Here’s where you’ve seen those Barbies before
If you’re having trouble placing some of the other familiar faces in Barbieland, we've got the scoop on who's who
Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling may get top billing in Barbie, but they’re surrounded by a fantastic ensemble of supporting players who embody different versions of Barbie and Ken in the fantasy world of Barbieland. Some of them—Issa Rae, Kate McKinnon, and Simu Liu—may be instantly recognizable from their previous TV and film roles, while others may be harder to place. If you walked out of the theater racking your brain to figure out what else you’ve seen these actors in, we’re here to put your mind at ease. Below you’ll find a list of all the prominent Barbies and Kens in the movie and the projects you’re most likely to associate with them.
Alexandra Shipp as Author Barbie
Author Barbie has written many books and has a Nobel prize for literature. She’s played by Alexandra Shipp, whom X-Men fans may recognize as Storm in X-Men: Apocalypse and Dark Phoenix (plus a cameo in Deadpool 2). Early in her career she played the wife of Ice Cube in Straight Outta Compton and starred as Aaliyah in the Lifetime movie based on her life story, Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B. Most recently, she appeared in the 2021 film Tick, Tick… Boom! as Susan, an aspiring dancer and the love interest of Andrew Garfield’s Jonathan Larson.
Nicola Coughlin as Diplomat Barbie
Diplomat Barbie is seen briefly handing out Nobel prizes to the accomplished women of Barbieland. Nicola Coughlin shared on Instagram that she wasn’t able to be more involved in the film due to scheduling conflicts, but couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be in the film even in a smaller role. Derry Girls fans know her for her role as Claire, a core member of the show’s small group of Northern Irish teens going about their lives against the backdrop of the Troubles in the 1990s. Later this year she’ll be back for a third season of Netflix’s period drama Bridgerton as Penelope Featherington, who gets her own central love story this time around.
Hari Nef as Doctor Barbie
Trans trailblazer Hari Nef takes on the role of Doctor Barbie, who’s always ready to step in when a Barbie or Ken (usually Ken) gets injured—as long as it has nothing to do with flat feet. She also moonlights as a DJ. In an interview with Vogue, Nef said that she came up with her own backstory that her Barbie is owned by a “gay man in his 50s who lives in a rent-controlled apartment in the West Village.” Nef was most recently seen in HBO’s The Idol playing a journalist for Vanity Fair. It’s the second time she’s worked with writer-director Sam Levinson, who previously cast her in his satirical black comedy Assassination Nation. She’s also known for the series Transparent, in which she played holocaust victim Tante Gittel.
Ritu Arya as Journalist Barbie
Reporting the news and winning Pulitzers is all in a day’s work for Journalist Barbie. She’s played by British actress Ritu Arya, most recently seen on the big screen in Nida Manzoor’s action comedy Polite Society. She also played superpowered wild card Lila in second and third seasons of The Umbrella Academy. Genre fans may remember her guest starring roles in episodes of Doctor Who and Sherlock, or perhaps as an Interpol agent in the action thriller Red Notice. Fun fact: this Barbie actor also has a degree in astrophysics.
Sharon Rooney as Lawyer Barbie
Scottish comedian Sharon Rooney plays Lawyer Barbie, who has no difficulty holding both logic and feeling at the same time without it diminishing her power. U.K. audiences will probably be more familiar with Rooney, who starred in the E4 dramedy series My Mad Fat Diary, about a teen adjusting to normal life after her release from a psychiatric hospital. On the big screen, she was featured in Tim Burton’s Dumbo as mermaid performer Miss Atlantis.
Dua Lipa as Mermaid Barbie
Speaking of mermaids, yes, that is Dua Lipa popping up in a few scenes as Mermaid Barbie. There had to be a Mermaid Barbie somewhere in the movie (there’s also a Merman Ken, but it’s more of a surprise cameo). She doesn’t get to do very much, the tail makes it difficult to hit the dance floor, but behind the scenes Lipa performed the song “Dance The Night,” which plays during Barbie’s blowout dance party. You can also catch her in the accompanying music video, along with other Barbie cast members.