Helen Mirren has opened up about the recent Oscars snubs for Barbie director Greta Gerwig and star Margot Robbie.
The actress and filmmaker were failed to be nominated for an Academy Award for the box-office hit Barbie, when the nominations were released at the end of January.
This left fans fuming, with many believing the actress and Greta should have received a nod for their efforts.
The legendary actress Helen, played the role of the narrator in the hit film.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight at the 37th Annual American Cinematheque Awards on Thursday, the 78-year-old said that she doesn’t think that the pair should be upset by their lack of nominations in their respective categories, as their film still made history in so many other ways.
She said: “You can’t get upset about things like that, honestly.”
“What is fantastic is that Barbie was the highest-grossing film that Warner Brothers has ever had in their lives and do you remember who won best film of the year before last?”
Greta Gerwig stopped to greet her #Barbie narrator Helen Mirren on her way into the #DGAs, where she’s nominated for Best Director. pic.twitter.com/5NW4RQuIsk
— Gold Derby (@GoldDerby) February 11, 2024
She continued: “I mean, of course I would have loved to have seen Greta [be nominated], and I think she should win best [director].”
“It’s so difficult, it’s not a running race, you know, you can’t — Christopher Nolan’s work on Oppenheimer was spectacular, extraordinary.”
“But for me, Greta’s work was so out there, it was so brave, it was something we’d never seen before. I just love the fact that the audience responded the way they did.”
Barbie received eight nominations for this year’s Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor for Ryan Gosling, Best Supporting Actress for America Ferrera and Best Adapted Screenplay for Greta and her partner Noah Baumbach.
Barbie went on to become the highest-grossing film ever from a female filmmaker at the domestic box office, as well as the top-earning worldwide film of 2023, with nearly $1.5 billion to date.
Ryan Gosling previously released a statement regarding Margot and Greta’s snubs.
In his statement to the US media, the Barbie star said: “I am extremely honoured to be nominated by my colleagues alongside such remarkable artists in a year of so many great films,”
“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.”
“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,” he added.
“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,” he concluded.
Margot herself also said at a special SAG screening of the box-office hit film: “There’s no way to feel sad when you know you’re this blessed.”
Referring to the nominations, Margot revealed: “Obviously I think Greta should be nominated as a director, because what she did is a once-in-a-career, once-in-a-lifetime thing, what she pulled off, it really is.”
“But it’s been an incredible year for all the films.”
Speaking of the film’s cultural impact, she said: “I just suspect it’s bigger than us.”
“It’s bigger than this movie, it’s bigger than our industry… Everyone getting the nods that they’ve had is just incredible, and the Best Picture nod.”
