Ryan Gosling has expressed his disappointment that Barbie director Greta Gerwig and star Margot Robbie were overlooked during the Oscars nominations in their respective categories.
Gosling, who played the role of Ken in last summer’s box office blockbuster said he was “honoured” to be nominated for best supporting actor “for portraying a plastic doll”.
Ryan Gosling as Ken in Barbie. Pic: Warner Bros
He also said he was “so happy” for co-star America Ferrera who received a nod for best supporting actress for her performance as Gloria.
But Gerwig and Robbie, who together brought the doll to life, missed out on nominations.
“I am extremely honoured to be nominated by my colleagues alongside such remarkable artists in a year of so many great films,” Gosling said in a statement shared with US media.
“And I never thought I’d be saying this, but I’m also incredibly honoured and proud that it’s for portraying a plastic doll named Ken.
“But there is no Ken without Barbie, and there is no Barbie movie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, the two people most responsible for this history-making, globally-celebrated film.
“No recognition would be possible for anyone on the film without their talent, grit and genius.
“To say that I’m disappointed that they are not nominated in their respective categories would be an understatement.”
Gosling, Robbie, and Gerwig on the set of Barbie. Pic: Jaap Buitendijk/Warner Bros via AP
He added: “Against all odds with nothing but a couple of soulless, scantily clad, and thankfully crotchless dolls, they made us laugh, they broke our hearts, they pushed the culture and they made history.
“Their work should be recognised along with the other very deserving nominees.
“Having said that, I am so happy for America Ferrera and the other incredible artists who contributed their talents to making this such a groundbreaking film.”
Margot Robbie as Barbie. Pic: Warner Bros
Ferrera also said she was “incredibly disappointed” not to see Gerwig and Robbie nominated.
“Greta has done just about everything that a director could do to deserve it,” she told Variety.
“Creating this world, and taking something that didn’t have inherent value to most people and making it a global phenomenon.”
As for Robbie, she said: “Perhaps people got fooled into thinking that the work seems easy, but Margot is a magician as an actress.”
She added: “She brings so much heart and humour and depth and joy and fun to the character. In my book, she’s a master.”
Gosling and Robbie at the European premiere of Barbie in London’s Leicester Square
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British record producer Mark Ronson also championed the pair for putting Barbie together, after he and Andrew Wyatt received an Oscar nod for best original song for power ballad I’m Just Ken.
“We salute Ryan (Gosling) for bringing everything to it. AND Margot Robbie because there is no ‘just Ken, it’s Barbie AND Ken, she put this whole damn thing together and then gave a tour de force ‘make you laugh one second and cry the next’ performance that will go in the books,” he wrote in an Instagram post.
“We love you… And once again, all praise to the brilliant Greta Gerwig who delivered a unprecedented kaleidoscopic vision of a warmer world that made us hurt from laughing while touching us at such a soulful level – and helped bring people back to the movies in droves while doing so.
“AND inspired all of us to do our best work ever. And to everyone who sang along in the theatre, in the car, at home or into their phone – you all got us here so thank you.”
American singer Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas O’Connell were nominated in the same category for Barbie soundtrack song What Was I Made For?
The Oscars will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on 10 March, airing overnight into 11 March in the UK.