We are only a few weeks away from finally being able to enjoy the new Barbie movie, which is due to be released on July 21. As well as featuring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, the cast lineup features a host of queer stars including Kate McKinnon, Alexandra Shipp and many more LGBTQ+ allies.
Among the glittering cast who will take to the screen to bring our favourite pink plastic dreamworld to life is trans actress, model, and writer Hari Nef (best known for her role as Gittel in Transparent) who plays Doctor Barbie. 

In a recent interview with Out magazine, Nef shared how it felt to take on the role. She recounted the fulfilment of her childhood aspirations when she set foot on the Barbie set and found herself magically transported into a vibrant world of pink and glamour.

With a touch of humour, she called the experience “Greta Gerwig’s Drag Race,” as she seamlessly juggled acting, dancing, and comedy to bring her character to life. She also got to experience the constant transformation of being cinched, wigged, painted from head to toe, padded, and elevated in heels from day to day.

One of Nef’s favourite aspects of playing the iconic part was getting to work with costume designer Jacqueline Durran to create the most expressive aspects of her role.

She recounts: “It’s literally the most preposterous, once-in-a-lifetime, exciting, orgasmic opportunity to go all in on this one little thing that I love so much, which is clothes and looks and fashion and the fantasy.”

She continued, “I told them straight up, ‘I want the highest heel every time. I want the waist tiniest every time. I want the biggest hair every time. I want to put big things in my hair.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by @harinef

The transgender model and actor faced a notable dilemma when she nearly had to turn down the opportunity to play the Barbie character, due to a scheduling conflict. Fortunately, her sincere letter written to director Greta Gerwig and the talented Margot Robbie, kindly requesting some flexibility in the schedule, paid off.

Expressing her gratitude, the actor also showed relief that she hadn’t been limited to portraying a mere “Trans Barbie” character. Reflecting on how playing a Barbie felt the movie felt, Hari Nef remarked: “It’s a very specific kind of femininity. It’s not a kind of femininity that I live every single day of my life in, but it’s one that I come back to time and time again. It’s also one that I feel very comfortable wearing in public, and when the cameras are on and when people are watching.”

She went on to say “I think as a trans girl, it’s easy to get caught up in big dreams of what you’ll become. And it’s inevitable that you’ll get struck down by external messages and obstacles of what you’ll never be and what you won’t be able to do. You’re caught constantly between striving for perfection and recoiling from rejection. It’s hard.”

“As much as there’s a celebration of femininity and being a girl in this [movie], I think there’s also an encouragement of letting go of the checklist we ascribe to living and living your life and being in your body your way, on your own terms,” she added. 

“The best that we can do as women, as trans women, is be there for each other and take ourselves at face value, without relying on the green light from someone or anyone else.

“I felt like through Barbie I could explore all kinds of people to be and things to do.”

As if we weren’t already smacking our lips with excitement for the new Barbie movie, now we really can’t wait to see Hari Nef bring Doctor Barbie to life.