Ken has no identity of his own: Ryan Gosling in his role in 'Barbie'

Ryan Gosling talked about playing iconic Ken in the upcoming film ‘Barbie’ and said that his character was created to observe the ‘awesomeness’ that Margot Robbie’s role of Barbie is.

Talking about essaying this iconic character, Gosling said, “My Ken was created to just observe the awesomeness that is Barbie and there’s even a line in the film when he says he only exists within the warmth of Barbie’s gaze. He has no identity of his own, so he’s in a kind of existential hell. But he’s given a job, which is ‘beach’. He’s not sure what that job is specifically, but he really wants to be good at it.”

Delving further into his character’s journey, he stated: “What prompts Ken to go on this journey with Barbie is that he’s been told that he’s her boyfriend, though there seems to be no other evidence of anything special in their dynamic. But they are a set and that is why he was created. So, for Ken, it’s inconceivable for her to leave without him.”

“The script reminded me of everything I loved growing up but somehow was still like nothing I had ever seen. It’s as funny as it is tragic. It’s as silly as it is profound. It’s all the things,” he said about the work process.

Directed by Greta Gerwig, ‘Barbie’ stars Oscar-nominees Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken, alongside America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman and Will Ferrell.

Praising Gerwig, Gosling said that she’s an ‘incredibly inspiring, inclusive, brilliant person who encouraged everyone around her to take big swings and not limit ourselves by dividing our work into either drama or comedy’.

Presented by ‘Warner Bros. Pictures’, ‘Heyday Films Production’, ‘LuckyChap Entertainment Production’, ‘NB/GG Pictures Production’ and ‘Mattel Production’, ‘Barbie’ is set to release in theaters nationwide on July 21, 2023.