing light pink patterned dresses, a sparkly disco jumpsuit, a mod-inspired blue dress, an all-pink cowgirl outfit, and many other fabulous ensembles. In the movie’s first teaser, she wears the OG doll’s striped swimsuit circa 1959, along with black heels, white sunglasses, and even the bangs! If there’s one image to convince you that Robbie is the perfect Barbie, this is definitely the one.
“Barbie” costume designer Jacqueline Durran looked to the doll’s history for inspiration, blending multiple eras, especially the 1980s and 90s. Those decades’ influences come through the most in Barbie and Ken’s neon rollerblading outfits. Robbie admitted she was embarrassed by the leaked behind-the-scenes photos of her in the wild getup, but we’d argue that she rocked the look just fine.
An important thing to know about Barbie is that even though her general style is hyper-feminine, she dresses for herself. According to Durran, Barbie “dresses with intention” and her goal isn’t to be sexualized. Robbie agrees, because in preparation for the role, she thought about the plastic doll’s anatomy and lack of reproductive organs. She concluded that since Barbie wouldn’t experience sexuality, she “should never be sexy.” It makes sense that Barbie wouldn’t think about her sexiness. It’s safe to say Robbie truly knows her character inside and out.
“Hey, Barbie!”
Throughout the decades, Barbies have come with different identities and occupations, and in the later years, a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes.
Margot Robbie plays Stereotypical Barbie, the blonde-haired blue-eyed doll with a sun-kissed tan. Visually she most resembles Malibu Barbie, and although she doesn’t stay in beach attire throughout the entire movie, “beach” was clearly a touchstone for the film. And to help Ryan Gosling get into his Ken character, Robbie surprised him with various beach-inspired gifts. Of course, everything was wrapped in pink with bows and sweet messages from Barbie Margot.
Just like Gosling isn’t the only Ken, Robbie’s not the only Barbie. She’s joined by a star-studded array of actresses playing Barbies holding careers in government, law, science, medicine, and more. The cast includes Issa Rae as President Barbie, Emma Mackey as a Nobel Prize-winning Physicist Barbie, Alexandra Shipp as a “celebrated author” Barbie, Ritu Arya as a Pulitzer-winning Barbie, Hari Nef as Doctor Barbie, Ana Cruz Kayne as Supreme Court Justice Barbie, Nicola Coughlan as Diplomat Barbie, and Sharon Rooney as Lawyer Barbie. Two standouts are Dua Lipa as Mermaid Barbie and Kate McKinnon as a visibly trashed Weird Barbie.
In 2023, Robbie confessed to Vogue that she had her heart set on Gal Gadot to play one of the dolls because she felt the “Wonder Woman” actress was the definition of “Barbie energy.” Gadot was unavailable at the time, though the actress would later state her interest in participating in a future installment on social media.
Authentically Artificial
Margot Robbie certainly put in the work finding Barbie’s mindset. And through masking her Australian accent with a generic American non-accent, analyzing Barbie’s sexuality (or lack thereof), and donning beautifully designed outfits, she undoubtedly mastered the physicality. But another contributing factor to her transformation was the atmosphere on-and-off-set.
“Barbie”’s set design is nothing less than mind-blowing, so much so that Greta Gerwig was brought to tears at the sight. A lot of detail went into creating Barbieland, including little touches to reportedly mimic the plasticity of the actual toys.
Robbie and her fellow Barbies bonded at a fun-filled hotel slumber party. Kens were invited, but the sleepover was strictly No Kens Allowed. Gerwig also showcased some of the films that inspired the look and tone of “Barbie” in weekly gatherings they called “movie church” to the entirety of the cast and crew. Showings included colorful classics like “The Wizard of Oz” and “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure.”
Being immersed in a tangible environment that consists of actual Dreamhouses was reportedly a massive source of happiness for the cast. And as audience members, those good vibes are contagious.
