The following contains spoilers for Barbie, now playing in theaters.
As Greta Gerwig’s tour de force Barbie hits the coveted billion-dollar mark, the movie shows no signs of slowing down. Naturally, there has been speculation about a Barbie sequel, and even though there has been no formal confirmation, there is a surge of interest in who could play the titular doll in a second movie. Margot Robbie leaves big shoes to fill, but there are a host of talented leading ladies who can play the part of Barbie flawlessly.
Barbie is no ordinary movie. It is an effortless blend of feeling with aesthetics, so any actress who plays Barbie has to effectively convey the perfection as well as the humanity of the doll. These talented actresses would make for perfect Barbie girls in their Barbie worlds, as is evidenced by their stellar work on previous projects.
10 Emilia Clarke
British actress Emilia Clarke has done a mindbogglingly vast range of roles in her career. Clarke’s versatility is evident from standout roles such as Solo: A Star Wars Story and Secret Invasion to great romantic dramedies like Last Christmas and Me Before You. However, she will always be best known for her fierce depiction of Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones.
She depicted the evolution of Daenerys from a frightened young girl to a queen who was not only capable of ruling several kingdoms but also destroying them. The actress could add even more layers to the next Barbie, giving her a more robust and fiery character arc that she is adept at portraying. Besides, Clarke looked impeccable with platinum blonde hair, and Barbie blonde would only be a natural progression.
9 Hunter Schafer
Hunter Schafer has experience modeling, but her breakout role as a main character in Euphoria made audiences sit up and take notice. Schafer plays the role of Jules, a young transgender woman who falls in love with Rue, who struggles with drug addiction. Jules has a dreamy, doll-like look from the show’s beginning, donning fairy wings and whimsical outfits. In contrast, her inner life is convoluted and dark, mired by blackmail and tragedy.
The actress can effectively bring out this dichotomy in her character, which is quite similar to Barbie’s own existential crisis in the movie. Schafer manages to be soft yet strong in her portrayal, which is essential in a movie about womanhood. Barbie is also deeply supportive of the LGBTQIA+ community, and Schafer’s transgender identity would make a sequel even more nuanced and inclusive.
8 Emma Stone
The Easy A actress debuted her new blonde tresses in a recent Instagram post, which makes it easier than ever to picture her in Barbie. However, her appeal as the beloved doll goes way beyond looks — Stone is brilliantly funny, instantly affable, and has magnetic star power in just about any role. From superhero movies to period dramas, Emma Stone skillfully pulls off the love interest and the vamp with equal grace.
One of Barbie’s most underrated highlights was its subtle but cutting humor, and Stone’s comic timing would be the ideal match for a sequel. At the same time, the comedienne has the unique ability to inject her funniest characters (read: Wichita, Abigail, and Cruella) with sentiment and gravitas. If there is a Barbie sequel, Stone could be a serious contender.
7 Kristen Stewart
Even though Kristen Stewart’s most recognizable movies will always be the Twilight Saga, the actress had an enviable roll of credits before she starred in the vampire romance. Her performances are a masterclass in restrained acting, as evidenced by her vivid and uncanny execution of Princess Diana in Spencer. Conversely, Stewart can be a spirited rock star, like Joan Jett in The Runaways.
The heart and soul of the Barbie movie (including the real-world messages) is how the titular doll becomes conscious of another way of life. She slowly develops intense feelings, exacerbated when she journeys into the real world. Barbie reaches an emotional peak where she questions everything about her existence, which is something Stewart would excel at. She can be a coquette, a fighter, and someone reeling from the intensity of their own mind — the perfect existentialist Barbie.
6 Janelle Monae
Janelle Monae’s artistry spans music, movies, and fashion, and it is utterly unique. She can embody a role incredibly, both in her movies and music, famously taking on the alter ego of an android for her album Metropolis and The ArchAndroid. The parallels between dolls and humanoid robots are many.
