Life in plastic is once again fantastic, according to "Barbie" director Greta Gerwig. She recently agreed with comedian Jo Koy's joke that her box office hit was based on a plastic doll with large breasts. Koy made the joke during his opening monologue at an award ceremony, comparing "Barbie" to the Pulitzer Prize-winning book "Oppenheimer." 

While some criticized the joke as sexist, Gerwig admitted that Koy had a point. She stated in an interview with BBC Radio 4's "Today" program that Barbie was the first mass-produced doll with breasts, so Koy was correct. Gerwig also praised Ruth Handler, the creator of Barbie, for making the doll a blank canvas for girls to project themselves onto.

She explained that Handler realized her daughter wanted to pretend to be a grown woman, not a mother, while playing with dolls. According to Gerwig, Barbie has played various roles since her debut in 1959 and has been both a hero and a villain. The film itself, which earned almost $1.4 billion globally and received nine Golden Globe nominations, won awards for cinematic and box office achievement, as well as best original song. 

Gerwig described winning the award as a "full-circle moment," as it symbolized the connection and shared experience the film aimed to create.

Despite facing criticism for being too "woke," Gerwig embraced the range of reactions the movie inspired, stating her interest in having discussions about it.