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.
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00:00 - What is happiness?
00:00 What is life?
00:01 There's all these questions came up
00:02 that we were trying to answer
00:03 so that we could kind of round up this movie.
00:05 - Welcome to Ms. Mojo.
00:07 And today we're discussing how Margot Robbie
00:09 prepared for Barbie.
00:11 - But were you two in it,
00:12 sort of in it from the beginning?
00:15 - So I've been working on it
00:16 for about four or five years now.
00:18 - For this video,
00:19 we're looking at the actress producers transformation
00:21 into the iconic doll
00:23 and the journey to bring her from script to screen.
00:26 Are you excited to see Margot Robbie as Barbie?
00:29 Tell us in the comments.
00:30 Barbie's long road to Hollywood.
00:34 With all the hype surrounding
00:35 the Margot Robbie led Barbie movie
00:37 coming out in July, 2023,
00:39 you'd think bringing Barbie to the big screen
00:41 would be a no brainer.
00:43 However, the process was anything but simple.
00:46 Rumors about a live action Barbie movie
00:48 first swirled in 2009
00:50 with Universal Pictures obtaining the rights for Mattel.
00:53 But things really took off in 2014
00:55 when Sony Pictures got the rights
00:57 and hired writers Jenny Bix
00:58 and later Diablo Cody to develop a script.
01:01 By the end of 2016,
01:03 actress comedian Amy Schumer was in talks to star as Barbie
01:06 and possibly get involved
01:08 with another rewrite of the script.
01:09 - You'll like Amy.
01:11 - She's an artist.
01:14 - However, Schumer dropped out
01:16 due to what was later revealed to be disagreements
01:18 with Sony execs on the creative vision.
01:20 In 2017, the studio hired a different writer
01:24 with the hopes that Anne Hathaway would play the lead.
01:26 But a year later,
01:27 the project was scrapped yet again
01:29 after Sony's rights expired and went back to Mattel.
01:32 - What do we do now?
01:34 - It seems so right.
01:37 - Barbie's saving grace came later in 2018
01:40 when Warner Brothers partnered with the toy brand.
01:42 Margot Robbie was rumored to step into the role of Barbie
01:45 and her company Lucky Chap Entertainment
01:47 was set to produce.
01:48 - The first time I read the Barbie script,
01:50 my reaction was,
01:51 this is so good, what a shame.
01:55 It will never see the light of day
01:56 'cause they are never gonna let us make this movie.
01:59 But they did.
02:01 - The multi-talented Greta Gerwig
02:02 was in mind to helm the project.
02:04 And in July, 2019,
02:06 along with confirmation of Robbie's casting,
02:08 it was announced that Gerwig and her partner,
02:10 Noah Baumbach would be penning the new script.
02:13 Two years later, Gerwig was also in the director's chair.
02:17 - There were maybe three people
02:19 that we would wanna make a Barbie movie with.
02:22 And I was like, if she says no,
02:25 we are down to like,
02:27 it's a very small group of people
02:28 that I think would make the film worth making sort of thing.
02:31 So thank God she said yes.
02:34 - Barbie is everything.
02:36 Margot Robbie succeeded
02:37 in getting the long-awaited Barbie script off the ground
02:40 and into production with some of the most talented creatives
02:42 in the industry behind the camera.
02:44 But could she actually become Barbie?
02:47 While we may think it's an obvious yes,
02:50 Robbie had her doubts.
02:52 - And my heels are on the ground.
02:55 - Since making her debut on March 9th, 1959,
02:58 Barbie has sparked controversy after controversy.
03:01 The doll quickly became a cultural icon
03:03 that represented the endless possibilities
03:05 available to young children.
03:07 - A little girl could project her adult identity
03:11 onto this adult figure doll
03:13 and imagine herself in the adult world.
03:16 - Barbie has always been an image of an independent woman,
03:19 owning her own car and house,
03:21 jumping into hundreds of careers and hobbies,
03:23 and casually dating Ken.
