Matt Bomer came closer than most to joining Greta Gerwig’s Barbie dreamhouse. The actor recently revealed that he was in talks to play one of the many Kens in the 2023 blockbuster, even submitting a self-tape audition where he played several versions of the character — complete with different outfits and pre-recorded cue lines to play opposite himself. But in the end, he stepped away from the opportunity.
In a new interview with Business Insider, Bomer explained that it wasn’t just scheduling that led to the decision, but a deeper desire to fully commit to Maestro, Bradley Cooper’s Leonard Bernstein biopic.
"Even though my part in Maestro was smaller, Bradley was so collaborative with me from the get-go," Bomer said. "It was such an immersive experience that to have just flown in from London to film my scenes [in Barbie] really quick and fly back to London — I feel like Maestro wouldn’t have been the same experience for me."
Though his role appears mostly in the first half of Maestro, Bomer shared that the process of working on the film left a lasting impression on him.
"It was a way of working that I’m really grateful that I got to be exposed to," he said. "I wouldn’t have, I think, if I were trying to just squeeze it in."
He had first told Vanity Fair about his self-tape for Barbie, saying he played a "bunch of different Kens," dressing uniquely for each and recording the other character’s lines on a device so he could perform solo. That level of prep reflects the same thoughtful approach he brought to Maestro — and perhaps why he chose to give the latter his full attention.
