Summary
- Barbie has an all-star cast, which was one of the reasons people went to see the movie.
- Helen Mirren was supposed to have several acting scenes in the movie, but they were deleted during post-production.
- One of the scenes would have involved the actress having a physical altercation with Olivia Colman.
- Both actresses appeared in many projects released in 2023.
Although Barbie hasn't been nominated for Best Picture in the upcoming 96th Oscars race, and its star Margot Robbie and director Greta Gerwig haven't received their respective nominations either, the film remains the most successful and popular release of 2023. In addition, Barbie, which earned a staggering $1.45 billion at the box office, became Warner Bros.' highest-grossing film of all time, surpassing many DC and Harry Potter films.
The success of Greta Gerwig's comedy may be attributed to its star-studded cast, which included Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera, Will Ferrell, Issa Rae, Dua Lipa and Kate McKinnon in addition to star Margot Robbie.
But there is another actress who is the real gem of the production. Dame Helen Mirren, who serves as Barbie's divine narrator, was scheduled to appear in a few scenes. But while one scene featuring Mirren as an obstetrician during Midge's labor was shown after the credits in some countries, another scene was cut from the movie entirely. And it seems that scene would have been intense.
Another Grande Dame Cameo
In fact, many Barbie viewers were upset when it was revealed that Helen Mirren had several scenes in the movie that were eventually cut. After all, she's a legendary actress, loved and adored on both sides of the pond. Fortunately, one scene was described in great detail, not to mention shown in some countries, giving audiences ample satisfaction. But in fact, there was another scene involving Mirren and another iconic British actress who were supposed to have a somewhat brutal standoff over the role of narrator.
'It was a very funny scene with Olivia Colman sort of playing drunk and us clashing about who is the real grande dame of British actresses. She comes in and tries to take over the role of the Narrator and I had to fight her off,' Helen Mirren revealed in a recent interview.
2023 – A Fruitful Year
The past year was full of Helen Mirren's screen appearances. In addition to Barbie, the actress starred in four other major releases, including Golda, in which she portrayed Israel's famous prime minister, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, which she enhanced with her presence as Hespera, Fast X, where she reprised her role as Magdalene Shaw, and White Bird. In addition, Mirren starred in the Yellowstone spin-off 1923 in early 2023.
Meanwhile, Olivia Colman also had several roles throughout the year. Heartstopper, Great Expectations, The Crown, Secret Invasion, The Bear, Wonka and Wicked Little Letters were all blessed by her presence.
Still, it would have been amazing to see the two actresses battle it out for the role of narrator in Barbie.
Source: Variety.