03:26 Barbie is everything because she does everything.
03:28 - She can put on a suit and she's a lawyer.
03:30 She can put on a space helmet and she's an astronaut.
03:33 She can do all these things,
03:34 and she was doing it back in a time
03:36 when women couldn't even have their own bank accounts.
03:38 - Barbie was and still is an inspiration
03:41 to people of all ages.
03:42 So it's no surprise that Robbie would feel the pressure
03:45 to step into her plastic pumps.
03:47 However, the two have some things in common.
03:50 - I underestimated you, and I'm sorry.
03:52 - I missed it.
03:55 - In the relatively short span of her career,
03:58 the Australian actress has proved she is just as versatile
04:01 as the ever-evolving Barbie,
04:03 playing everyone from psychiatrist-turned-psycho villain
04:06 Harley Quinn to Hollywood actress Sharon Tate
04:08 to Queen Elizabeth I.
04:10 - God would have a woman be a wife and a mother.
04:13 - So you defy his will?
04:15 - No.
04:16 I choose to be a man.
04:19 - Through these characters,
04:20 Robbie developed skills like ice skating, gymnastics,
04:24 boxing, and roller skating at a Derby-worthy level.
04:27 And as we've seen in on-set photos and trailers,
04:31 Barbie is all about dancing and rollerblading,
04:34 and even throws her first punch in the movie.
04:36 - What's going on?
04:37 Why are these men looking at me?
04:39 - Yeah, they're also staring at me.
04:40 - With her reputation for heavy preparation
04:44 and overall athletic lifestyle,
04:46 Margot Robbie is beyond prepared
04:48 to slip into the physicality of a Barbie doll,
04:50 whatever that might look like.
04:52 - I like taking risks.
04:53 How can I say?
04:54 I'm a thrill seeker.
04:55 If it doesn't scare the (beep) out of me,
04:56 I normally don't really go for it.
04:58 - She's a Barbie girl in a real world.
05:01 If you're familiar with Oscar-nominated filmmaker
05:04 Greta Gerwig's work,
05:05 you'll know that "Barbie" won't be the kind of movie
05:07 people expect.
05:08 - I should be glad to write more of the suits.
05:11 - Not a first attempt, I take it?
05:12 - No, sir.
05:13 - Sure.
05:14 "Barbie Land" and its inhabitants are colorful
05:16 and seemingly always having a perfect day.
05:19 But Margot Robbie's Barbie gradually realizes
05:21 things in paradise are getting weird for her.
05:24 - Some things have been happening that might be related.
05:26 ♪ When my world changed ♪
05:28 - Cold shower.
05:29 - Ooh!
05:29 - Falling off my roof.
05:31 - This existential crisis sends Barbie
05:33 on a journey to self-discovery
05:34 and to the real world where her concept of life
05:37 is challenged.
05:38 Gerwig likens the story to the insecurities
05:40 teenagers develop when they start
05:42 to see the world differently.
05:43 Yeah, pretty heavy stuff.
05:45 - You end up having these incredibly profound conversations
05:48 about life and what's important
05:49 and what makes really true happiness
05:51 and that is all woven into the movie.
05:54 - Given the complexity of Gerwig's version of Barbie,
05:56 Robbie's regular process of getting into character
05:59 just wasn't working.
06:00 Instead of doing the animal work techniques
06:02 that she's done in the past,
06:04 Gerwig had her listen to an episode of the podcast
06:06 "This American Life" about a woman
06:08 who lacks the internal monologue most people have.
06:11 Essentially, Robbie needed to master a certain naivete
06:14 and carefree attitude.
06:16 - I thought I might stay over tonight.
06:18 - Why?
06:19 - 'Cause we're girlfriend-boyfriend.
06:20 - To do what?
06:21 - Couture, Barbiecore, and so much more.
06:24 Barbie has often been a reflection of the times,
06:27 particularly when it comes to fashion and style.
06:30 After all, she's inspired a whole fashion movement
06:32 with Barbiecore.
06:34 - Barbie is inclusive, Barbie is smart,
06:36 and Barbie loves pink most of all.
06:38 - The doll's earliest careers include fashion model
06:41 and fashion designer, but no matter the job,
06:43 task, season, event, or latest trend,
06:46 she always has the perfect outfit and matching accessories.
06:50 In the movie's main trailer,
06:52 a range of outfits appear in the montage of Barbie and Ken
06:55 on their way to the real world,
06:56 from casual pink and white sailor looks
06:58 to white and brown astronaut suits.
07:00 And you may have noticed,
07:02 Ken usually just wears his own version
07:04 of whatever Barbie's wearing.
07:06 - He's an accessory.
07:07 (laughs)
07:08 And not even one of the cool ones.
07:10 - While pink is Barbie's signature color,
07:12 there's not a shade she hasn't worn.
07:15 - There, now I'm ready.
07:17 Pretty cool, huh?
07:19 - The trailers show Margot Robbie
07:21 wearing light pink pattern dresses,
07:23 a sparkly disco jumpsuit, a mod-inspired blue dress,
07:27 an all pink cowgirl outfit,
07:29 and many other fabulous ensembles.
07:31 In the movie's first teaser,
07:33 she wears the OG doll striped swimsuit circa 1959,
07:37 along with black heels, white sunglasses,
07:39 and even the bangs.
07:41 If there's one image to convince you
07:43 that Robbie is the perfect Barbie,
07:45 this is definitely the one.
07:47 - The clothes are a huge part of this movie
07:50 and a huge part of Barbie.
07:51 - Barbie costume designer, Jacqueline Duren,
07:53 looked to the doll's history for inspiration,
07:55 blending multiple eras, especially the 1980s and '90s.
08:00 - The best-selling Barbie of all time
08:01 still is totally hair Barbie.
08:03 - Those decades' influences come through the most
08:05 in Barbie and Ken's neon rollerblading outfits.
08:08 Robbie admitted she was embarrassed
08:10 by the leaked behind-the-scenes photos of her
08:12 in the wild getup,
08:13 but we would argue that she rocked the look just fine.
08:17 An important thing to know about Barbie
08:18 is that even though her general style is hyper-feminine,
08:22 she dresses for herself.
08:24 - That is the amazing thing about fashion.
08:26 There is no one right way to do it.
08:28 It lets you be creative and playful,
08:31 experimental and emotional.
08:34 - According to Duren, Barbie, quote, "dresses with intention,"
08:38 and her goal isn't to be sexualized.
08:40 Robbie agrees because in preparation for the role,
08:43 she thought about the plastic doll's anatomy
08:45 and lack of reproductive organs.
08:47 - If she doesn't have reproductive organs,
08:49 would she even feel sexual desire?
08:51 No, I don't think she could.
08:53 - She concluded that since Barbie
08:54 wouldn't experience sexuality,
08:56 she, quote, "should never be sexy."
08:58 It makes sense that Barbie wouldn't think
09:00 about her sexiness.
09:01 It's safe to say Robbie truly knows her character
09:04 inside and out.
09:06 - You have to imagine that that had some sort of impact.
09:10 - Hey, Barbie.
09:11 Throughout the decades,
09:12 Barbies have come with different identities and occupations,
09:16 and in later years, a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes.
09:20 Margot Robbie plays stereotypical Barbie,
09:23 the blonde-haired, blue-eyed doll with a sun-kissed tan.
09:26 Visually, she most resembles Malibu Barbie,
09:29 and although she doesn't stay in beach attire
09:31 throughout the entire movie,
09:32 beach was clearly a touchstone for the film.
09:35 I will beach both of you off at the same time.
09:38 Beach both of us off!
09:39 Nobody's going to beach anyone off.
09:40 And to help Ryan Gosling get into his "Ken" character Robbie
09:44 surprised him with various beach inspired gifts.
09:47 Of course.
09:48 Of course.
09:48 Everything was wrapped in pink with bows and sweet messages
09:52 from Barbie Margaux.
