Nicola Coughlan Shares Her Barbie Movie Audition Process

Nicola Coughlan is Barbie, Diplomat Barbie to be specific. But, on July 13, she revealed that her coveted role in Greta Gerwig’s upcoming “Barbie” movie almost didn’t happen due to her busy work schedule. As fate would have it, Coughlan first auditioned for the “Barbie” movie while she was on vacation, and she just happened to have the perfect pink outfit for the occasion.

“I auditioned for Barbie back in January 22 when I was on holiday with friends, I’d packed one random hot pink dress I hadn’t worn at all and when I had to make my audition tape I thought— this is fate, I have a dress in Barbie Pink!” she wrote on Instagram. For the actor, the chance to work with Gerwig was too great to pass up, so she sent in her last-minute audition tape and landed the role. The good news, however, immediately turned into an emotional rollercoaster.

“When I was asked if I wanted to pop into Barbieland even briefly my answer was an immediate, and very emphatic yes.”

“When I found out [Greta] wanted to have me be part of @barbiethemovie, and then that I probably wouldn’t be able to make it work because of my schedule I was firstly elated and quickly heartbroken,” she said. Fortunately, Gerwig gave Coughlan a second chance to star in the film, this time in a smaller but still significant part. Coughlan continued, “So when I was asked if I wanted to pop into Barbieland even briefly my answer was an immediate, and very emphatic yes.”

On July 12, Coughlan joined her costars — including Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Simu Liu, and more — at the European premiere of the “Barbie” movie in London. Coughlan marked the full-circle moment by wearing not pink but a crystal naked dress that would leave Barbie and Ken speechless.

“I don’t have the words to describe this movie, when I wasn’t beaming at the screen with how joyful it made me, or laughing so hard at Ryan Gosling (immediate Oscar TBH) it made me cry unexpected tears,” she said. “Greta and Noah [Baumbach] have written the most beautiful, hilarious script and Margot has made it come to life— not only as the perfect Barbie but as an incredible producer. It’s just the most special thing I’ve seen in a long, long, long time and I can’t wait to watch it again.”