Issa Rae Describes Just How Secretive the Barbie Filming Was

Given how secretive the plot of the movie has been, I’m picturing men with white gloves delivering the script to you and not leaving until you’ve finished reading it. Or that it was watermarked and dissolved after…

This is how secretive it was: I got a link, and then I had to go through this process to download the app to read the script on my iPad. Then that was watermarked. Of course, it's attributed to your log-in. Because I don't use my iPad that much, I somehow accidentally screenshotted a page and everything shut down and it alerted—

Sure, “Accidentally.” [Laughs.]

It really was an accident! Because it was such a nothing page. It was probably page two, and it just shut down. I was like, “Oh no.” I got an email telling me I was locked out and had to ask for a copy again. They were like, “Hey, just make sure you don't screenshot anything.” I've learned to never do that again.

How did you prepare to play President Barbie? Did you study the mannerisms of world leaders?

I don't even know if I can say this. It's not anything obviously political, but Greta referenced how devastating it was for her to see such a sprightly vice president next to an old president and was like, “Why haven't we had a woman president yet?” So, in a way, I just wanted to convey that sparkliness, that energetic nature. There aren't many presidents who are very young in our history outside of Obama, but in other countries there are. For me, it was about tapping into what a youthful, fun president would be and then what the childhood version of my Barbie president would be. In that way, it was the most fun, limber, fashionable president I could think of.

Right before [the role came to me], I was post-Insecure, post–Rap Sh!t, and post-the-final-season-of-Insecure-press-tour. I was like, “Well, I'm going to let myself go. I'm eating everything.” And then I got the call to do Barbie and was like, “Oh, no, I am not Barbie-shape ready.” But then I realized Greta's Barbie world consists of all body types. So, while I was still on my fitness journey, I felt less insecure about my Barbie body or lack thereof.

I’m glad you brought that up. We all want to look our best, but we also shouldn’t have to worry that we let ourselves “go,” whatever that looks like. Did you have those conversations with Greta about body image and representation?

Absolutely, and that was something that I was concerned about too—who are the other Barbies, and what do they look like? That was so top of mind for her. I saw that immediately on my first day when I was doing the dance sequence rehearsal. There were so many different types of Barbies, and so many different types of Kens. Some able-bodied, ages, genders. Greta did her best to try to include everybody. Barbie Land is perfect. Everyone in Barbie Land is a perfect Barbie. I found that so beautiful. Almost everyone in the world is represented in some way here. That's not an easy piece. I'm sure someone might be like, “Where am I?” But know that there was such an effort made to have Barbie Land be inclusive.