It's fascinating to see how actors portray fiction or animated characters. It takes a skilled actor to bring a fictitious protagonist to life. Australian Margot Robbie, 31, has just the right looks and acting chops to play the iconic Barbie in a new film. This will be fun and light and a provide a couple of hours of escape in these challenging days. 

Producers are categorizing the upcoming film, with a release date of 2023, as a 'live-action film.' I associate live-action with characters more like Aqua Man or Batman. But it's nice to see a female lead in the genre for a change.

The Barbie doll debuted in 1959. She was molded as the 'perfect' woman, who I believe Hugh Hefner fashioned his bevy of Playboy's blonde beauties after. Barbie became a symbol for a 'desirable' woman, an hourglass-bodied busty platinum blonde with large blue eyes and a toothy smile. This set a standard that was unrealistic and difficult for some girls to attain--and sharply criticized by feminists.

The original Barbie was fashioned after the iconic Marilyn Monroe but was also supposed to pay homage to classic beauties like Elizabeth Taylor and Rita Hayworth. The doll and her fictitious antics were modeled after traditional behaviors of women in the '50s. Times have changed, and female standards for beauty are not as rigid.  This is reflected in more recent Barbies, who include mechanics, scientists/doctors, entrepreneurs, soldiers, and lawyers from different backgrounds.

Beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, and tones. The original Barbie's type of beauty may be appealing, but it is not the only standard for attractiveness. This notion has been reflected in changes in the modeling industry, where many types of models with varied hair and skin tones walk the runway, including large-sized models who are also accepted as 'beautiful.'

Robbie is a savvy film producer and has a great take on what the public wants. Did you know that Barbie is a YouTuber personality now? She has a channel with almost 11 million subscribers. Important discussions go outside the box of hair and nails. In one vlog, the animated Barbie talks to her friend Nikki about how to navigate pervasive racism, that is sadly increasing in today's world. 

The movie will also star Ryan Gosling as Ken, Barbie's handsome boy toy, and A-list actors Will Ferrell, Kate McKinnon, and America Ferrera. It will be directed by Greta Gerwig, who had a best director Oscar nod for "Lady Bird." Gerwig will co-write the script with her partner, Noah Baumbach.

A release has been scheduled for July 23, 2023. The film will be a must-see for me, especially during these stressful times. Entertainment offers pure escapism--which is more valuable than ever to me in a world that has lost control. Barbie might seem superficial, but at least she is evolving. She's grown enough to reinvent herself--and that's a great example to follow.