Barbie has been a part of the fabric of pop culture since she was placed on toy shelves in that iconic black-and-white swimsuit in 1959. So a big-budget movie about her was bound to happen one day. It just happened to come 64 years after her debut, but what if it hadn’t? Barbie has had a multitude of animated movies over the years. Been there, done that. But what if a live-action Barbie movie had been made in the heart of the ‘90s? Who would’ve stepped into the role of Barbie and Ken before Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling so stunningly did so in Greta Gerwig’s? Well, it’s time to find out.
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Stereotypical Barbie
Warner Bros. Pictures & Paramount Pictures
It’s hard to imagine anyone else as stereotypical Barbie having an existential crisis other than Margot Robbie but had the movie been made over two decades earlier, Clueless star Alicia Silverstone would’ve been the perfect pick. She’s as beautiful as Robbie and can pull off the pink-hued nuances the role calls for.
Warner Bros. Pictures & NBC
Issa Rae dominated as President Barbie, but looking back…The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’s Karyn Parsons was sort of born to play the role of a Barbie.
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If there were one person in the glorious decade of the ‘90s that a movie studio was going to place alongside their lead, it would’ve been someone from Friends . The series was huge, and there’s no doubt Mattel would’ve leaned toward Jennifer Aniston to play the overworked mom who missed spending time with her daughter that America Ferrera played in Gerwig’s.
Warner Bros. Pictures & Warner Bros.
Ariana Greenblatt played America Ferrera’s Hot Topic, teen angst daughter Sasha perfectly. However, in the ‘90s, they would’ve made Sasha more of a high-maintenance valley girl brat and cast at least one of the Olsen twins because what weren’t those two in back then?
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It’s hard to imagine anyone other than Michael Cera’s eccentric little behind as Allan, but there’s a good chance that Seth Green would’ve been able to make that role his own just as well.
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Dua Lipa popped up a few times as Mermaid Barbie, and if they wanted to stick with a singer in the ‘90s, they likely would’ve gone with the late Aaliyah. Just imagine if Aaliyah did something like “Are You That Somebody” for the Barbie soundtrack? Epic.
Warner Bros. Pictures & Universal Studios
Up until Barbie, many probably would’ve said The Notebook was Ryan Gosling’s most notable performance. Not anymore. He proved to be Kenough with next-level Kenergy. However, in the ‘90s, one man would’ve matched that, and that’s none other than Brendan Fraser. He proved he isn’t afraid of campy comedy in George of the Jungle, and it would’ve been quite amazing to see him also try and pull off a cover of “Push” by Matchbox Twenty, just like Gosling did.
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Doctor Barbie was brought to life by Hari Nef. One of the only people from the ‘90s who really could have captured the spirit of the medical doll would’ve been Leelee Sobieski from Never Been Kissed and The Glass House.
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Nobel Prize Barbie
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Emma Mackey was darling as Nobel Prize Barbie, and the only person that could’ve been as delightful would’ve been all that alongside all of the other ‘90s stars would’ve been Rachael Leigh Cook.
Warner Bros. Pictures & Gramercy Pictures
Scott Wolf gives off the same Kenergy as Marvel actor Simu Liu, right?
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Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan made time in her busy schedule to appear in Barbie for a split second, so if the role of Diplomat Barbie were to go to someone just as talented and booked in the ‘90s, it would’ve likely been Drew Barrymore.
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Brandy jumped into acting pretty early on in her career and proved to everyone she had more up her sleeve than singing, so it would’ve been smart casting to have her as Author Barbie, the part Alexandra Shipp played adorably. Plus, having Brandy in the movie would’ve ensured she’d be on the soundtrack.
Warner Bros. Pictures & NBC
Kingsley Ben-Adir was a great addition to the Kendom, but in the ‘90s, if there was a huge movie being made, Will Smith was going to be part of it.
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If Will Ferrell is the Mattel CEO in the present, then no one other than Jim Carrey could play the role in the ‘90s. That’s just the law.
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Mattel Executive #1
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Fleabag’s Jamie Demetriou just needed to help drive the comedy of the CEO, and James Marsden could’ve done that very well.
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There were a handful of stars from Netflix’s Sex Education, including Connor Swindells. If the role were to go to teen show star, James Van Der Beek from Dawson's Creek would’ve landed in that part.
Warner Bros. Pictures & Columbia Pictures
All of the Kens needed to know how to move, but none did as well as Doctor Who himself, Ncuti Gatwa. So looking back, Cuba Gooding Jr. would’ve been pretty amazing as this Ken.
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Oh, Midge. Emerald Fennell played the discontinued pregnant Barbie now, but then Julia Stiles would’ve been great for the random with-child role.
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Growing Up Skipper
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Hannah Khalique-Brown wasn’t in the movie much, but her scene as Growing Up Skipper was quite memorable. Another actress was sort of born to play a Barbie and would’ve been great in a part like this would’ve been Saved by the Bell’s Lark Voorhies.
Warner Bros. Pictures & Columbia Pictures
Weird Barbie was a scene stealer thanks to Saturday Night Live alum Kate McKinnon, but if weird is the name of the game and it’s the ‘90s, look no further than The Craft’s Fairuza Balk.
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If Betty White had been alive, she would’ve most definitely played the creator of Barbie, Ruth Handler. Because the world lost that treasurer of a human in 2021, the role was played by the amazing Rhea Perlman.
Kendra Beltran went to college with no game plan and found herself falling back on her love of writing soon after graduating all the way back in 2009. Since then, she's written for MTV Geek, Cosplay Central, Collider, Apartment Therapy, and many other sites that allowed her to showcase her love of all things pop culture. When she isn't writing, Kendra is either hosting her show, Crushgasm, baking all the cookies, or spoiling her fur baby, Mason.