Aside from its bright atmosphere that tugs at our nostalgic strings, the much-awaited Barbie movie boasts a stellar, diverse cast. Not all Barbies are blonde and blue-eyed, and they can even have Filipino blood, too–just ask one of its cast members Ana Cruz Kayne!
The Filipina-American actress recently turned heads in the Hollywood Barbie premiere, after she donned a beaded terno on the pink carpet. For those curious about the star behind the movie’s resident Filipina Barbie, here are the essentials you need to know about Ana.
1. Ana Cruz Kayne is a Taurus.
Ana was born on April 28 in New Haven, Connecticut, United States, making her a Taurus.
2. Ana Cruz Kayne has Filipino and Jewish roots.
The actress is vocal about her Filipino and Jewish descent, with her mom Maria being a true-blue Filipina. Ana regularly posts about her family back home on the Philippine shores, as she shared tidbits and snapshots of her lolas, lolas, and Filipino relatives. In 2020, she flew to the country to attend a funeral in Hagonoy, Bulacan, where she was dressed in a traditional Balintawak.
3. Ana Cruz Kayne plays Supreme Court Justice Barbie in the “Barbie” movie.
After a string of legal-savvy roles in The Bold Type and Blue Bloods, Ana clinched an even higher spot in the lawyer totem pole as Barbieland’s resident Supreme Court Justice Barbie. She wasn’t cast specifically to play the part, but she thought her previous credentials helped her get the esteemed role.
"I always play a lawyer. I am a woman who, I guess, projects justice. It might be my deep voice, I have no idea," Ana said, during an interview with The Messenger.
However, she also mused on the weight of the role as a woman of color. "It was just so powerful to get to sit there as a woman of color, as the head of the Supreme Court," she continued. "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."
4. Ana Cruz Kayne wore a Balintawak top at the “Barbie” premiere.
During the much-awaited Barbie premiere in Hollywood last July 9, Ana went under the spotlight with a pink carpet ensemble that paid homage to her multicultural heritage. For her top, she and her stylist Nikko Panti recruited the help of Filipino designer Dennis Lustico for a blush-hued beaded Balintawak top. (Fun fact: It was also worn by Sassa Gurl in Preview’s June 2023 cover!)
The Filipina-Americana actress paired it with a fringe skirt from Hervé Léger, echoing her American roots.
5. Ana Cruz Kayne wears a traditional Filipino dress in the “Barbie” movie.
However, the Filipino references don’t stop at the pink carpet! Ana’s character also dons a Balintawak-inspired outfit during a pivotal moment in the movie itself, which she came up with alongside costume designer Jacqueline Durran.
"I don't know how they came up with it so fast, but it felt so special and so unique to my Barbie," Ana says, regarding the outfit that fused the terno’s quintessential butterfly sleeves. "And so that was my favorite outfit, I would say my favorite part of Barbie."
6. Ana Cruz Kayne previously starred in another Greta Gerwig film.
This isn’t the first time Ana has stepped foot in the land of Greta Gerwig’s filmography. She previously starred in the 2019 film Little Women, where she played Olivia, starring alongside the likes of Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Timothée Chalamet, Laura Dern, and more.
7. Ana Cruz Kayne didn’t relate to Barbie as a child.
While she now stars as the head of the Supreme Court in Barbieland, Ana recalled that she didn’t have a particular affinity for the line of dolls as a child. Expressing that she was also a “tomboy” as a kid, Ana confessed that she didn’t quite relate with Barbie in her younger years, especially being mixed-race.
"I didn't grow up playing with Barbie because she was a completely perfect blonde girl that I didn't relate to,” she said.
Ana eventually got her first Barbie when she auditioned for the movie, which was a veterinarian doll who wasn’t “super white” and “owned a cat,” just like her.
8. Ana Cruz Kayne’s brother is an award-winning comedian.
Talent runs in the family, as Ana’s brother Michael Cruz Kayne is also in the entertainment industry. The writer-comedian is currently a writer for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and was previously a creative consultant for Billy on the Street. He also bagged several acclaim of his own, having won a Peabody Award and a Writers Guild Award. Recently, he penned the comedy show Sorry For Your Loss, which was lauded by Lea Salonga.
9. Ana Cruz Kayne is a gymnastics enthusiast.
The actress has an affinity for athletics, especially for gymnastics. On her online space, Ana shared her love for the Romanian gymnast Nadia Comăneci, a five-time Olympian gold medalist who sent her a special video greeting for her birthday.
10. You can follow Ana Cruz Kayne on Instagram.
Keep up to date on all things Ana through her Instagram page!
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