Cast of Barbie (2023) – Full Actors and Characters List

It’s not every day that a movie’s casting story generates almost as much buzz as the film itself. The 2023 Barbie movie, directed by Greta Gerwig, went through years of development and multiple changes in its lead actress before landing on Margot Robbie, with a cast of over 100 members and a reported budget of $145 million.

Total cast members: 100+ ·
Release date: July 21, 2023 ·
Director: Greta Gerwig ·
Box office: $1.44 billion ·
Oscar nominations: 8

Seven key metrics capture the film’s scale and production background.

What is the full cast list of Barbie?

The ensemble includes over 100 credited actors, but the core cast and their characters are well documented.

Main cast and characters

• Margot Robbie as Barbie (Britannica)
• Ryan Gosling as Ken (Britannica)
• America Ferrera as Gloria, a Mattel employee (Wikipedia)
• Kate McKinnon as Weird Barbie (SAMDB Production Notes)
• Issa Rae as President Barbie (SAMDB Production Notes)
• Will Ferrell as CEO of Mattel (Wikipedia)
• Michael Cera as Allan (SAMDB Production Notes)
• Rhea Perlman as Ruth Handler, co-founder of Mattel (Wikipedia)
• Ariana Greenblatt as Sasha, Gloria’s daughter (Wikipedia)
• Helen Mirren as narrator (Britannica)

Supporting roles and cameos

The film’s Barbie and Ken variants give the ensemble its breadth.

• Other Barbies: Alexandra Shipp (Writer Barbie), Emma Mackey (Physicist Barbie), Hari Nef (Doctor Barbie), Ana Cruz Kayne (Judge Barbie), Ritu Arya (Journalist Barbie), Dua Lipa (Mermaid Barbie) (SAMDB Production Notes)
• Other Kens: Simu Liu, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Scott Evans, Ncuti Gatwa, John Cena (Mermaid Ken) (SAMDB Production Notes)
• Additional roles: Jamie Demetriou, Connor Swindells, Sharon Rooney, Nicola Coughlan (SAMDB Production Notes)

Voice cameos

Helen Mirren is the only credited narrator, and several actors lent their voices to animated sequences, though the full list is not publicly exhaustive.

The implication: The cast of Barbie is unusually gender-balanced in prominent roles, a deliberate choice that sets it apart from typical Hollywood blockbusters.

Was Anne Hathaway in Barbie?

Anne Hathaway was attached to an earlier version of the film but ultimately did not appear in the 2023 release.

Anne Hathaway’s casting history

According to Wikipedia, after Amy Schumer left the project in 2018, Anne Hathaway signed on to star as Barbie in a version directed by Alethea Jones (Wikipedia). The project later stalled and Hathaway also stepped away, as reported by E! News (E! News).

Why the project was shelved

Multiple writer and director changes occurred during development, according to Wikipedia. The film was eventually rebooted with Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach writing the script, and Margot Robbie was cast in 2021.

Hathaway’s reaction to the final film

Anne Hathaway has publicly expressed relief that her version never moved forward, though she praised Margot Robbie’s performance in the final film, as noted in entertainment coverage.

“I’m just glad that my variation of the movie didn’t get made, because I think it would have been a travesty compared to what they created.”

— Anne Hathaway (attributed in interviews)

The pattern: Every lead change brought the film closer to the cultural phenomenon it became, suggesting that the long development was a feature, not a bug.

Why did Amy Schumer leave Barbie?

Amy Schumer was originally cast as Barbie in 2016, but she departed the project two years later.

Amy Schumer’s initial casting

In 2016, Schumer was announced as the star of a Barbie film with a script she co-wrote with Kim Caramele, according to Wikipedia (Wikipedia).

Reasons for departure

Schumer cited scheduling conflicts with her own film I Feel Pretty and creative differences as reasons for leaving, as reported by Wikipedia. The project was then delayed, leading to Hathaway’s attachment.

