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Editor’s note: SAG-AFTRA members are currently on strike; as part of the strike, union actors are not promoting their film and TV projects. This interview was conducted prior to the strike.
Spoilers ahead for the Barbie movie.
In Barbie Land, Barbie is beloved by everyone (especially the Kens — Ryan Gosling chief among them). But when Margot Robbie’s Stereotypical Barbie rollerblades into the real world, she finds not everyone is so enamored with the legacy doll — and especially not the popular kids at a local high school, led by Ariana Greenblatt’s Sasha.
Sasha is the daughter of America Ferrera’s character Gloria, but she hasn’t inherited her mom’s love for Barbies. When we first meet her, Sasha is strongly anti-Barbie — she monologues to Barbie about how harmful her image is for young people and the unrealistic beauty standards she sets, leading Barbie to spiral further into an existential crisis.
The movie explores societal dynamics and the trials of what it means to be a woman — even if you’re a doll representing the idea of a woman. While viewers take away the film’s poignant message, fans will also be met with a slew of hilarious characters like Allan, Ken’s best friend played by Michael Cera, and Kate McKinnon as Weird Barbie.
“I just want people to watch it 1,000 times, never get sick of it, and just feel joy. I felt so much joy. I feel like it's such a nice movie to put things that are needed into perspective,” 15-year-old Ariana Greenblatt, who is best known for her starring role in Stuck in the Middle, tells Teen Vogue. “If you love fashion, great. If you are an activist, you can feel empowered after America's speech. There's something for everyone.”
Below, Teen Vogue caught up with Greenblatt to chat more about the new film, her character Sasha, and what she hopes for Barbie and Ken in the future.
Teen Vogue: I loved the chemistry between Sasha and Gloria on screen. What was it like building that mother-daughter relationship while prepping for the role and filming?
Ariana Greenblatt: America is one of my favorite people ever. She is such a motherly figure, especially when we were on set together. We instantly hit it off. I think the first time I met her in person, I walked in on their dance rehearsal for the big dance number that you see in the middle of the movie. That's when I was introduced to all the cast members. America immediately just ran up to me and gave me the biggest hug ever, and it felt like we knew each other for years already, that bond was there from the beginning. Throughout filming, of course, we got closer and closer, and we had afternoon tea together in London as well, just to talk about life. It was instantly a big connection, but through time, we grew closer together.
TV: Sasha is very anti-Barbie at the beginning of the movie, and towards the end of the film, she comes around and even stands up for Barbie, helping save Barbie Land. What do you think made her change her mind?
AG: Sasha has a lot of character development through the film with her relationship with her mom, of course, and then obviously with Barbie. The turning point for her was understanding Barbie. She was under a very different impression of [what she thought] Barbie [was] than what she actually is. Understanding all the Barbies, how they think in their world, and how they thought that the real world also was perfect, obviously Sasha knows that's not the case … I think we see her get upset at Barbie when she wants to give up, and instead of giving up, Sasha's a big believer in trying again and doing what's right until it is right.
TV: There was another part in the film where America Ferrera delivers an incredible monologue about the experience of being a woman. When I watched, I remember looking around the room, and everyone was sobbing. It was such an emotional moment. How did it feel for you watching it in person?
AG: Yeah. I specifically remember really wanting to hear her monologue the second they started filming. I didn't want to hear her go over it. I wanted everything to be in the moment, my reaction in the moment, really real of what I was hearing so, obviously, my character could feel as impacted as she possibly could. I remember I never got sick of it. We did that scene over and over again. She did something different every time.
I was so affected by it, especially because I'm a young person, and listening to this woman who is incredibly intelligent saying all of these things that are so unfortunately true, it hit really hard for me, because growing up in today's society, and then also growing up in the industry as well, all of those things really rang a bell for me. It puts a lot of things into perspective in such a beautifully written way, so shout out America and Greta [Gerwig] for creating that incredible piece in the film. Everyone on set was just in awe of her doing it and how she was saying it.
TV: Do you have any favorite memories from when you were filming?
AG: One of my favorite memories was just walking from hair and makeup to my trailer, and always seeing someone new pop up that I didn't even know was in the film. My [trailer] window looked out to the trailer that kept everyone that had their cameos. So I would see that trailer rotate all of these different people, and it was a fun surprise every week, because I was like, "Who's going to be there next?" I remember one time it was John Cena, and I was like, "Okay, great," because he played Mermaid Ken.
