Barbie has honoured Dame Helen Mirren and Kylie Minogue with one-of-a-kind dolls made in their likeness to celebrate International Women’s Day.
Toymaker Mattel announced on Wednesday that the Academy Award winning actress, 78, and pop icon, 55, are ‘Barbie Role Models’ for IWD on March 8.
Mattel said the honour, which comes ahead of the doll’s 65th anniversary on March 9, is in recognition of Helen’s acting career ‘spanning decades’.
The toy company added that Helen, who narrated the smash hit Barbie movie, was chosen due to her ‘versatility as a storyteller breathing life into powerful and wide-ranging female stories for generations’.
Pop icon Kylie, 55, was also announced as a role model doll – which shows her in her Padam Padam music video.
Barbie has honoured Dame Helen Mirren and Kylie Minogue with one-of-a-kind dolls made in their likeness to celebrate International Women’s Day
Pop icon Kylie, 55, was announced as a role model doll – which shows her in her Padam Padam music video
Kylie’s doll’s outfit is bright red and mimics the outfit worn by the Australian singer in latest music video.
‘I am absolutely blown away by my Barbie,’ said Helen, who played Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen. ‘To be chosen by Barbie as a Role Model is a huge compliment, and something I would never have imagined in my wildest dreams happening to me at this stage in my life.
‘It’s a very special thing, and something I can add to my list of my favourite achievements; becoming a Dame of the British Empire, having an Oscar, having a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame – and having my own Barbie!’
The doll recreates the iconic blue fashion look Helen wore on the 2023 Cannes red carpet, where she debuted blue hair while wearing a cornflower blue gown by Del Core, and jewellery by Bulgari.
The likeness also carries a blue fan – one of Helen’s trademark red carpet accessories – and a miniature Oscar statue, in recognition of Helen’s 2007 Best Actress Oscar gong for The Queen.
Dame Mirren said: ‘The intricacy and detail of the doll is extraordinary; I love that the Barbie doll is wearing one of my favourite ever red carpet looks, and it was the first time I’d ever had blue hair, and it felt so exciting.
‘I like to embrace theatrical fashion and the joy that having fun with fashion can bring, and I think that this joy should be age-less.’
She added: ‘And the cherry on top of the cake is my doll having a miniature Oscar. It is an absolutely perfect reproduction.’
Barbie is recognising women worldwide who are shaping the future through their inspiring stories with a one-of-a-kind role model doll made in their likeness.
The line-up of those recognised includes Maira Gomez (Brazil), Viola Davis (USA), Nicole Fujita (Japan), Shania Twain (Canada) and Lila Avilés (Mexico).
Barbie honoured Dame Helen Mirren with a one-of-a-kind doll made in her likeness on Wednesday ahead of International Women’s Day
The doll recreates the iconic blue fashion look Helen wore on the 2023 Cannes red carpet, where she debuted blue hair while wearing a cornflower blue gown by Del Core, and jewellery by Bulgari
Barbie is recognising women worldwide who are shaping the future through their inspiring stories with a one-of-a-kind role model doll made in their likeness
Kylie’s mini-me doll is dressed in her iconic look from her Padam Padam music video
Dame Mirren said: ‘The intricacy and detail of the doll is extraordinary; I love that the Barbie doll is wearing one of my favourite ever red carpet looks’
‘I like to embrace theatrical fashion and the joy that having fun with fashion can bring, and I think that this joy should be age-less,’ Helen said
The likeness also carries a blue fan – one of Helen’s trademark red carpet accessories – and a miniature Oscar statue
The line-up of those recognised includes Helen Mirren (UK), Maira Gomez (Brazil), Viola Davis (USA), Nicole Fujita (Japan), Shania Twain (Canada), Kylie Minogue (Australia) and Lila Avilés (Mexico)
‘As an actor, after decades of roles; the importance of storytelling to me means telling stories about the whole of humanity, not just stories of youth or one type of story,’ Helen said.
‘Stories of young people are wonderful because they’re just beginning life, they have energy and I love the fact that young people are constantly challenging what has come before them.
‘But you know there are stories to be told about the whole of humanity, and all of our journeys, at all of our different ages in life.’
