The 2024 Oscar nominations were released last week, and with them came a little controversy. “Barbie” received 8 nominations, yet NOT for Best Director and Best Actress. Many fans were upset that Margot Robbie and director Greta Gerwig were not nominated. (Yes, technically, they could both receive Academy Awards for it. Producers are included if the film wins Best Picture, which Robbie is, and Gerwig is nominated for Adapted Screenplay along with her husband, Noah Baumbach.)
Co-star Ryan Gosling shared his thoughts on the disappointment, and now Robbie has too.
“There’s no way to feel sad when you know you’re this blessed,” Robbie said while part of a panel during a special SAG-AFTRA screening. “Obviously I think Greta should be nominated as a director, because what she did is a once-in-a-career, once-in-a-lifetime thing, what she pulled off, it really is. But it’s been an incredible year for all the films.”
“Barbie” took the entire world by storm last summer, quickly becoming the only billion dollar film directed by a woman. The film crushed box office records, outdoing several films, and grossed $1.4 billion worldwide. “I just suspect it’s bigger than us. It’s bigger than this movie, it’s bigger than our industry,” Robbie said when talking about the film becoming a cultural phenomenon.
Robbie clearly stated she is “beyond ecstatic that we’ve got eight Academy Award nominations, it’s so wild.” The nominations received were Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, two for Original Song, Production Design, Costume Design, and Adapted Screenplay. “Everyone getting the nods that they’ve had is just incredible, and the Best Picture nod.”
“We set out to do something that would shift culture, affect culture, just make some sort of impact,” Robbie said. “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.”
This is Robbie’s first nomination for Best Picture as a producer. She attained the rights to Mattel’s Barbie through her production company LuckyChap. The nomination is being shared with her fellow producers David Heyman, Tom Ackerley, and Robbie Brenner.
“I’ve never been a part of something like this. Not like this. I’ve done comic book stuff and that gets a big reaction, but this felt very different. It still feels very different. And I can’t think of a time when a movie’s had this effect on culture. And it’s amazing to be in the eye of the storm.”
Robbie’s response is one of class and grace. Rather than express disappointment, she is choosing to hype up the nominations the film did receive. She is happy to just be part of this huge pink plastic wave, and we have to say good for her.
The 96th Academy Awards will take place March 10th, 2024 and will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel. You can catch “Barbie” on MAX now.
