10 photos show how the 'Barbie' characters compare to the dolls that inspired them
Greta Gerwig's "Barbie" film stars Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken.
The movie features an array of Barbies and Kens that are inspired by Mattel dolls.
Michael Cera's character in Barbie Land, named Allan, is a direct nod to a doll of the same name.
Margot Robbie, who plays Stereotypical Barbie, channels the first-ever Barbie doll that debuted on March 9, 1959.
Robbie wears the same black-and-white one-piece swimsuit, retro white-framed sunglasses, and gold hoop earrings as the doll in a scene that pays homage to Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey."
Gerwig's film is stuffed with other references to past Barbies, like the 1994 Hot Skatin' Barbie, seen when Robbie's character rollerblades through Venice Beach.
Ryan Gosling is just Ken.
Gosling has been praised for his silly, but endearing performance as Ken in the film. He even sings a power ballad called "Just Ken."
In a land of Barbies and Kens, there's only one Allan — played by Michael Cera.
Mattel introduced Allan in 1964 as a friend of Ken who could wear the same clothes as him.
In the "Barbie" film, Cera wears the same outfit and hairstyle as the real doll he's inspired by.
Issa Rae's President Barbie runs Barbie Land.
President Barbie dolls have been part of Mattel's careers collection every election year since 1992.
Actor, director, and filmmaker Emerald Fennell plays Midge, a pregnant doll who was discontinued in real life.
Her purple floral dress is inspired by the one worn by the Mattel doll of the same name, which was part of the brand's controversial "Happy Family" kit.
Dua Lipa's Mermaid Barbie has bright-blue hair, just like her doll counterpart.
Mattel's version of Barbie Mermaid Power has a pink tiara and an extra-long tail.
In addition to her role in the film, Lipa is also featured on the soundtrack, with the disco-pop song "Dance the Night."
Ana Cruz Kayne's Supreme Court Justice Barbie is reminiscent of Mattel's 2019 judges launch.
The Barbie Judge, available in a few different skin tones and hairstyles, was launched as part of the career dolls collection, with hopes of encouraging girls "to learn more about making decisions to change the world for the better."
Model Hari Nef plays a Barbie who's a doctor.
In Barbie Land, all the Barbies have jobs while the Kens have no careers and no homes.
"The Umbrella Academy" star Ritu Arya channels 2010's News Anchor Barbie.
Both dolls are armed with microphones that have the Barbie logo. In "Barbie," Arya's character is known as Reporter Barbie and has a Pulitzer.
"Sex Education" star Emma Mackey's Physicist Barbie follows a long line of Barbie dolls with STEM careers.
This includes Astrophysicist Barbie (seen above), Robotics Engineer Barbie, and Computer Engineer Barbie.
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