The Barbie movie’s feminist themes are incredibly empowering for girls and women, and Dublin-born actor Andrew Scott told Soho House about the impact the film had on gay men as well, particularly those who wished they could play with dolls when they were children.

Speaking to Soho House’s editorial director, Teo van den Broeke, the actor talked about how it’s common for gay boys to feel “attracted towards stuff that might be perceived as more feminine” before learning that society deems it “unacceptable”. According to Scott, this is why the Barbie film resonated with men who grew up either not being allowed to play with dolls or having to conceal their dolls from friends and family. 

Scott said, “With the Barbie movie that came out, I think there’s an awful lot of gay men who understood, it was like ‘Oh, I really wanted to play with that’. But then somebody would come in and I’d drop that doll.”

Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster hit, which surpassed Avatar to become Ireland’s most successful box office film of all time earlier this year, features an incredible LGBTQ+ cast, including Alexandra Shipp, Hari Nef, and Kate McKinnon. The film has been praised for offering the LGBTQ+ representation many lacked when they were younger.

Similarly, Scott spoke about how the lack of representation can impact one’s own identity, saying: “I think there’s something about when your very identity is being questioned. Certainly when we were growing up, I think maybe to a lesser extent now, I hope so. But there was no representation, so you’re providing yourself with an identity, and you’re attracted literally to things that are bold because you feel so insecure about the way you are.”

“So actually, to be able to be bold is a really wonderful thing. And I think sometimes clothes or music or even television or those early cultural references are so, so incredibly important to us,” he said.

Andrew Scott is best known for his role as the ‘Hot Priest’ in the television series Fleabag. The Irish actor has also appeared in Sherlock and will be starring in an upcoming surreal romance drama called All Of Us Strangers alongside Normal People’s Paul Mescal.

All Of Us Strangers will be the opening film screening during the Belfast Film Festival on November 2. The full festival programme will be posted on October 12, and tickets are available now at belfastfilmfestival.org.

The official trailer for Andrew Haigh’s ‘ALL OF US STRANGERS’ starring Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Jamie Bell and Claire Foy has been released.

In theaters December 22, 2023.
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— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) September 21, 2023