Margot Robbie sent co-star Ryan Gosling a present everyday throughout filming Barbie to help him find his inner Ken Doll, the actor has revealed.
The 42-year-old spoke about working with the Australian actress for her covershoot with Vogue and revealed she was fundamental in aiding his character development with fun gifts every day on set.
Gosling explained: “She left a pink present with a pink bow, from Barbie to Ken, every day while we were filming. They were all beach-related.
“Like puka shells, or a sign that says, ‘Pray for surf.’ Because Ken’s job is just beach. I’ve never quite figured out what that means. But I felt like she was trying to help Ken understand, through these gifts that she was giving.”
In the same interview, Robbie spoke about how she was inspired to portray Barbie in a bid to change the perception of the doll to those who aren’t fans of the brand.
She told the outlet: “We of course would want to honour the 60-year legacy that this brand has, but we have to acknowledge that there are a lot of people who aren’t fans of Barbie.
“And in fact, aren’t just indifferent to Barbie. They actively hate Barbie. And have a real issue with Barbie. We need to find a way to acknowledge that.”
In the Barbie-themed covershoot, in which she donned a Versace dress and Chopard jewels, the Aussie star also discussed how the toy doll has been sexualised throughout the years.
She reasoned: “I’m like, ‘Okay, she’s a doll. She’s a plastic doll. She doesn’t have organs. If she doesn’t have organs, she doesn’t have reproductive organs. If she doesn’t have reproductive organs, would she even feel sexual desire? No, I don’t think she could.’
“She is sexualized. But she should never be sexy. People can project sex onto her. Yes, she can wear a short skirt, but because it’s fun and pink. Not because she wanted you to see her butt.”
Initially, the Barbie movie was first imagined in 2016 with Amy Schumer at the helm. The comic was set to prepped to co-write the screenplay with her sister Kim Caramele.
However, the Trainwreck star left the project citing “creative differences” at the time.
Following Schumer’s departure, Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach teamed up to write the screenplay, which Robbie admitted she never thought would get made.
Recalling her and her husband Tom Ackerly’s initial reaction to the script, she shared: “We just looked at each other, pure panic on our faces. We were like, Holy f*****g s**t.
“I think the first thing I said to Tom was, ‘This is so genius. It is such a shame that we’re never going to be able to make this movie.’”
