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Barbie, without a doubt, was one of the most influential and beloved movies of 2023, even before it hit the theaters. So, when the Oscar nominations were announced and both Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig were notably absent from the list, it sparked a worldwide debate and calls for an explanation regarding this decision. 

The question on everyone’s lips was, ‘How could the leading actress and director of a film that stirred up so much excitement within and beyond mainstream culture not receive nominations?’ Interestingly, Ryan Gosling managed to secure a nomination, which added fuel to the ongoing debate. Finally, for the first time, Margot Robbie has addressed the issue. 

On Wednesday, January 31, the Australian actress decided to share her perspective. “Obviously, I think Greta should be nominated as a director,” she stated. “What she did is a once-in-a-career, once-in-a-lifetime thing. What she pulled off, it really is,” Robbie confessed. 

To justify her own absence from the Best Actress category, Robbie mentioned that it had been ‘an exceptional year for movies.’ For her, the impact of the movie goes beyond just film awards. “We set out to do something that would shift culture, affect culture, just make some sort of impact. And it’s already done that and some, way more than we ever dreamed it would. And that is truly the biggest reward that could come out of all of this.”

“We are more than thrilled to have received eight Academy Award nominations,” Robbie concluded, putting an end to the discussion. 

Ryan Gosling & America Ferrera Reactions

Both Gosling and Ferrera (separately) expressed their disappointment with this year’s Academy Award nominations. Ferrera told Variety, “What Margot achieved as an actress is truly unbelievable. One of the things about Margot as an actress is how easy she makes everything look. And perhaps people got fooled into thinking that the work seems easy, but Margot is a magician as an actress in front of the screen.”

Gosling said, “There is no Ken without Barbie, and there is no ‘Barbie’ movie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, the two people most responsible for this history-making, globally-celebrated film. No recognition would be possible for anyone on the film without their talent, grit and genius. To say that I’m disappointed that they are not nominated in their respective categories would be an understatement.”