Meryl Streep names the summer blockbuster that ‘saved all of our jobs’
Oscar-winning actor praised the film for ‘delivering joy to countless generations and genders’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Meryl Streep has praised Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster Barbie as the film that “saved all of our jobs” last summer.
The three-time Oscar-winning actor, 74, paid the compliment after sibling music duo Billie Eilish and Finneas finished their performance of their song “What Was I Made For?” at the 2024 Palm Springs International Film Awards on Thursday (4 January).
The two singer-songwriters were honoured with the festival’s Chairman’s Award for their work on the Barbie soundtrack.
“I just want to say to Billie and Finneas that you have delivered the Barbie love bomb,” Streep said as she took the stage, according to Variety.
“You’ve saved the movies last summer and all of our jobs,” the Devil Wears Prada actor said of 2023’s highest-grossing movie.
“You’ve delivered joy to countless generations and genders of people, and you should surf that wave, kids, until you’re old and deserve to be jaded like me.”
Barbie, starring Margot Robbie as the eponymous Mattel doll, raked in a jaw-dropping $1.4bn at the global box office – a figure that made Gerwig the first female director to sail past $1bn.
In one of the film’s most talked-about moments, Ferrera, who plays Mattel employee Gloria, delivers an emotional monologue to Robbie’s “Stereotypical Barbie” and her fellow Barbies about the contradictory demands made of women under the patriarchy, and how it is “literally impossible to be a woman”.
While the scene has largely been celebrated by viewers, including young girls who’ve performed it at auditions, others have suggested that it presented a basic and un-nuanced version of feminism.
Ferrera addressed the criticism in a recent interview with The New York Times, saying: “We can know things and still need to hear them out loud.
“To say that something that is maybe foundational, or, in some people’s view, basic feminism isn’t needed is an oversimplification,” the Ugly Betty actor said. “Assuming that everybody is on the same level of knowing and understanding the experience of womanhood is an oversimplification.”
The critically acclaimed movie, which The Independent’s Clarisse Loughrey lauded as a “nearly miraculous achievement” in her five-star review, currently leads the 2024 Golden Globes nominations.
It dominates the competition with nine nods at the awards show broadcasting live on Sunday (7 January), followed closely by Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer with eight noms.
Follow The Independent’s live blog to stay informed with real-time updates on the Golden Globes.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments