Greta Gerwig’sBarbiebrings the iconic doll to life with impressive depth and style.Margot RobbieandRyan Goslingstar as Barbie and Ken, who leave Barbie Land for the Real World to learn who’s causing problems for the otherwise carefree Barbie. The film received critical acclaim for its inventiveness, message, and the performances of its cast.Gosling andAmerica Ferrerareceived Oscar nominationsfor their performances, while the film received a Best Picture nomination, cementing it as the cultural phenomenon of 2023.
Barbiehas several notable cameos, with a few familiar faces popping by to join the fun. Cameos can be a fun way to insert a well-known celebrity, whether they’re an actor or not, into a small role — but that doesn’t mean they don’t make a huge impression. Every cameo brings something to the table, whether just a chuckle or a bonafide gasp from the audience; still,the best cameos inBarbiebring a little something extra, as they are fun, instantly memorable, and endlessly entertaining.
8Ryan Piers Williams
Role: Gloria’s Husband
Actor, writer, and directorRyan Piers Williamsplays Gloria’s (America Ferrera) husband. While Gloria wonders if her husband would notice that she left, he is shown at home using Duolingo to learn Spanish, completely unaware of what Gloria’s up to. He appears again duringBarbie’snow-iconic ending sequencewith Gloria, Sasha, and the newly human Barbie. His Spanish hasn’t improved, but he is still trying, and he references the Disney Channel original movieGotta Kick It Up!,inwhich Ferrera starred.
Although Williams' scenes are brief, they’re wonderfully funny and show a well-intentioned and supportive, if slightly oblivious, husband. He is among the film’s most positive depictions of masculinity, and his two short scenes are also quite hilarious. Williams' cameo is also notable because he’s Ferrera’s real husband.
7Chris Taylor
Chris Tayloris amongthe most memorable islanders onLove Island UK, appearing on the show in 2019. Prior to his time on the island, he was a business development manager and now works as an influencer. He appears inBarbieas one of the many Kens, in a scene after the Kens have taken over Barbie Land, awarding a fellow Ken the Nobel Prize for horses.
Taylor’s scene as Ken is short but hilarious. The idea that Ken based his entire new male-dominated world around the idea of horses is hysterical enough. However, Taylor really sells the scene’s smug silliness, delivering his lines with genuine admiration at his fellow Ken’s “achievement.” Non-Love Islandfans might have a hard time placing him, but those who enjoy the infamous reality show will surely enjoy his blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo.
6Nicola Coughlan
Role: Diplomat Barbie
Irish actorNicola Coughlanis best known for starring in the hit Netflix period drama,Bridgerton, as well as the British sitcomDerry Girls. Coughlan joins a slew of wonderful young female actresses as one of the many Barbies in Barbie Land, playing Diplomat Barbie.Coughlan’s role is brief because of scheduling conflicts, but her appearance is quite striking.
Coughlan looks totally different in her cameo as Diplomat Barbie, with bright red hair — similar to what she sports asPenelope Featherington inBridgerton— instead of her usual blonde. Diplomat Barbie’s cameo is rather short, and many might’ve missed it altogether the first time they saw the movie. However,Coughlan is vibrant in the cameo, making the most of her limited screen time and making fans wish she would’ve played a larger role inBarbie.
Role: Mermaid Barbie
Grammy Award-winning pop starDua Lipamakes her acting debut inBarbie, appearing on the beach as the glamorous Mermaid Barbie. Mermaid Barbie sports multiple colorful wigs, including blue, pink, and purple. Additionally, Dua Lipa contributed an original song totheincredibleBarbiesoundtrack, the Grammy-nominated hit “Dance the Night.”
Dua Lipa’s Mermaid Barbie is instantly striking, thanks to her bright hair and hilariously deadpan tone. The singer is perfectly utilized in her scenes, waving like a beauty queen before becoming subservient to the Kens once they take over Barbie Land.Dua Lipa’s cameo works because she fits the role and the film’s humor seamlessly. She knows she’s there to make an impression, and boy, does she make one! Between this andArgylle, the singer is making her entrance into the film world, so perhaps it won’t be long before she plays a more meaningful role in a picture.
The 9 Kens (and Allan) in ‘Barbie,’ Ranked
You guessed it. They’re all Kens (and Allan).
4Emerald Fennell
Role: Midge
“Hey, Midge — never mind.” Seen just briefly a couple of times inBarbie, actor, writer, and directorEmerald Fennellplays Midge. Fennell has starred in the British showCall the Midwife, as well as Netflix’s royal dramaThe Crown, before winning the 2021 Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for her acclaimed filmPromising Young Woman. InBarbie, Midge is the only pregnant doll, a creepy fact many characters reference throughout the film.
Midge is often the punchline, as most characters avoid her due to how eerie it is to seea perpetually pregnant doll. Fennell has almost no lines, and her awkward hand waves and desperation to be noticed make each of her appearances funny, cringey, and unforgettable.Fennell is among the best cameos inBarbieand the definition of a scene-stealing performance. The multi-hyphenate enjoyed an incredible 2023 thanks to this memorable role and the scandalous psychological thrillerSaltburn, which she directed and wrote. Curiously, Margot Robbie is one ofSaltburn’s producers, strengthening the working relationship between her and Fennell.
3Rob Brydon
Role: Sugar Daddy Ken
Welsh actorRob Brydonis best known for his role as Uncle Bryn in the British sitcomGavin & Stacey. He appears briefly inWeird Barbie’shouse as Sugar Daddy Ken, alongside other infamous Barbie one-offs, including Earring Magic Ken, played byTom Stourton.
Despite the connotations of “sugar daddy,” the doll’s backstory in both the movie and real life is that Sugar Daddy Ken is the daddy to a little white West Highland Terrier named Sugar.Brydon’s cameo inBarbieis thanks to Margot Robbie, who is a hugeGavin & Staceyfan and made sure to bring the actor on board, even if just for a cameo. But what a cameo it was!Brydon embraces Sugar Daddy Ken’s silliness, going all-in with the role and pulling focus every time he speaks. Brydon’s Sugar Daddy Ken is a bright disco ball in a movie full of them, and he still manages to be memorable and hilarious.
2John Cena
Role: Kenmaid
John Cenafirst made his career as a professional wrestler with WWE before turning to acting. He has built an impressive resumé, thanks to roles inFast XandThe Suicide SquadoppositeBarbie’sstar and producer, Margot Robbie. He appears inBarbieas Kenmaid, Mermaid Barbie’s companion. He only has two scenes, but they are hysterical and unforgettable.
Cena’s cameo is the funniest inBarbie, complete with a beautiful mane of long flowing blonde hair. A natural comedian,Cena is absurdly hilarious in the role, heightening each of Kenmaid’s actions and losing himself in the scene’s humor. Cena’s cameo inBarbieis a true surprise, and his brief but unforgettable scene surely provoked some of the film’s biggest laughs.
Role: Woman on the Bench
Ann Rothis a costume designer who has been nominated for an Oscar five times, winning twice forThe English PatientandMa Rainey’s Black Bottom. She appears inBarbieas an old woman sitting on a bench, and when Barbie tells her she’s beautiful, she replies confidently, “I know,” before sharing a laugh with the doll.
Despite being a major behind-the-scenes figure, Roth isn’t as recognizable as some of the other cameos. However,Roth hasthe most powerful scene inBarbie, as the moving interaction addresses beauty standards and self-love in two simple lines. Roth’s quote summarizes every major theme inBarbie, and her naturalistic, effortless delivery makes it all the more poignant. Every other cameo inBarbieis fun and entertaining, but Roth’s is certainly the most meaningful.