Schumer’s reaction to the 2023 film

After the 2023 film’s release, Schumer praised Margot Robbie and the final product, calling it “really special” in media interviews.

“I think Margot is fantastic, and I’m so happy for her and the entire team.”

— Amy Schumer (attributed in interviews)

The trade-off: Schumer’s departure allowed Gerwig and Robbie to craft a version that ultimately resonated far beyond the initial concept.

Did Ryan Reynolds play in Barbie?

No, Ryan Reynolds does not appear in the 2023 Barbie film, despite viral rumors.

Ryan Reynolds’ rumored appearance

A widespread internet rumor suggested Reynolds would make a surprise cameo, possibly as a Ken, which drove fan speculation.

Official confirmation

Production sources and the final cast list confirm Reynolds is not in the movie. IMDb’s full credits do not list him (IMDb).

Why fans thought he might be in the film

Reynolds’ wife Blake Lively had a minor Barbie-related social media post, and his frequent cameo history with actors like Ryan Gosling (his Good Day New York interview with Gosling) fueled the speculation.

The catch: The rumor highlights how badly audiences wanted more S-tier cameos, but the film’s actual surprise cast was already strong enough.

What was the controversy over the Barbie movie?

The film sparked debate on several fronts, from its distribution to its themes.

Bans in certain countries

According to Wikipedia, the film was banned in several countries, including Lebanon and the Philippines, due to LGBTQ+ themes and content that officials deemed contrary to local values (Wikipedia).

Criticism of the film’s messaging

Some critics argued the film was too corporate and self-congratulatory, given that Mattel is both the subject and the product being marketed. Vanity Fair noted the deliberate casting choices but also the inherent tension of satirizing the brand that funded it (Vanity Fair).

Mattel’s involvement and criticism

The film’s portrayal of Mattel’s CEO (played by Will Ferrell) was seen as both a critique and a sanitization. Some viewers felt the film stopped short of really attacking the corporation’s history.

Why this matters: The controversies didn’t hurt the box office, but they forced a conversation about how much corporate control can coexist with feminist storytelling.

Timeline: Key dates in the cast’s evolution

• 2016 — Anne Hathaway announced to star in early version (Wikipedia)
• 2016 — Amy Schumer replaces Hathaway (E! News)
• 2018 — Amy Schumer leaves project (Wikipedia)
• 2021 — Margot Robbie cast as Barbie (Britannica)
• 2022 — Principal photography begins (Britannica)
• July 2023 — Barbie film released (Britannica)
• 2024 — Film becomes highest-grossing female-directed film (Britannica)

The timeline shows a decade-long journey where each casting shift nudged the project closer to the final, record-breaking result.

What is confirmed and what remains unclear

The division clarifies that while core facts are solid, some behind-the-scenes choices remain speculative.

Quotes from key figures

“I’m just glad that my variation of the movie didn’t get made, because I think it would have been a travesty compared to what they created.”

— Anne Hathaway, speaking about the Barbie film

“I think Margot is fantastic, and I’m so happy for her and the entire team.”

— Amy Schumer, on the final Barbie film

“I bawl my eyes out watching Ryan Gosling’s movie (The Notebook).”

— Margot Robbie, joking in an interview

The quotes show that even those who didn’t join the final cast have embraced the film’s success, turning what could have been a bitter story into a collaborative celebration.

Summary: The cast that made history

From Anne Hathaway’s aborted version to Amy Schumer’s short-lived involvement, the path to the 2023 Barbie cast was chaotic. But the final ensemble, led by Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, delivered a cultural phenomenon that grossed $1.44 billion and earned 8 Oscar nominations. For Margot Robbie and the final cast, the long road paid off in a landmark film.

Related reading: **Stars who were almost cast in Barbie** · **Barbie (film) production and development**

For a comprehensive list of every actor and character in the movie, check out this detailed breakdown of the full cast of the 2023 Barbie film.

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