Margot Robbie's acting method in Barbie This is what happens when an actor decides to lose himself completely in his role

However, in the contemporary mainstream, which often refers primarily to Hollywood, the misused term 'method acting' refers to all the unorthodox and often even disturbing, harmful or offensive practises professionals use to get into and stay in character. Some examples? Anne Hathaway recounted that in 2021, while filming the miniseries WeCrashed, she was not allowed to call her co-star Jared Leto by his first name because he was too stuck in character. Jared Leto also took on the role of the Joker during the filming of Suicide Squad in 2016, sending the rest of the cast used condoms, sex toys and dead rats. Jeremy Strong completely isolated himself from his colleagues for his complex and nuanced role in Succession, a TV series that has just ended, going to set tipsy and throwing himself off stage without restraint, risking breaking something in the process. The examples are numerous, but it is the worst that surface.

To get inside the head of the world's favourite doll, however, Robbie did not stop there. Normally, she revealed, she uses the technique of "animal work" to understand her roles, meaning she identifies each of her characters with one or more animals and their characteristics. With Barbie, however, she found it particularly complex. "I tried with a flamingo, but it did not help. I asked Greta for help and told her that I needed to face this journey into the role. And she recommended a podcast to me, an episode of This American Life about a woman who does not practise introspection. Who does not have a voice in her head to listen to". And so the most anticipated film of the year found its perfect Barbie, who in the process also proved (and what fits the character better than that?) that kindness goes much further than extreme gestures.