Greta Gerwig Explains Why All Background Actors on ‘Barbie’ Are Dancers

“Greta Gerwig Shares the Vision Behind ‘Barbie’ and the Choice to Cast Dancers as Background Actors

In the mesmerizing world of Barbie, where plastic meets fantasy, creating the perfect ambiance requires meticulous effort. Director Greta Gerwig, known for her acclaimed film ‘Lady Bird,’ recently shed light on her creative process and the decisions she made to infuse vibrancy into the world of Barbie, portrayed by Margot Robbie, and her companion Ken, played by Ryan Gosling. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Gerwig discussed her intentions and the reasoning behind her choice to exclusively hire dancers as background actors.

Gerwig emphasized the importance of making every aspect of Barbie Land come alive. To achieve a distinct atmosphere in a world populated by live-action dolls, the director opted to engage dancers as background actors. She explained that this decision was inspired by the captivating movements and expressions of background dancers in musicals, even when they remain still:

“I wanted the characters to move and behave in a heightened manner, while still avoiding a sketch-like quality. Soundstage musicals such as ‘Oklahoma!’ or ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ possess a unique quality in the way people carry themselves. So, all the Barbies and Kens you see on the beach [and in other dance sequences] exhibit a different presence. Our choreographer pointed out that dancers naturally have a distinct physicality that sets them apart from ordinary individuals. Thus, in conceiving Barbie Land, we aimed to recreate the ambiance of a soundstage musical.”

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What Awaits in Barbie’s World

As the trailers have teased, Barbie promises a clear dichotomy. In one realm, we witness the carefree existence of Barbie and Ken in Barbie Land. However, their lives take an unexpected turn when they discover the illusory nature of their world and venture into reality, where they encounter humans and the entity responsible for their creation, Mattel. The collision between these two distinct worlds and the consequences of Barbie’s revelation will unfold in the coming weeks.

The star-studded cast of Barbie includes talented actors like Issa Rae from ‘Insecure,’ Simu Liu from ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,’ Emma Mackey from ‘Sex Education,’ Kingsley Ben-Adir from ‘Secret Invasion,’ Hari Nef from ‘The Idol,’ John Cena from ‘Fast X,’ Kate McKinnon from ‘SNL,’ Alexandra Shipp from ‘X-Men: Dark Phoenix,’ Ncuti Gatwa from ‘Doctor Who,’ Will Ferrell from ‘Blades of Glory,’ Michael Cera from ‘Arrested Development,’ America Ferrera from ‘Superstore,’ Emerald Fennell from ‘The Crown,’ and singer-songwriter Dua Lipa.

Barbie, or should we say Barbenheimer, will make its theatrical debut on July 21.

Watch the captivating trailer below:”

(Note: The trailer link is not available, as it is not possible to embed videos in this text-based format.)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about dancers

More about dancers

• Entertainment Weekly Interview – The interview with Greta Gerwig discussing her vision for ‘Barbie’ and the casting of dancers as background actors.
• Barbie Trailer – Watch the official trailer for ‘Barbie’ to get a glimpse of the vibrant world and the intriguing storyline.
• IMDb Page for ‘Barbie’ – Find more information about the movie, including the cast, crew, release date, and user reviews, on the IMDb page for ‘Barbie.’