The new Barbie movie through the eyes of Sarah Davis, local Barbie historian

Sarah Davis with her collection. // Courtesy of the collector

Sarah Davis, a self-proclaimed Astronaut Barbie and mother of two, is Lawrence’s own unofficial representative for all things associated with the world’s favorite doll—as an avid collector and self-proclaimed advocate for the plastic hero.

With the release of the new Greta Gerwig film that has swept the box office, we took Davis along to an early film screening to get her perspective on what the movie got right about Mattel’s iconic invention—through the eyes of this Barbie historian.

The Pitch: What made you such a fan of Barbie?

Sarah Davis: As a kid, I played with Barbie all the time. I got my first one at age three and I never let her go. That’s where I started. I played with Barbie for years and when I stopped playing with Barbie I became a collector—artwork, glasses, everything that was an export from Barbieland was an import for me.

Why? Why did she have this longitude in your life?

Nostalgia spoke to me. I had great memories of my favorite toy that stuck with me. As I grew up, it evolved into always checking in on her when I was walking the aisles of Target or wherever Barbies could be found. I quickly made note of the fact that she was always updating, evolving.

What was the biggest change you remember—the first time you thought this had gone beyond the realm of the Barbie you knew in childhood?

I mean, it was somewhat early on but the doll that pooped, Tanner the Pooping Dog. There was also a cat that went in a litter box. I would’ve loved those as a kid.

When did you stop playing with Barbies and start keeping things new in the box as a collector?

I learned it earlier than you would think. I mean, Barbie is timeliness, so why not keep her that way.

What is Barbie’s purpose?

That timelessness feeds into that. No matter when or where she is, Barbie can be anything, and therefore you can be anything via Barbie. As a kid, it of course begins with wanting to be a rockstar or a fashion model/designer. Barbie helps fulfill those fantasies by, I think, most importantly providing little details and accessories that help paint that picture more clearly. What are the accessories that come with being in a particular career? That kind of information is foundational in starting to have a dream career.

When Barbie becomes a CEO or an astronaut or a real estate tycoon—you start to understand through these small details what it looks like for an adult woman to have this job. You can see yourself becoming that kind of person, and you probably are not finding it as a child in most mainstream entertainment, surely not in other toys.

You can of course switch what you want, day by day, when you dream about it. I grew up with a supportive family but Barbie was also an inspiration in that way. She got me to try new things I wouldn’t have, even if that doesn’t include airline pilot or being a doctor.

What were your expectations for the Greta Gerwig movie?

I had high expectations of the movie, just based on the first flashes in the trailer of the costumes, and how dedicated they were to the originals. I knew nothing about the storyline they were going to unleash on us, and oh wow was that overwhelming. But it also had a Barbie-style comedy along with everything else it brought to the table.

Do you need to own Barbie to process what “Barbie” means as a concept?

Anyone could understand these ideas, because the concept of Barbie and what she means about daydreaming is sort of baked into our society now. I wish childhood me could have experienced this. It is a little heavy-handed at points, but to anyone that takes offense at that, I think that says more about them than it does about a movie.

Do your daughters both play with Barbies?

They both have ’em. One played with them more than the other, but they each have the own individual history. They’ve seen my collection and they knew how important Barbie was to me when I was growing up, and why she’s still in my life. They knew why I cried through parts of the movie, because of what it meant for me.

Were you expecting the film to have so much to say about modern masculinity?

I hadn’t expected a ‘you go girl’ kind of a movie that would be this important, too. It’s good to see the world leaning in instead of shying away from difficult conversations.

Were you on the fence about the movie? How early did it hook you?

It’s incredibly touching, and it speaks to you in a way you can’t prepare for. Someone saw how I exist and feel about that existence, and it’s in touch with where our culture is in the current climate. It made me feel heard for what I was thinking, for what I’d always known myself to be. So yeah, it hooked me early.

Sarah Davis with her collection. // Courtesy the collector

What was your favorite moment?

America Ferrera gives a speech about womanhood and motherhood that had us in tears and led to our theater bursting out in applause and shouting. It’s been a while since I’ve seen something like that, a film bringing an audience to standing or shouting in unison.

Would this have caused heads to explode if this had come out at any other point in time?

Yes, but it came out now. Right now is the right time for this movie. It’s been a while since I felt that way about a movie. This is something it feels like we all needed—an outlet, entertainment and a solution for so many problems in our society as a whole.

Do you think Barbie would approve of this film?

She’d love it.