Helen Mirren Says That in a Cut BARBIE Scene, Olivia Colman Tried to Take the Narrator Role and She Fought Her for It

Helen Mirren played a pivotal role in this year’s biggest movie, Barbie. She was the film’s narrator, but not only that, she also played herself, the prestigious and beloved actress Helen Mirren, who fans were thrilled to hear describing the happenings in the story. But her throne was almost usurped by a meddling Olivia Colman in a scene that didn’t make it to the final cut.

Mirren explained in an interview with Variety:

“It was a very funny scene with Olivia Colman sort of playing drunk and us clashing about who is the real grande dame of British actresses. She comes in and tries to take over the role of the Narrator and I had to fight her off.”

Mirren points out that the scene is clearly parody, praising British actors as wonderfully supportive. But it’s the kind of joke that only works for that reason — and because Mirren occupies such high esteem that no one can argue when she’s presented as the one to usurp. It’s why, when director Greta Gerwig sent her the script for the movie, the role was not written as “Narrator,” but rather as “Helen Mirren” — there was no one else she had in mind to play the all-knowing, trusted voice of God that rules this cinematic world.

This sounds like it would have been a funny scene, but I’m happy with the final cut of the film. Another deleted scene we previously reported on would have seen Helen Mirren helping Midge (Emerald Fennell) as she goes into labor. Would you have liked to have seen either of these scenes play out?