Summary

• The Sex Education actors were able to adapt to the comedic tone of the Barbie movie despite their previous work on a more dramatic show.
• Ncuti Gatwa's character in Barbie, Artist Ken, is a ing role compared to his larger role as Eric in Sex Education.
• Emma Mackey's characters in both Barbie and Sex Education are independent women who prioritize their careers over validation from men, but Mackey's character in Sex Education has more pessimistic traits compared to the generally upbeat Physicist Barbie.

In addition to stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, there are of the Barbie. In fact, the film features an ensemble ing cast full of recognizable faces. Based on the iconic doll, the Barbie movie brought a lot of great performers together and some of them had collaborated in the past, with even Robbie and Gosling both appearing in The Big Short prior to portraying Barbie and Ken. A few of the movie's other actors, meanwhile, had previously been part of the main cast of Sex Education, a British teen comedy/drama series on Netflix about young adults and their experience with sexual intimacy.

Considering the two projects are so different in tone, the Sex Education actors had their work cut out for them when they ed the cast of the Barbie movie. While Sex Education leans more on the dramatic side of the dramedy spectrum, Barbie is a self-aware comedy full of vibrant colors and meme-worthy music numbers. The three Sex Education actors come from a strong theater background, so they were likely used to the more serious work needed for the Netflix show, yet they clearly also have the range that allowed them to perfectly fit the fun world of Barbie​​​​​​.

3 Ncuti Gatwa

Artist Ken In Barbie; Eric Effiong In Sex Education

In Barbie, British actor Ncuti Gatwa plays Artist Ken, a variation of Beach Ken who is far more creative than his more popular counterpart. In addition to being generally happy and fun-loving, Artist Ken is also one of the more ive of Ken's posse, as he is regularly shown expressing sympathy to his fellow Kens. In Sex Education, Gatwa plays Eric Effiong, an openly gay man who constantly asserts himself against bullies.

The characters are similar in how they express empathy and to their best friends...

The key difference between the two characters is their screen time. Whereas Artist Ken is a ing character in Barbie, Eric has a much larger role as a part of the main cast of Sex Education, thus he gets to experience far more character development. The characters are similar in how they express empathy and to their best friends, and they are both very expressive in the ways that they dress. In Sex Education, Eric is often seen wearing bright vibrant colors that set him apart. In Barbie, Artist Ken's dyed blonde hair makes it nearly impossible to miss him even if he's in the background.

2 Emma Mackey

Physicist Barbie In Barbie; Maeve Wiley In Sex Education

In the Barbie movie, British actress Emma Mackey plays Physicist Barbie, a variation of Stereotypical Barbie who is just as sophisticated as she is beautiful. Whereas the majority of other Barbies are more concerned with their physical appearance and what the Kens think of them, Physicist Barbie is more self-sufficient and interested in her career, having won a Nobel Peace Prize for her work. Mackey's character in Sex Education is the quotable and brilliant Maeve Wiley, who runs a sex clinic at her school.

Physicist Barbie and Maeve still share more likenesses than differences.

Mackey's characters in Barbie and Sex Education are similar in that they are both independent women who don't necessarily gain their validation from men. While Barbie's characterizations are far more over-the-top than Sex Education's, Physicist Barbie and Maeve still share more likenesses than differences. However, despite having similar mindsets, the few differences between the two characters are quite stark. Whereas Physicist Barbie is a generally upbeat person, Maeve veers more toward pessimistic and unsocial traits.

1 Connor Swindells

Aaron Dinkins In Barbie; Adam Groff In Sex Education

Connor Swindells plays the Barbie movie character Aaron Dinkins, a meek Mattel intern in the real world who is constantly pushed around by his superiors to comedic effect. While the CEO of Mattel and his yes-men actively go out of their way to thwart Barbie's plans, Aaron sympathizes with her and tries to help her complete her goals. In Sex Education, Swindells plays Adam Groff, a bully whose constant internal struggles with his sexuality cause him to lash out in bouts of anger and rage.

Swindell's characters couldn't be further apart at first glance considering one is a bully and the other is someone who is bullied.

Swindell's characters couldn't be further apart at first glance considering one is a bully and the other is someone who is bullied. However, over the course of Sex Education's timeline, Adam undergoes a series of unique experiences that help him come to with his bisexuality. This epiphany makes him a far more likable Sex Education character than when he's introduced, as he expresses genuine empathy and respect to those around him, including the people he used to bully, and this is the key similarity between his characters in Sex Education and Barbie.