Barbiemania - 19th July 2023

London rolled out the pink carpet for the stars of the long awaited Barbie film while fans decked out in pink flocked Leicester Square to catch a glimpse of the cast at its European premiere. Australian lead actor Margot Robbie, playing Stereotypical Barbie, praised the production.

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."

Entering the world in 1958, Barbie’s been a household name for generations.

Even though the doll’s come under fire for an unrealistic portrayal of femininity, film director Greta Gerwig has flipped the script, presenting Barbie as 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."

The movie captures the magic of modern day Barbie, a far cry from her 1958 persona. It features characters including President Barbie, Judge Barbie, and gymnast Barbie, while the range of different dolls today present a variety of body shapes and sizes and ethnicities.

Ziya Haji is thrilled by the authentic representations of diversity and femininity 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."

Having painted London town – its landmarks, telephone booths and taxi cabs included – pink for the premiere, could we be seeing the colour’s emergence as one of empowerment universally, replacing its association with the world of little girls?

Emerald Fennell, who appears as Barbie’s best friend in the blockbuster, comments on the culture underlying these ideas.

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."

Regardless of people’s perception of pink, for Atha Akumia, Barbie embodies many facets, including that iconic hue.

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."