Monae is tailor-made for the Barbie universe, especially with her distinctive, polished sense of style — and fashion is a crucial part of the Barbie movie. Her Dandy-style tuxes could very well spur the creation of a new Barbie, and her fun, liberated energy makes her a great fit. Her multiple roles in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery bring out Monae’s comic timing and adaptability to different roles.
5 Zendaya
Considering that Zendaya already has a Barbie fashioned after her by Mattel, it is but obvious that the young star be considered for a sequel. She began her illustrious career as a Disney star and then graduated to the MCU as MJ in Spider-Man: Homecoming and crowning roles in Euphoria and the Dune trilogy. More importantly, Zendaya has become a role model for young women everywhere, which echoes the massive influence that Barbie has had on generations of girls.
In the midst of her blossoming music, TV, and movie career, the actress even wrote a book to guide young teen girls through adolescence. She is also a certified fashion icon, donning dazzling looks on red carpets around the world. From saris to ball gowns, Zendaya can carry it all. Her professional and personal life echo the warmth and beauty of Barbie, and she would shine as the leading doll.
4 Hailee Steinfeld
With immense success in acting, singing, and voice-acting, Hailee Steinfeld is a triple threat. Steinfeld is known for her innate charm, which leaked into her roles as a distraught teen in The Edge of Seventeen and the feisty Kate Bishop in Hawkeye. Steinfeld’s portrayals are honest, and her distinctive wide-eyed innocence would be apt for the role of Barbie.
Steinfeld’s standout role is, without a doubt, her spirited portrayal of Emily Dickinson and her sapphic romance in Apple TV’s Dickinson. Emily’s yearning to find her true purpose and a new meaning to her suffocating life is reminiscent of Barbie’s desire to be human. Steinfeld could very easily carry the role and even make it into a musical one with her many talents.
3 Anne Hathaway
Before Margot Robbie, Anne Hathaway was considered for the lead role in Barbie, but it didn’t work out due to scheduling conflicts and legalities. However, there is no reason why the iconic actress couldn’t return for a sequel. Known for lively comedies, teen roles, and romances like The Princess Diaries and The Devil Wears Prada, Hathaway would shine in the joyful dreamland of Barbie.
Scientist, princess, spy, fashion maven, or vigilante — Anne Hathaway molds herself into just about any role, much like Mattel’s doll who can be anyone. Hathaway was a great second choice for Barbie, and fans would love to see her in the pretty, pink role should there be a sequel.
2 Simone Ashley
British-Indian actress Simone Ashley stole hearts with her depiction of Kate Sharma in Shondaland’s Bridgerton, a role that was Barbie-coded from the beginning. The Regency heroine was resplendent in empire-waist gowns and tiaras but fearless in her thoughts. Beneath a tough exterior lay a young woman who was gentle, kind, and unafraid to revel in life’s joys. Like Barbie, Kate also goes through a gut-wrenching arc where everything she knows is questioned but comes out triumphant on the other side.
After playing the passionate viscountess, Ashley appears as Princess Indira in the live-action Little Mermaid, further cementing her status in the fun, poignant, feminine side of cinema and TV. In fact, fans hoped that Ashley would make an appearance in Barbie, but that never happened. Her personal style, featuring lots of pink, red carpet appearances, and roles all prove that the Barbie sequel should run with a South Asian Barbie, and Simone Ashley should be her.
1 Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift is indubitably the very epitome of Barbie. Currently on her inimitable Era’s Tour, Swift has been breaking records almost every day with her music, and a look into one of her arenas makes the similarities clear: the pop star has created an environment where she and her fans can be sparkly, pink, and bejeweled without judgment. Throughout her career, Taylor Swift has shown grace, resilience, generosity, and a deep intimacy with young women that few others have been able to achieve — qualities that Barbie has in spades.
The singer-actor-entrepreneur has always embraced every aspect of girlhood and womanhood in her music, which have become anthems of catharsis for women worldwide. Swift embodies the “You can be anything” sentiment that Barbie has extolled for years. She can channel the doll seamlessly in a Barbie sequel, and Margot Robbie herself gave the stamp of approval.