Yahoo Movies Exclusive: Barbie's America Ferrera was "very moved" by powerful monologue
Barbie spoilers follow.
The Barbie movie is out now, and perhaps surprisingly given the source material but also not surprisingly given Greta Gerwig directed it, the film has something to say.
While there's plenty of meta commentary about the Barbie brand and the role it has played over the decades, the heart of the film is a monologue that America Ferrera's Mattel employee Gloria delivers.
Her speech touches on how difficult is to be a woman in society, calling out the expectations for women to be a certain way but not too much in that way for fear of being criticised for it. She uses a LOT of examples, and the speech itself and Ferrera's performance of it have become one of the film's biggest talking points.
Related: Barbie's Greta Gerwig reveals scene she refused to cut
Speaking exclusively to Digital Spy, the Ugly Betty actress said: "When I read the monologue in the script, I was very moved by it and it felt like the truth, it really hit.
"I was excited to get to give it. Greta and I spent months talking about it and preparing for it. I had a blast doing it, she gave me so much freedom to explore and try it a bunch of different ways and I loved it."
Speaking in more detail about her character, Ferrera explained that Gloria "feels this connection and really puts a lot of value on something that she has to hide.
Related: Who could star in a potential Barbie sequel?
"When we first meet her, she's got these pink shoes on but they're under the desk. Her sparkly pink part of her personality that she feels really connected to is hidden away, and this journey for her is one of giving herself permission to express the parts of her that other people might not be that accepting of.
"That felt like an incredibly relatable journey and I loved that for a grown adult woman."
Barbie is out now in cinemas.
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