Barbie Ferreira is Not A Background Actress

Summary of Barbie Ferreira is Not A Background Actress

by Dear Media, Amanda Hirsch

1h 7m•April 14, 2026
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Overview of Not Skinny But Not Fat — Episode: "Barbie Ferreira is Not A Background Actress"

Amanda Hirsch interviews actress and producer Barbie Ferreira in a wide-ranging conversation about Barbie’s rise from plus-size modeling to breakout acting on Euphoria, why she left the show, and her current move into producing indie films. The episode covers Barbie’s background (Brazilian heritage, growing up in NYC/New Jersey), her modeling and social-media beginnings, industry pressure around bodies, fashion moments (Oscars, Paris), and two very different movies she has out in April: the horror-leaning Faces of Death and the indie rom-com Mile End Kicks.

Guest background & career highlights

  • Name: Barbie Ferreira (born Barbara; Brazilian heritage; first language Portuguese).
  • Early life: Born in Harlem; grew up in Astoria (Queens) then moved to Maywood, New Jersey; attended Hackensack High School.
  • Modeling: Began modeling as a teen (American Apparel introduced her to the space); viral Aerie work early in career; built a sizable online following (~400k at one point).
  • Transition to acting: Took auditions seriously, did 11 in-person auditions for Euphoria; cast at 21. Felt the character Kat was personal but ultimately chose to leave after season 2 when the role stopped evolving.
  • Fashion moments: Invited by the Academy to Young Hollywood Oscars (wore Gap by Zac Posen); walked Jean-Paul Gaultier at Paris Fashion Week; background in fashion and runway experience with Givenchy/Balenciaga.

Main topics discussed

  • Why she left Euphoria

    • Described the departure as a long, reasoned process, not a dramatic one.
    • Felt Kat wasn’t being fully developed; preferred pursuing roles and projects that let her act and create rather than be a “background” character.
    • Emphasis on wanting to produce and work on indie films where she can flex creatively.

  • Body politics, scrutiny, and internet culture

    • Longtime public focus on her body; frustration with the constant public conversation about women’s weight/looks.
    • Discussed “body neutrality” vs. body positivity and how the culture obsesses over “glow ups,” surgery speculation, and looks-maxing for all genders.
    • Critique of the internet’s appetite for inflammatory, rage-bait narratives about bodies.

  • Producing and indie filmmaking

    • Describes producing as hands-on: helping attach talent, find funding, shape casting and location choices.
    • Prefers smaller-budget films that allow creative risks and deeper acting work.

  • Acting process & career outlook

    • Barbie watches her own work multiple times to “get over” insecurities before viewing it objectively.
    • Comfortable making decisive career moves and prioritizing creative satisfaction over staying on a high-profile show.

Projects & release info

  • Faces of Death

    • Role: Margo, a content moderator searching for a person reproducing infamous “faces of death” videos.
    • Genre: Horror/thriller that interrogates social media, violence, and platform responsibility.
    • Thematic notes: The film explores how real footage of violence circulates alongside everyday content—very topical.
    • Release: April 10 (the episode mentions it’s in theaters).

  • Mile End Kicks

    • Role: Grace, a music journalist who moves to Montreal to write about Alanis Morissette, gets tangled in romantic complications with band members.
    • Tone: Indie rom-com with 2000s/indie music-film vibes.
    • Production: Barbie produced and starred; shot in Montreal for ~2.5 months; premiered at TIFF.
    • Release: April 17 (in theaters).

Notable quotes & moments

  • “I don’t need to be on the biggest TV show on earth if I’m not acting.” — on leaving Euphoria to pursue meaningful roles.
  • “I felt like, was this written for me?” — reading the Euphoria script.
  • On internet culture and looks: “People are obsessed with looks. It’s not good for the psyche for anyone.”
  • Behind-the-scenes tidbits: 11 in-person auditions for Euphoria; Academy’s Young Hollywood invite; fans creating color-palette and fashion edits.

Key takeaways

  • Barbie has intentionally shifted from being known primarily for her body/modeling to shaping a career focused on acting and producing.
  • Her departure from Euphoria was a strategic, values-driven choice: creative agency mattered more than staying on a massive show with limited character development.
  • The episode foregrounds the ongoing, harmful cultural obsession with celebrities’ bodies and calls for more nuanced conversations about appearance and health.
  • Barbie is actively building a dual profile: genre work (horror) and indie, character-driven films — and is learning the producing side to make those projects happen.

For listeners / action items

  • Watch Barbie Ferreira in Faces of Death (April 10) and Mile End Kicks (April 17).
  • Follow her work if you’re interested in actors who transition into producing indie projects and care about creative control.
  • Recommended for listeners who want: inside stories about modern celebrity culture, the realities of auditioning to breakout roles, and perspectives on body politics in media.

Episode tone & audience fit

  • Tone: Candid, conversational, often humorous; Amanda and Barbie trade personal stories and industry observations.
  • Best for: Fans of Euphoria, indie cinema followers, those interested in fashion-to-film career paths, and listeners curious about how actors navigate public scrutiny and creative choices.