Barbie movie cast: Full list of actors and characters
Barbie will soon be driving into cinemas.
Move over, old MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe): there’s a new MCU (Mattel Cinematic Universe) in town.
That’s right folks, Mattel reportedly has 45 films in development based on its many toy brands, 14 of which have been announced, including one based on Polly Pocket toys.
It follows the success of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, which recently landed in cinemas to rave reviews and outperformed all expectations, breaking box office records for the most commercially successful movie by a female director.
In addition to an epic marketing campaign and Gerwig's feminist premise, the film's success also comes down to its brilliant cast led by Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as the stereotypical Barbie and Ken in the flick.
Robbie and Gosling are joined by a huge supporting cast of Barbies from all kinds of different professions, including Emma Mackey, Alexandra Shipp, Dua Lipa and Issa Rae, as well as their trusty sidekick Kens!
So, who else appears as the other versions of Barbie and Ken? Read on for everything you need to know about the cast and characters of Greta Gerwig's upcoming movie Barbie.
By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Who’s in the cast of the Barbie movie?
The full list of stars appearing in Barbie is as follows:
- Margot Robbie as Barbie
- Ryan Gosling as Ken
- Will Ferrell as the CEO of Mattel
- Michael Cera as Allan
- Emerald Fennell as Midge
- Dua Lipa as the Mermaid Barbies
- Issa Rae as President Barbie
- Jamie Demetriou as a Mattel employee
- Dame Helen Mirren as The Narrator
- Connor Swindells as Aaron Dinkins
- Emma Mackey as Physicist Barbie
- Alexandra Shipp as Writer Barbie
- Kate McKinnon as Weird Barbie
- Ana Cruz Kayne as Judge Barbie
- Ritu Arya as Journalist Barbie
- Nicola Coughlan as Diplomat Barbie
- Hari Nef as Dr Barbie
- Sharon Rooney as Lawyer Barbie
- Kingsley Ben-Adir as Ken #1
- Simu Liu as Ken #2
- Scott Evans as Ken #3
- Ncuti Gatwa as Ken #4
- John Cena as Merman Ken
- America Ferrera as Gloria
- Ariana Greenblatt as Sasha
- Rhea Perlman as Ruth Handler
- Ann Roth as an older lady
- Marisa Abela as TBC
Read on for everything you need to know about the cast and where you might have seen them before.
Margot Robbie plays Barbie
Who is Barbie? The titular doll who is expelled from Barbie Land "for not being perfect enough", leading to "an adventure in the real world" with her boyfriend, Ken.
What else has Margot Robbie starred in? The star shot to fame in the Australian soap Neighbours playing aspiring fashion designer Donna Freedman, before swapping Melbourne for Hollywood with her breakthrough role in The Wolf of Wall Street.
She has since become a household name with roles in the first Suicide Squad, Focus, I, Tonya, Mary Queen of Scots, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. More recently she appeared in the 2019 drama Bombshell - earning Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Glove Award nominations for her performance - and 2022 movie Babylon.
Ryan Gosling plays Ken
Who is Ken? The title character’s love interest. We’ve been given many sneak peeks of Gosling in character, complete with platinum blonde hair and a denim vest.
What else has Ryan Gosling starred in? Gosling first rose to fame as a child star on Disney Channel's The Mickey Mouse Club and has since appeared in a wealth of big-budget blockbusters and indie films. His credits include The Notebook, Blade Runner 2049, Lars and the Real Girl, Blue Valentine, Crazy, Stupid, Love, Drive, The Place Beyond the Pines, The Big Short, The Nice Guys, and First Man.
Simu Liu plays Ken #2
Who is Ken #2? Another Ken in Barbieland who is the rival of the central Ken for Barbie's affections.
What else has Simu Liu starred in? Liu is best known for his role as Shang-Chi in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, beginning with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
America Ferrera plays Gloria
Who is Gloria? An employee at Mattel in the real world.
What else has America Ferrera starred in? Ferrera is best known for her role as Betty Suarez in the television series Ugly Betty and the series Superstore. Ferrera has also starred in films including Real Women Have Curves, The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants and its sequel, and the How to Train Your Dragon franchise.
Kate McKinnon as Weird Barbie
Who is Weird Barbie? A Barbie who has had some tough experiences but offers advice to the stereotypical Barbie.
What else has Kate McKinnon starred in? Having been a breakout star on Saturday Night Live, McKinnon moved into films including The Spy Who Dumped Me, Rough Night, and Bombshell.
Issa Rae plays President Barbie
Who is President Barbie? Yep, you guessed it: she's a version of Barbie that has been elected President.
What else has Issa Rae starred in? Rae first rose to fame due to her YouTube series Awkward Black Girl. She went on to co-create, co-write and star in her own HBO series, Insecure, for which she bagged Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Her other credits include The Hate U Give and The Photograph.
Rhea Perlam plays Ruth Handler
Who is Ruth Handler? The real-life creator of Barbie and the first president of Mattel from 1945 until 1975.
What else has Rhea Perlman starred in? Perlman is best known for her role as Carla in the hit sitcom Cheers, along with her roles in the films Canadian Bacon, Matilda, The Sessions, and Poms.
Dame Helen Mirren plays The Narrator
Who is The Narrator? The all-knowing narrator of the Barbie film.
What else has Dame Helen Mirren starred in? Mirren is a veteran of stage and screen with multiple iconic roles, including on television as Detective Jane Tennyson in the Prime Suspect series and for playing Queen Elizabeth II in her Oscar-winning turn in The Queen.
Will Ferrell plays the CEO of Mattel
Who is the CEO of Mattel? As you likely guessed, he's in charge of the toy company which manufactures Barbies.
