America Ferrera, the star of the hit movie “Barbie,” had an unexpected and emotional reaction when she found out about her first-ever Oscar nomination. As the nominations were announced, Ferrera was in bed, watching on her phone while her husband drove their kids to school. She recalls, “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.”
The news of her nomination for playing Gloria, the human lens through which “Barbie” is viewed, left Ferrera in shock. She admits that she hasn’t fully processed her emotions yet because she is still in disbelief. “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,'” Ferrera explains.
Upon hearing the news, Ferrera’s publicist reached out to her, followed by a call from her husband. She laughs as she recalls the confusion of her kids in the background, wondering why everyone was screaming. Shortly after, her co-stars from “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” – Blake Lively, Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel – FaceTimed her as a group to celebrate. Ferrera describes the experience as hilarious, funny, and emotional. She feels grateful to be celebrated and supported by her sisters in the industry, whom she has grown up with and who have always cheered her on.
Despite the excitement surrounding Ferrera’s nomination, there were two notable omissions from the list of nominations for “Barbie.” Greta Gerwig, the film’s co-writer and co-director, was not nominated for Best Director, despite being considered a leading contender after receiving recognition from other awards shows. Ferrera expresses disappointment, saying, “Greta has done just about everything that a director could do to deserve it.” Margot Robbie, who produced “Barbie” and delivered a complex performance, was also snubbed for an acting nomination. Ferrera praises Robbie’s talent and describes her as a magician on screen.
However, “Barbie” did make history as one of three films directed by women to earn a Best Picture nomination. Ferrera sees this as a step in the right direction for women filmmakers, but she hopes to see even more female-directed movies recognized in the future. She is encouraged by the representation achieved in the acting races, with herself as a Latina, two Black women, and Jodie Foster as a gay woman playing a gay character. Ferrera believes that opportunities should be created for artists of all backgrounds to showcase their work and hopes to see more diversity in the film industry.
Overall, Ferrera is grateful for the overwhelming love and support she has received following her Oscar nomination. She feels deeply touched by the congratulations she has received and is excited to celebrate the end of the “Barbie” journey at the biggest party of the year. Despite the disappointments, Ferrera remains positive and looks forward to seeing more diverse stories and talents recognized in the future.
