Margot Robbie Says Barbie Is ‘Sexualized’ but Not Sexy, Tried to Cast Gal Gadot Because of Her ‘Barbie Energy’: ‘You Don’t Hate Her for Being That Beautiful’

Margot Robbies Barbie movie casts Issa Rae, Hari Nef, Emma Mackey, Dua Lipa, Alexandra Shipp, Kate McKinnon and more as different iterations of the iconic Mattel doll, but the first actor Robbie envisioned as a Barbie in the film was none other than Wonder Woman herself, Gal Gadot. She wasnt available, but Robbie explained to Vogue that Gadots Barbie energy became a template for casting all of the films Barbie roles.

What exactly is Barbie energy? Gal Gadot is Barbie energy, Robbie said. Because Gal Gadot is so impossibly beautiful, but you dont hate her for being that beautiful because shes so genuinely sincere, and shes so enthusiastically kind, that its almost dorky. Its like right before being a dork.

In playing the main Barbie character herself, Robbie also had to sort through questions regarding beauty and sexiness. After all, Barbie is a childrens doll.

Im like, Okay, shes a doll. Shes a plastic doll. She doesnt have organs. If she doesnt have organs, she doesnt have reproductive organs. If she doesnt have reproductive organs, would she even feel sexual desire? No, I dont think she could, Robbie said. She is sexualized. But she should never be sexy. People can project sex onto her. Yes, she can wear a short skirt, but because its fun and pink. Not because she wanted you to see her butt.

Robbie produced Barbie through her production company LuckyChap. Her pitch to Mattel to get the rights to the character included a frank discussion on how the film would have to include not just people loving the doll but also hating it as well.

We of course would want to honor the 60-year legacy that this brand has, Robbie said in her pitch. But we have to acknowledge that there are a lot of people who arent fans of Barbie. And in fact, arent just indifferent to Barbie. They actively hate Barbie. And have a real issue with Barbie. We need to find a way to acknowledge that.

Barbie is directed by Greta Gerwig and co-stars Ryan Gosling as Ken. Gerwig wrote the script for the movie with Noah Baumbach. Warner Bros is opening Barbie in theaters nationwide on July 21.