Simu Liu Praises Barbie’s Message of Inner Beauty

Many are wondering just what Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Barbie film will be about beyond the iconic toys, but according to one of its stars, the film will have a theme of inner beauty above all.

In a recent interview with Vanity Fair at the Unforgettable Gala, Shang-Chi and the Legend of The Ten Rings star Simu Liu — who co-stars in the upcoming Barbie — noted that the film will feature a diverse cast, and revolve mostly around the theme that everyone is beautiful in their own way.

Liu specifically noted that during some of their big, intricate dance sequences, director Greta Gerwig made sure to cast people of different shapes, sizes, and more to reflect that you didn’t need to be “blonde” and “white” to be seen as beautiful.

“I remember very clearly about some of our big intricate dance sequences. Greta was very, very conscientious about who she cast,” Liu said. “We were able to cast people of different shapes, sizes, differently abled, to all participate in this dance—all under this message of: You don’t have to be blonde, white, or X, Y, Z in order to embody what it means to be a Barbie or a Ken,” explained Liu. “It’s really about finding your inner beauty and owning that part of yourself and being the best possible version of you.”

Liu stars in the film alongside Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling (La La Land) as Ken, America Ferrera (Ugly Betty), Kate McKinnon (Saturday Night Live), Ariana Greenblatt (Love and Monsters), Alexandra Shipp (tick, tick…BOOM!), Emma Mackey (Sex Education), Issa Rae (Insecure), Michael Cera (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World), Hari Nef (Transparent), and Will Ferrell as the CEO of a toy company.

Barbie is set to premiere on July 21, 2023.