Helen Mirren, Shania Twain and Viola Davis Among Those Honoured with Barbies For International Women’s Day

Dame Helen Mirren has been honoured with her own Barbie doll.

The Oscar-winning actress, 78, is among eight famous women who have had dolls made in their likeness to mark the beloved toy’s 65th anniversary year and to recognize their achievements as “Female Storytellers.”

The dolls were also released in celebration of International Women’s Day on Friday (March 8), which lands a day before Barbie’s milestone anniversary.

Barbie has added new role models to its collection, based on real-life singers and actresses from around the world. From left to right: Helen Mirren (United States), Maira Gomez (Brazil), Viola Davis (United States), Nicole Fujita (Japan), Shania Twain (Canada), Enissa Amani (Germany), Kylie Minogue (Australia) and Lila Avilés (Mexico). Photo: Courtesy of Mattel

Mirren said of the honour: “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.”

Mirren’s doll is dressed in a cornflower blue outfit – with matching hair – which is a recreation of a gown she wore on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival in France last year. The Barbie is clutching an Oscar statuette representing her Best Actress win for The Queen.

Helen Mirren wearing the cornflower blue gown her Barbie is modelled after at the 76th annual Cannes Film Festival, May 16, 2023. Photo: Marc Piasecki/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Mirren added that, “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. And the cherry on top of the cake is my doll having a miniature Oscar. It is an absolutely perfect reproduction.”

As well as Mirren, other dolls have been made for singers Shania Twain, 58, and Kylie Minogue, 55, actress Viola Davis, 58 (who wasn’t photographed with her Barbie) and model Nicole Fujita, as well as comedian/ activist Enissa Amani, filmmaker Lila Aviles and content creator Maira Gomez.

Shania Twain and her Barbie. Photo: Courtesy of Mattel

Kylie Minogue poses with her Barbie. Photo: Courtesy of Mattel

Krista Berger, senior vice president and global head of Barbie and Dolls, said, “Barbie’s story has never been just about her. It’s about the countless young girls she’s inspired, and the millions of stories she helped them imagine along the way. For the past 65 years, Barbie has used her global platform to empower the next generation to dream big, explore their limitless potential, and direct their own narrative to shape their future. As we celebrate this milestone anniversary, we recognize over six decades of stories Barbie has helped write and the doll that continues to give everyone the opportunity to dream – and dream big.”

Previous Barbies have been made for famous women including tennis player Naomi Osaka, Olympic skateboarder Sky Brown, COVID vaccine developer Professor Sarah Gilbert and boxer Nicola Adams.

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