Barbie Director Greta Gerwig says: 'boys and girls play with dolls'

Virgin Radio

13 Jul 2023, 12:40

Whether it's an Action Man or a Barbie, Greta Gerwig thinks we should all stop making a distinction and call them what they are, 'dolls'.

Bedazzled in sequins at the London premiere of the sensational summer smash Barbie, the Oscar nominated director torn down the walls of separation between toys for boys and toys for girls.

Speaking with virginradio.co.uk and other press spoke about her own children's playtime.

"I have only sons." Gerwig said: "Which is hilarious, and they play with, well they call them figures but they play with dolls as well.

"I mean they are dolls! They can call them whatever they want but they are dolls. Boys and girls play with dolls."

Developing her opinion on why she think's it shouldn't matter what children play with, she added: "I think it's about going into that imaginative play world that you unfortunately, as you get older, lose access to."

She went on to speak about the potential trauma this can cause for young people and how this particular film was a way of dealing with that.

"Sure there is an element of that but I also think it's kind of like how to honour the kid that loved it and how to also be an adult grown woman and look at the whole thing. In a way I tried to hold a bunch on consciousnesses at once."

It would seem that this opinion on the hot topic is one that is amongst the whole cast and crew of the flick.

At the same event, Barbie cast member and future Doctor Who Ncuti Gatwa said: "I never got to play with Barbie. I always really wanted to play with Barbies but apparently it's not what boys do, but now I have my Barbie."

Referring to his Barbie and Sex Education co-star Emma Mackey, Gatwa excitedly exclaimed: "My own life-sized Barbie! So I feel like I've worked through my toy trauma in this film."

Building on his previous thoughts he said: "It's all very dumb, very, very dumb. People can play with whatever toy they want, there's no...Barbie is for everyone!"

A positive message for all, all except maybe Gerwig's own mother.

When asked about whether the Lady Bird creator felt any pressure on her shoulders to bring the Mattel icon to film, Gerwig felt she needed to include everyone's feelings about the plastic princess.

"Yes! I also had a mum who didn't like Barbie so I also felt pressure to include her point of view."

Whatever your own opinion is, we can all agree that Barbie film mania has taken over the world.

Ahead of Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling’s arrival for the pink carpet at tonight’s (12th July) European Premiere of Barbie, the likes of the London Eye and Tower Bridge have styled out a brand new look especially for the event. 

London’s black cabs have even been ‘Barbie-fied’ with bright pink imagery, so expect to see Barbie (and just Ken) riding around the City, as well as huge billboards with eye-catching blush colours. 

Barbie hits cinemas on 21st July.