As the glitz and glamour of the 2024 Oscar Nominations unfolded, a notable omission from the list appeared to cast a shadow over the celebrations. The critically acclaimed film ‘Barbie’, directed by Greta Gerwig, found itself overlooked for Best Director and Actress in a Leading Role categories, in spite of securing nominations for Best Picture, Supporting Actress (America Ferrera), Supporting Actor (Ryan Gosling), Adapted Screenplay (Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach), Costume Design, Production Design, and Original Songs (‘I’m Just Ken’ and ‘What Was I Made For?’).
America Ferrera, who received her inaugural Academy Award nomination for her vibrant portrayal of the human Gloria in ‘Barbie’, expressed her sentiment on the snub, which many described as a surprise given the film’s critical and commercial success. In a statement to Variety, Ferrera disclosed, “I was incredibly disappointed that they weren’t nominated.”
The actress elaborated on Gerwig’s contributions, underscoring the director’s extraordinary accomplishments. “Greta has done just about everything that a director could do to deserve it. Creating this world, and taking something that didn’t have inherent value to most people and making it a global phenomenon. It feels disappointing to not see her on that list.”
When discussing her fellow co-star, Margot Robbie, who brought the iconic doll to life on the big screen, Ferrera did not mince words about Robbie’s remarkable talent. “What Margot achieved as an actress is truly unbelievable,” she asserted, adding, “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, and it was one of the honors of my career to get to witness her pull off the amazing performance she did. She brings so much heart and humor and depth and joy and fun to the character. In my book, she’s a master.”
For Ferrera herself, the reaction to her nomination was a whirlwind of emotion and disbelief. “There was a moment where I wasn’t sure if I had made it up. And then my phone started blowing up, so I figured that I must have heard it right. I still haven’t really been able to get in my feelings because I’m still on like the top layer of ‘I can’t even believe that this is real.'”
Still reeling from the news, her husband, Ryan Williams, was the first to deliver an excited emotional call, quickly followed by a group video call from her co-stars of the beloved film ‘The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants’ — Blake Lively, Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel.
Ferrera also shared the palpable excitement among the ‘Barbie’ cast, sharing, “It’s an overwhelming amount of love and support and congratulations to me. I feel it so deeply and am so grateful for their love and support and in this moment. It’s been a long ‘Barbie’ journey — I mean longer even for Greta and Margot and Noah, it’s been years and years and years — everyone’s really excited that we get to celebrate and to end this journey at the biggest party of the year.”
The Oscars, often hailed as the pinnacle of film achievement, draw global attention both for the glories and the snubs. This year, the conversation around the ‘Barbie’ snubs invites a larger discourse on the dynamics of recognition within Hollywood’s most prestigious accolades. The resulting discussions are likely just beginning as industry experts and fans alike anticipate a night of celebration of film amidst a backdrop of controversy. With the 2024 Oscars on the horizon, the spotlight shines not only on those who will take home the statuettes but also on those who, despite their impressive creative achievements, find themselves without a nomination.
