Margot Robbie took her job seriously in Barbie, even if it included giving Ryan Gosling a present every day to convince him to take the Ken role.
Ryan Gosling recently revealed his craft when preparing for his role as Ken in Barbie, but he almost didn’t do it. The actor admitted that there were some “actual reasons” why he turned down the role initially. “Schedule things. Life things. And I would call months later to my agents or something and say, ‘Hey, who did they get to play Ken?’ And they would say, ‘Greta says it’s you.’”
However, director Greta Gerwig and lead star Margot Robbie, who was also a producer on the film, couldn’t accept the defeat. Robbie explained to Variety, “He absolutely passed,” she says. “We just couldn’t let that happen. There was just no other version. Greta and I are both extremely determined and persistent people, otherwise this movie never would have happened. Every time he’s like, ‘I’m not doing this,’ we were like, ‘We are doing it, and it’s going to be fun.’”
The actress even took a less traditional approach to convince him. Margot Robbie promised Ryan Gosling “a present every day,” Robbie says. “I said, ‘I’ll buy you a present every day if you come and do this movie.’ And so I did. I bought him a present every day, and I’d leave it in his trailer, wrapped in pink and a bow tie, and it said, ‘To Ken.’”
Of course, the presents weren’t expensive, and they were all connected to his character. Gosling confirmed the story in an older interview with Vogue, “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.”
Ryan Gosling’s Ken Portrayal In Barbie Led To An Oscar Nod
Ryan Gosling just received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Role for his part in Barbie. This marks his third Oscar nomination, alongside 2007’s Half Nelson and 2017’s La La Land. His role in Barbie received a surprisingly positive reaction from the critics and the audience, which translated into his nomination.
However, director Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie were some of the biggest snubs at the 2024 Academy Awards. Gosling previously released a statement on the snubs, and added, “Look, I heavily edited that statement,” Gosling says. “I think if I say any more about it, I’m going to basically put on a mink and start challenging people to a beach-off on Malibu Beach.” His response is a direct reference to Barbie, where Ken channeled his aggression by inviting his fellow Kens to a “fight” on the beach.
Barbie grossed a total of $1.4 billion at the worldwide box office (via The Numbers), becoming the biggest film of the year. It also earned eight Oscar nominations, despite the lack of recognition for Gerwig and Robbie’s efforts.
Barbie is currently streaming on Max.
