All The Barbies, Kens, & More Characters Starring In The New Barbie Movie

There are all sorts of different Barbies living in Barbie Land, but the most Barbie of them all is this Barbie. The “everything” Barbie, played by Margot Robbie, is the doll who drives the story here. And Oscar-nominated Robbie, best known for roles in movies like I, Tonya, Suicide Squad, and Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood, is up for the challenge. She serves as one of the producers of the film, and even had a request for Gerwig when it came to Barbie’s Dreamhouse. She’s the reason we get to see the slide come out of Barbie’s bedroom. And for that, let us be truly thankful.

Ryan Gosling was the “only choice” for Ken, as far as director Gerwig and producer Robbie were concerned. “It was only ever Ryan Gosling,” Gerwig told Rolling Stone in an interview. “Margot and I wouldn't take no for an answer.” For his part Gosling, who is perhaps better known for more serious, action-driven roles in movies like Drive, The Gray Man, and Blade Runner 2049, had his own motivation for doing the movie. “This has been coming my whole life,” Gosling told Variety back in 2022. “I think a lot of Kens will feel seen when they see this. Gotta do it for the Kens of the world. Nobody plays with Kens!”

America Ferrera plays a sensible human who meets Barbie (and also Ken) in the real world, a role that feels tailor-made for the actress who we know so well from shows like Superstore, Ugly Betty, and, of course, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

Barbie Land has a president, and that president is Issa Rae. The Insecure and Rap Sh!t star opened up about what it felt like to become a Barbie herself, and it’s been an eye-opening experience. “There's just such a playful nature to this film and to obviously even being a Barbie, people are literally playing with you,” she told E! News. “So, to imagine myself as being controlled by a child while being President made things just a lot more fun and nimbler and flexible and ridiculous in a way that I love.”

Not only is singer Dua Lipa on the Barbie soundtrack with her hit single “Dance The Night,” she also plays a Barbie who is a mermaid in the film. While the cast have kept their roles in the film a secret, this will actually be the first time Dua Lipa has an acting credit to her name. Seriously impressive.

Ryan Gosling is not the only Ken in town. There are several, including Simu Liu who appears in the Barbie trailer to be something of a rival, as Kens go. The Chinese-Canadian actor has starred in action-packed movies like Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings but also on television in Kim’s Convenience. He has range. So it makes sense that he’s playing a Ken.

If you notice that the narrator for the Barbie movie sounds especially melodious, it’s because Dame Helen Mirren, star of everything, is the official narrator. You know the Oscar winner for her roles in The Queen, 1923, Red, and Calendar Girls to name just a few. Whether or not she’s a Barbie herself remains to be seen.

Nicola Coughlan of Bridgerton and Derry Girls fame joins the Barbie cast as a Diplomat. We don’t know much beyond the fact that she wears a very fancy dress that looks a bit like a prom dress from the ‘80s, but she’s already proven to be a comedic talent. Plus her hair looks great with all the pink.

Kate McKinnon plays the most relatable Barbie of all, the “Barbie who is always in the splits.” As Saturday Night Live legend McKinnon described it in an interview with Kelly Clarkson, “the one Barbie you designate as ‘her,’ where you cut their hair, burn their clothes, and draw on them.” This Barbie is the only one with outside knowledge of the real world, however, so she could really be called Street Smarts Barbie.

English actress Emerald Fennell, who you might remember as Camilla Parker-Bowles in The Crown or for her Call The Midwife role, plays Barbie’s longtime best friend Midge. While we don’t know what’s going on with Midge in the movie, we do know that she was introduced as a “less sensual” option in 1963 for little kids to play with and that she came with a rounder face and bangs. So take from that what you will.

Michael Cera of Superbad and Arrested Development fame plays Allan, Ken’s longtime best friend. While Ken is cool and fun and gets to work at his job he just calls “beach,” Allan is his sidekick. He has been since 1964 when he was introduced to be Ken’s best man if he and Barbie ever got married. Also they could share clothes, which means they double their wardrobe. Allan is lucky enough to be the only one of his kind, and he sure looks happy about it.

Every movie needs a bad guy, and legendary comedian Will Ferrell might be it for Barbie. The Anchorman and Saturday Night Live alum plays an “insensitive” and “weird” toy CEO, as he explained to Variety, and he had nothing but praise for his time on set. “It is, in my humble opinion, the ultimate example of high art and low art,” Ferrell said of Barbie. “It’s a loving homage to the brand and, at the same time, couldn’t be more satirical — just an amazing comment on male patriarchy and women in society and why Barbie’s criticized and yet why every little girl still wants to play with Barbie. Boy, when I read it, I was like, ‘This is fantastic.'”