Movies - TV
Why Ryan Gosling Rejected His First Offer To Play Barbie’s Ken
By CAROLINE MADDEN
Ryan Gosling was iconic in his role as Ken in “Barbie,” but he initially turned it down. For director Greta Gerwig, there was no alternative, so she and Margot Robbie persevered.
Gosling said one of the main barriers was scheduling conflicts. He also had trepidation about the difficulty of playing the character.
He admitted, “It’s the hardest role I’ve ever had to play,” which is hard to believe. Barbie and Ken were blank slates, so it was a daunting task to bring them to life.
Gosling accepted the role after discovering a Ken doll in the mud, abandoned when his daughters were playing. He texted Gerwig, “I shall be your Ken, for his story must be told.”