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Barbie world - 19th July 2023

The Barbie film had its European premiere in London. Fans wore pink. The actors walked down a pink carpet too.

It’s a happy film and full of ideas. Margot Robbie plays Barbie.

Margot Robbie: "I mean, you kind of have to see it to really understand how much this movie is packing in. There's, there's so much joy and it's hilarious. It's very clever. It's got a lot to say. It's a crazy ride. It's visually spectacular. It really is unique. I, I cannot think of another movie that's, that's like it."

Barbie was born in 1958. She’s a popular doll. But some people don’t like Barbie. Her body isn’t the shape of a real woman’s body.

Greta Gerwig made this problem part of the film.

Greta Gerwig: "You know, I think it really – by not just denying that she's full of controversy. I think that that was part of what was so interesting about her was that, you know, in some ways she's been ahead of culture in some ways, she's been behind it. But she's definitely been a topic of conversation for 64 years."

Now, there are lots of different Barbie dolls. In the film, there’s a President Barbie and gymnast Barbie. And Barbie dolls have different body sizes and shapes. Barbie dolls now look like people from different places in the world too.

Ziya Haji likes this about Barbie.

Ziya Haji: "I think it's good and it's representing the world as it is having more authentic sort of dolls represented because that is what society is. Not everyone does look like Barbie, not everyone has plastic perfect. So I think it's quite nice to have diversity that is represented through the Barbie dolls and and have it represented in the film as well. And then again, with the people who are here, it's quite amazing."

Buildings, taxis and phone boxes in London were pink. People often think pink’s for girls. It’s not for important things. Can the Barbie film change this?

Actor Emerald Fennell says pink is for everyone.

Emerald Fennell: “That's our kind of culture really, is that anything that's perceived as girly or sparkly or pink is, is suddenly seen as kind of inferior or in some ways sort of frivolous. But it's not the case. I mean, there's absolutely no reason why you couldn't be doing whatever you wanted wearing a pink jumper."

Atha Akumia loves everything about Barbie. And Barbie’s colour is pink.

Atha Akumia: "She's cute. She wears pink. She is friendly, lively, bubbly, the friends she makes, and just everything. Barbie's everything, literally, yeah."