Barbie: a feminist icon - 19th July 2023

Barbie’s in town and London’s turned pink to celebrate. The long anticipated Barbie film finally had its European premiere in the city, and the cast turned out to walk the pink carpet. Australian actress Margot Robbie plays the lead role.

Margot Robbie: "I mean, you kind of have to see it to really understand how much this movie is packing in. There's, there's so much joy and it's hilarious. It's very clever. It's got a lot to say. It's a crazy ride. It's visually spectacular. It really is unique. I, I cannot think of another movie that's, that's like it."

Born in 1958, people of all ages have now grown up with the Barbie doll. Often criticised for presenting an unrealistic female form, the film’s director, Greta Gerwig’s used the script to help turn Barbie into a feminist icon.

Greta Gerwig: "I think it, really by not denying that she's full of controversy. I think that that was part of what was so interesting about her was that, you know, in some ways she's been ahead of culture in some ways, she's been behind it, but she's definitely been a topic of conversation for 64 years."

Across the decades Barbie as a doll has evolved. In the movie, we see President Barbie, Judge Barbie, gymnast Barbie while, also reflecting the real world, there are now dolls of various shapes and sizes as well as different ethnicities.

Ziya Haji is delighted to see this diversity showcased in the film.

Ziya Haji: "I think it's good and it's representing the world as it is having more authentic sort of dolls represented because that is what society is. Not everyone does look like Barbie, not everyone has plastic perfect. So I think it's quite nice to have diversity that is represented through the Barbie dolls and and have it represented in the film as well. And then again, with the people who are here, it's quite amazing."

With telephone boxes, taxi cabs and iconic London landmarks turned Barbie pink for the occasion, is this an opportunity to rehabilitate pink from just a baby girl colour to a powerful colour worn by anyone?

Emerald Fennell plays one of Barbie’s friends in the film.

Emerald Fennell: "That's our kind of culture really, is that anything that's perceived as girly or sparkly or pink is, is suddenly seen as kind of inferior or in some ways sort of frivolous. But it's not the case. I mean, there's absolutely no reason why you couldn't be doing whatever you wanted wearing a pink jumper."

Whatever people’s thoughts about the colour, for Atha Akumia, Barbie just has to wear pink.

Atha Akumia: "She's cute. She wears pink. She is friendly, lively, bubbly, the friends she makes, and just everything. Barbie's everything, literally, yeah."