Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Trans 'Barbie' Star Shares Part Of Letter She Wrote To Greta Gerwig That Helped Her Land The Role

Hari Nef
Dominik Bindl/Getty Images

Hari Nef was almost unable to be in the film due to a scheduling issue, but her letter to director Greta Gerwig and star Margot Robbie sealed the deal.

As if we weren't already excitedly anticipating the release of Greta Gerwig's Barbiemovie...

The film starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling has already gotten some hype solely based off of viral photos of the two in their Mattel 'fits.


Even if they didn't thrill the film's star.

But now, we have a sneak peak of all the dolls living in Barbieworld.

We might just bust.

Many on social media noticed right away trans actor Hari Nef was included on the character poster for the flick...




... but according to the actor, it almost didn't happen.

After being cast, Nef realized there was a scheduling conflict with filming, but she just had to be in the film.

Nef shared her promo picture on Instagram and revealed she sent a heartfelt letter to Gerwig—the film's director—and Robbie "essentially begging them to fudge the schedule a little bit, as I had big feelings about wanting to join this film."

In her post, the Transparent star shared part of the letter.

"This is a big movie, made by a team whose work has played no small role in cultivating my love of sitting in the dark in front of big screens for an hour or two."
"But that's just a part of why I want—my heart says 'need'—to join in the making of this film."
"Identity politics and cinema aren't my favorite combination, but the name BARBIE looms large over every American woman."
"Barbie's the standard; she's The Girl; she's certainly THE doll."

Nef continued that she and her transgender girlfriends refer to themselves as "the dolls."

"Maybe it's a bid to ratify our femininity, to smile and sneer at the standards we're held to as women."

Nef added they use it jokingly and theatrically when saying it, but still:

"... underneath the word 'doll' is the shape of a woman who is not quite a woman—recognizable as such, but still a fake."

She finished:

"'Doll' is fraught, glamorous; she is, and she isn't. We call ourselves 'the dolls' in the face of everything we know we are, never will be, hope to be."
"We yell the word because the word matters."
"And no doll matters more than Barbie."

Barbie's Insta account commented on the post:

"It'll be so worth the wait ✨"

@harinef/Instagram

And Nef's Barbie co-star Dua Lipa also chimed in:

"HI BARBIE!"

@harinef/Instagram

Others soon followed suit, congratulating the actor on her well-earned role.

@harinef/Instagram

@harinef/Instagram

@harinef/Instagram

@harinef/Instagram

@harinef/Instagram

@harinef/Instagram

@harinef/Instagram

@harinef/Instagram

Barbie is set to open in theaters July 21... and we can't wait!

More from Trending

John Mannion; Mike Lawler
Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images; Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Dem Rep. Unloads On GOP Colleague In NSFW Rant On House Floor Over Padilla Incident

New York Democratic Representative John Mannion criticized his Republican colleague Mike Lawler, telling him to "get some f**king balls" during a blowup confrontation on the House floor after California Democratic Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's press conference and handcuffed.

Padilla said he had "questions for the secretary" at Noem's press conference addressing President Donald Trump's deployment of members of the National Guard, and later the Marines, to stop protests in Los Angeles against the Trump administration's immigration raids.

Keep ReadingShow less
Cole Escola; Nicole Scherzinger
Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions; Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions

Cole Escola Shuts Down Speculation Around Their Joke About Nicole Scherzinger's Tony Win

Actor Cole Escola has spoken out about the controversy that was sparked when they made a silly, innocent political joke at the Tonys on Sunday.

Escola, the genius behind the Broadway hit Oh, Mary!, made history Sunday when they became the first nonbinary actor to win the award for Leading Actor in a Play.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots of Alex Padilla getting arrested by officers and Padilla during MSNBC interview
@CalltoActivism/X; MSNBC

Dem Senator Speaks Out After He Was Thrown To Ground And Handcuffed For Questioning Kristi Noem At LA Press Conference

California Democratic Senator Alex Padilla spoke out after disturbing footage showed him getting dragged out of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's press conference in Los Angeles yesterday for trying to ask a question—only for law enforcement to shove him to the ground and handcuff him.

Padilla introduced himself and merely said he had "questions for the secretary" at Noem's press conference addressing President Donald Trump's deployment of members of the National Guard, and later the Marines, in response to protests in Los Angeles against the Trump administration's immigration raids.

Keep ReadingShow less
Carnie Wilson and Brian Wilson
KMazur/WireImage for The Recording Academy/Getty Images

Carnie Wilson Shares Heartbreaking Tribute To Dad Brian Wilson After His Death At 82

Beach Boys founding member Brian Wilson died on Wednesday at the age of 82. Tributes from friends, fellow musicians, and fans referred to him as a musical genius for his songwriting, musical composition style and innovative recording techniques.

He's also patriarch to a musical dynasty, with his daughters, Carnie and Wendy, and granddaughter, Lola, following in his footsteps. Carnie and Wendy Wilson formed Wilson Phillips with their childhood friend Chynna Phillips—whose own parents are Michelle and John Phillips of '60s super group The Mamas And The Papas.

Keep ReadingShow less
JD Vance
Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

Vance Tried To Make A Joke About Seeing 'Les Misérables' At The Kennedy Center—And It's Peak Cringe

Vice President JD Vance had people groaning after he made a bad joke about the production of Les Misérables he and his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance, attended at the Kennedy Center with President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.

The musical, set in 19th century France, tells the story of Jean Valjean, an ex-convict who is released from prison for stealing a loaf of bread. The story touches on timeless themes such as justice and mercy—and also happens to be about people resisting an authoritarian takeover, which many find ironic given the Trump administration's response to protests in Los Angeles.

Keep ReadingShow less