She’s back and she’s top of the bill at a cinema near you. As Warner Bros’ hotly anticipated Barbie blockbuster gets set to hit the big screen we give you the low down on the classic dolly and celebrate all things pink.
Barbie the history
Remember the adorable blond doll kids played with decades ago? She was launched in 1959 by the American toy firm, Mattel. But according to her origin story, she was actually born in a town called Willows in the mid-western state of Wisconsin to George and Margaret Roberts and named Barbara “Barbie” Milicent Roberts.
Barbie was the archetypal pretty blonde, a handheld plastic figurine of long limbs and golden tresses. Her favourite colour was pink, naturally and she also came with a significant other called Ken and an ever-changing wardrobe of clothes and accessories that could be matched to seasons and themes. There was beach Barbie, disco Barbie, rock star Barbie, flight time Barbie, even an Andy Warhol Barbie and so on and so forth, in a seemingly endless rippling display of variety.
Speaking of which, although Barbie was originally imagined as a pale, blue-eyed blond whose waist wasn’t the only thing waspish about her, Mattel began producing non-white Barbies in the 80s. The brand now produces dolls in a range of skin tones and body shapes.
Imitation
Barbie also spawned imitators, notably her British variant, Sindy. But Sindy had trouble cracking the American market – it belonged to Barbie, damnit! – and the two quarrelled about resemblance and whether one was copying the other. Eventually, they made peace, Sindy went off to do her own thing and Barbie was mollified. Anyway, as any superstar knows, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Innovation
Ever the innovator, Barbie kept up with the times and appeared on television specials, a cluster of computer-animated ballets including the Nutcracker and Swan Lake, in comic books, soundtrack albums and video games.
This Friday 21 July her very own blockbuster is opening in the UK. It starts Margot Robbie in the title role with Ryan Gosling as Ken and is directed by Greta Gerwig. The 12-rated film is set in the foamy pink paradise that is Barbie Land and is a perfect carefree Summer fantasy. Enjoy it with some scoops of strawberry ice cream and glasses of bubbly pink champagne.
