The Ken depicter in the fantasy comedy film hints at holding himself back from speaking his true feelings about director Greta Gerwig and his co-star Margot Robbie being snubbed by the Academy Awards.
- Feb 8, 2024
AceShowbiz - Ryan Gosling had to hold himself back from speaking his true feelings after Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie didn't get nominated in their respective categories at the 2024 Academy Awards for "Barbie". The actor has revealed that he "heavily edited" his statement in the wake of the Oscar snubs, while he's actually more than ready to challenge people to a "beach-off."
In an interview with Variety which was published on Wednesday, February 7, the Ken depicter in the fantasy comedy film said, "Look, I heavily edited that statement." He joked, "I think if I say any more about it, I'm going to basically put on a mink and start challenging people to a beach-off on Malibu Beach." He was referring to Ken's way to express his aggression.
In a more serious note, the Canadian-born star added, "In terms of people's reactions, the film continues to provoke conversation in every incarnation. It keeps provoking this dialogue. It's the power of this movie. I struggle to compare it to anything." He went on stressing, "But it's yet another reason that proves it's more than a summer blockbuster. It's a great work of art. That's what Greta and Margot created."
For his part, the 43-year-old, who got nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the upcoming Oscars for playing Ken, admitted, "It's the hardest role I've ever had to play." According to the outlet, the actor originally turned down the part due to scheduling conflicts "and some trepidation about embodying what was a punchline in pop culture."
When he eventually agreed to star in the movie, Gosling used '80s Sylvester Stallone and "The Bachelorette" as inspiration for his character. "We found out that Stallone wore a lot of minks," he explained. "As long as Ken was wearing it, he was the Ken with the mink - and that separated him from the other Kens."
"Some of it also came from 'The Bachelorette'," he added of the way Ken dresses. "One guy's the guy that wears glasses. One guy has the one earring. If you were to challenge and do the same thing as that person, you'd be infringing on their identity, and so Ken's identity became the mink."
In the end, Gosling did a great job and Robbie couldn't imagine another actor taking the role. "We couldn't imagine anyone else being able to do all the things he needed to and also have the humility to be Ken in a Barbie movie," she shared.
"I don't know if a lot of big male movie stars would do a film with a female director where their character isn't the title of the film. We both sensed he's not that kind of guy," she added, before listing off Gosling's unique abilities to navigate both the comedic and dramatic elements of Ken, one being he's sincere but not satirical. "And, of course, he's gorgeous," she gushed. "He's unbelievably gorgeous. Our Ken needed to have that."
Gosling previously defended Gerwig and Robbie after they missed the cut in their respective categories that were Best Director and Best Actress for the 2024 Academy Awards. "...there is no Ken without Barbie, and there is no 'Barbie' movie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, the two people most responsible for this history-making, globally-celebrated film," he said in a statement issued in January.