09:52 I'm playing choreography in a bespoke song.
09:54 You should stop by.
09:56 So cool.
09:56 Just like Gosling isn't the only "Ken,"
09:58 Robbie is not the only Barbie.
10:00 Hi Barbie.
10:01 Hi Barbie.
10:02 Hi Barbie.
10:03 Hi Barbie.
10:04 Hi Barbie.
10:04 Hi Barbie.
10:05 She's joined by a star-studded array of actresses
10:08 playing Barbies holding careers in government, law, science,
10:12 medicine, and more.
10:13 The cast includes Issa Rae as President Barbie,
10:16 Emma Mackey as a Nobel Prize winning physicist Barbie,
10:19 Alexandra Shipp as a celebrated author Barbie,
10:22 Ritu Arya as a Pulitzer winning Barbie,
10:24 Hari Neff as Dr. Barbie, Anna Cruz Kane as Supreme Court
10:28 Justice Barbie, Nicola Coughlin as diplomat Barbie,
10:31 and Sharon Rooney as lawyer Barbie.
10:33 Two standouts are Dua Lipa as mermaid Barbie
10:36 and Kate McKinnon as a visibly trashed weird Barbie.
10:39 You guys ever have a Barbie, like the one Barbie
10:42 that you designate as like her, where you like cut their hair,
10:48 burn their clothes, and draw on them?
10:50 That's the one I play.
10:51 In 2023, Robbie confessed to Vogue
10:54 that she had her heart set on Gal Gadot playing one
10:56 of the dolls because she felt the Wonder Woman actress was
10:59 the definition of Barbie energy.
11:01 Because Gal Gadot is so impossibly beautiful.
11:04 But you don't hate her for being that beautiful because she's
11:06 so genuinely sincere.
11:08 And she's so enthusiastically kind that it's almost dorky.
11:11 Gadot was unavailable at the time,
11:13 though the actress would later state her interest
11:16 in participating in a future installment on social media.
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11:34 Authentically artificial.
11:37 Margot Robbie certainly put in the work
11:39 finding Barbie's mindset.
11:40 And through masking her Australian accent
11:42 with a generic American non-accent,
11:45 analyzing Barbie's sexuality or lack thereof,
11:47 and donning beautifully designed outfits,
11:50 she undoubtedly mastered the physicality.
11:52 But another contributing factor to her transformation
11:55 was the atmosphere on and off set.
11:58 The biggest touch point for us was that everything
12:01 in this movie had to be authentically artificial.
12:05 It has to be really fake.
12:07 Everything had to be tangible.
12:08 Barbie's set design is nothing less than mind blowing.
12:12 So much so that Greta Gerwig was brought to tears at the site.
12:15 A lot of detail went into creating Barbie Land,
12:18 including little touches to reportedly mimic
12:21 the plasticity of the actual toys.
12:23 We had a whole miniatures workshop.
12:26 You could go like that hand paint tiny flamingos like this
12:28 that then I'd go on set and there'd be a flamingo mailbox
12:31 that life size.
12:32 Robbie and her fellow Barbies bonded at a fun filled
12:35 hotel slumber party.
12:37 Kens were invited, but the sleepover
12:39 was strictly no Kens allowed.
12:41 We all like shared beds and like wore our pajamas
12:44 and ordered room service and played games.
12:47 Gerwig also showcased some of the films
12:49 that inspired the look and tone of Barbie
12:51 in weekly gatherings they called movie church
12:53 to the entirety of the cast and crew.
12:55 Showings included colorful classics like the Wizard of Oz
12:58 and Pee-wee's Big Adventure.
13:01 Pee-wee, over here.
13:03 Box seats.
13:04 Being immersed in a tangible environment
13:07 that consists of actual dream houses
13:09 was reportedly a massive source of happiness for the cast.
13:12 And as audience members, those good vibes are contagious.
13:17 When you see these sets, it's like a dopamine hit.
13:19 Like you just are so happy and the movie is so funny.
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