And I remember seeing Michael. I didn't even realize he was in the movie until I was filming with him, and I see Michael Cera walking towards me and freaked out internally, because Superbad is one of my favorite movies ever. So I was like, "There is no possible way." It was just such a fun surprise.
TV: Are there any costars that you wish you had more screen time with in the movie?
AG: I would love to have more scenes with Kate McKinnon, who plays Weird Barbie. Every day on set that I got to work with her, she was so incredible. Her personality, in general, offscreen, is amazing but the stuff that she brought to weird Barbie was just so perfect. It's just straight gold. I would love to spend more time with Will Ferrell as well. He was incredible on set. When I met him, I was freaking out, because Elf is also one of my favorite movies. I had one conversation with him, and I completely butchered it. I embarrassed myself. I kept stuttering. I didn't know what I was saying. I was just in awe. Usually I could play it cool and have a conversation. With him, I couldn't form a sentence. It was horrible, but he was so nice, and I would love to have more scenes with him as well.
TV: The film is full of so many clever and hilarious moments. What is your absolute favorite scene from the movie?
AG: There's a lot, but I think my favorite scene is when America and I are driving. We're going to head back to the real world, and we're singing a song, and then Allan pops up in the back seat and then we freak out and crash the car. I think every time I watch that scene, I love it more and more. It's just 100% one of my favorites.
I also specifically remember when Allan, or Michael [Cera] was choreographing that big fight scene with all the Kens. I was learning how to rollerblade and he came in after me to learn [his scene]. I just remember hearing either from Greta or someone else that the fight is so violent, and it's so perfect, and you wouldn't expect it at all. I remember hearing that. I was like, "I'm so excited to see it," and then on the day, he just absolutely nailed it. It was great.
TV: My favorite scenes were with Allan, too. Michael Cera had just a few lines, but he really stole the show.
AG: He had the best one-liners. Every time he was on-screen it was just like, "Poor Allan, give him some love." I love it.
TV: Who is your favorite character in the film?
AG: I'm going to say Allan but also Ken, Ryan's Ken. He would always do something different. I remember the scene where he's playing the keyboard or the piano, and we all turned around and were like, "Why is he playing a song?" If I remember correctly, I think that was improv and he was playing a different song on the piano — like a song that everyone knew. I broke every single take that we did.
TV: At the end of the movie, we see Ken sort of come to terms with understanding that he needs to go on his own self-discovery journey. What hopes do you have for Ken as he figures it out?
AG: I feel like he's going to go through a crisis and dye his hair. He's not going to be blonde anymore because his whole song about blonde fragility was just incredible. But I think he's going to have a transformation. For his future, I want him to open a farm with all his little horses because he loved the horses. I think if he had a sanctuary for them, that would be great character [development] for him, and all of his Ken friends can work on the farm.
TV: Same question for Barbie. At the end of the film, she decides that she wants to be a part of the Real World. What do you hope for Barbie, as she adjusts to living in the real world, and what do you see for her future?
AG: I would love to see Barbie live with Sasha's family. I think Sasha, Gloria, and their dad would be a beautiful little family. It's hard, because Barbie literally could be anything. There are no limits for her, especially in the real world. But I would love to see just how she is living with the family and maybe learning how to drive and then driving [Sasha] to school. I think that'd be so cute. There are endless possibilities for her, but I would love to see her move in with us.
TV: Can you share any future projects you're working on or a dream role you have for yourself?
AG: The future project that I'm thinking of, I definitely can't talk about, or else I'd get a knock on my door from the FBI. But I think I really am interested currently in writing my own story, especially after working with Greta. She inspired me a lot to write and direct. Also, I would love to do a coming of age story of a teenage girl because I'm so used to playing sci-fi alien characters or post-apocalyptic characters. I would love to explore just the reality of being a teenage girl. I feel like, a lot of the time, people my age are represented so falsely. It's extremely embarrassing, so I think if I was able to create a story about a teenage girl from a teenage girl's perspective, it would resonate with a lot of people. That's definitely a big dream of mine.