What else has Will Ferrell starred in? Ferrell was a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1995 to 2002. He went on to bag lead roles in beloved movies, such as Buddy in Elf and Frank 'The Tank' in Old School. He has also played the title roles in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, and voiced the title character in Megamind.
Michael Cera plays Allan
Who is Allan? Allan is Ken's less popular best friend. While Ken is known for his razor-sharp jaw and good looks, Allan is known for his unusual style. His Barbie movie character poster includes the description: “There’s only one Allan.”
What else has Michael Cera been in? Fans might recognise Cera from hits such as Superbad, Drunk History, Louie, Netflix's Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, Lemon, and Person to Person. He also voiced Robin in the Lego Batman movie.
Arianna Greenblatt plays Sasha
Who is Sasha? The real-world daughter of Gloria.
What else has Arianna Greenblatt starred in? Greenblatt has starred in the Disney series Stuck in the Middle, as well as A Bad Moms Christmas, Avengers: Infinity War, In the Heights, and 65.
Ana Cruz Kayne as Judge Barbie
Who is Judge Barbie? Surprisingly, a Barbie who is a judge.
What else has Ana Cruz Kayne been in? Kayne has also starred in Little Women, Jerry & Marge Go Large and Painkiller.
Emma Mackey plays Physicist Barbie
Who is Physicist Barbie? A Barbie who is also a physicist.
What else has Emma Mackey starred in? Mackey is best known for her role as Maeve Wiley in Netflix's Sex Education, plus her roles in films including Emily.
Hari Nef plays Dr Barbie
Who is Dr Barbie? A Barbie who is also a physician.
What else has Hari Nef starred in? Nef, who is a transgender activist and model, is also known for her roles in Assassination Nation, Transparent, You, and And Just Like That.
Alexandra Shipp plays Writer Barbie
Who is Writer Barbie? A Barbie who is also a writer.
What else has Alexandra Shipp starred in? Shipp portrayed Storm in the X-Men franchise films subtitled Apocalypse and Dark Phoenix, along with turns in Love Simon, Straight Outta Compton, and Tick, Tick, Boom!
Kingsley Ben-Adir plays Ken #1
Who is Ken #1? The best friend of the stereotypical Ken who is loyal to his friend.
What else has Kinglsey Ben-Adir starred in? Ben-Adir is best known for his roles in the television series such as Vera, The OA, Peaky Blinders, and Secret Invasion, as well as his acclaimed turn as Malcolm X in the film One Night in Miami.
Ncuti Gatwa plays Ken #4
Who is Ken #4? A friend of Ken's and also a close friend of Physicist Barbie.
What else has Ncuti Gatwa starred in? Gatwa is best known for his role as Eric Effiong in Sex Education and has been cast as the Fifteenth Doctor in Doctor Who.
Scott Evans plays Ken #3
Who is Ken #3? Another friend of Ken's.
What else has Scott Evans starred in? Evans starred in the soap opera One Life to Live and also appeared in the Netflix comedy Grace and Frankie.
Jamie Demetriou plays a Mattel employee
Who is the Mattel employee? An employee of Mattel.
What else has Jamie Demetriou starred in? Demetriou is best known for creating, co-writing, and starring in Stath Lets Flats, as well as his role in Fleabag.
Connor Swindells plays Aaron Dinkins
Who is Aaron Dinkins? A low-level intern working for Mattel in the real world.
What else has Connor Swindells starred in? Swindells is best known for his turn as Adam in Sex Education and for roles in series such as Vigil and SAS Rogue Heroes.
Sharon Rooney plays Lawyer Barbie
Who is Lawyer Barbie? A Barbie who is a lawyer.
What else has Sharon Rooney starred in?
Nicola Coughlan plays Diplomat Barbie
Who is Diplomat Barbie? A Barbie who is a diplomat.
What else has Nicola Coughlan starred in? Coughlan is best known for her turn as Claire in Derry Girls and as Penelope in Bridgerton, taking the lead role in the upcoming third season.
Rita Arya plays Jounalist Barbie
Who is Journalist Barbie? A Pulitzer-prize-winning Barbie who is a journalist.
What else has Rita Arya starred in? The British actress is best known for her turns in the series Doctors, Humans, and The Umbrella Academy.
Emerald Fennell plays Midge
Who is Midge? Barbie’s best friend. Her character poster helpfully bears the tagline “She’s Midge”, so fans will have to wait for more details on this one.
What else has Emerald Fennell starred in? The Crown fans will recognise Fennell from her role as Camilla Parker Bowles. The actress has also appeared as Nurse Patsy Mount in Call the Midwife, with other acting credits including The Danish Girl, Anna Karenina, and Victoria, in which she portrayed Ada Lovelace. She's also known for her directing credits on projects like Promising Young Woman.
Dua Lipa plays the Mermaid Barbies
Who is Mermaid Barbie? All we know about Dua Lipa's character is that she's a mermaid version of Barbie with blue hair.
What else has Dua Lipa starred in? Barbie marks Dua Lipa's acting debut. The musician has earned six BRIT Awards, three Grammy Awards, an MTV Video Music Award, and two Guinness World Records.
Barbie arrives in cinemas on Friday 21st July 2023. Visit our Film hub for more news and features or find something to watch tonight with our TV Guide and Streaming Guide.
Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Authors
Molly Moss is a Trends Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest trends across TV, film and more. She has an MA in Newspaper Journalism and has previously written for publications including The Guardian, The Times and The Sun Online.
Lewis Knight is the Trends Editor for Radio Times, covering trending titles from TV, Film and more. He previously worked at The Mirror in TV, Film, and Showbiz coverage alongside work on SEO. Alongside his past work in advertising, he possesses a BSc in Psychology and an MA in Film Studies.
