Greta Gerwig’s ‘Barbie’ is recognized for its inclusivity and versatility—adapting the iconic figurines of various races, styles, and heavily customizable designs. With 2023 welcoming the Mattel poster child on the big screen, Filipinos witness a familiar getup with a supreme court justice Barbie in traditional Filipiñana.
Fil-Am actress Ana Cruz Kayne dons a Jacqueline Durran-designed Terno in the film, tributing her Filipino heritage. Recognized for her previous roles as a “protector of justice” in Netflix’s “Partner Track” and “Painkiller” (premiering in August 2023), Kayne’s Barbie reflects her arbitrator-like ability.
“I always play a lawyer. I am a woman who, I guess, projects justice. It might be my deep voice, I have no idea,” Kayne tells The Messenger. “It was just so powerful to get to sit there as a woman of color, as the head of the Supreme Court. It was everything you’d hope for. And because it’s Barbie, it’s power with a wink. So it felt very fitting. And so, I was honored…Your Honor.”
The 33-year-old Columbia University graduate is no stranger to her Filipino heritage, with photos of her mother’s side populating her Instagram and choosing to sport modern variations of the traditional dress on previous occasions.
More recently, Kayne emerged on the pink carpet of both the Los Angeles and London premieres in a Dennis Lustico-designed Terno, captured in “coconut (Los Angeles) and a nude Terno top with leaf applique (London).”
