
Barbie: LeBron James to join line of famous Ken dolls
Basketball player LeBron James will be the first male athlete to get his very own Ken doll, as part of the famous Barbie toy brand.The Los Angeles Lakers basketball star has said that he's proud to be a "Kenbassador", saying that he wants to "instil confidence, inspire dreams, and show kids that they, too, can achieve greatness."It's even an inch taller than the standard Ken doll to reflect LeBron James' height - he is over two metres tall, or around 6ft 9in.But which other celebrities have done Ken-ough for this honour?Here's some of the famous faces that Barbie have made into Kens of their own...
Ryan Gosling
Probably one of the most famous Kens ever, thanks to 2023's Barbie movie, Ryan Gosling has had many Kens made in his image.The actor fully embraced his inner Ken-ergy, performing music from the movie at the 2024 Oscars and wearing pink to premieres and awards.As well as Ryan Gosling, there were many other Kens in the film, including Ncuti Gatwa - who plays The Doctor in Doctor Who!
BTS
The South Korean K-pop megastars, who are currently on an extended break, were given their own line of Kens back in 2019.There was a Ken doll for each member of BTS - V, Jin, RM, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin and Jungkook. But BTS haven't been the only musicians to become Barbie branded...
Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley, who many call the King of Rock and Roll, has had lots of Ken dolls made in his image.Elvis was one of the most popular pop and rock singers ever, and made his name in the 1950s and 1960s with hits that inspired other musicians like The Beatles.Mattel, who are the company that make Barbies, has made lots of Elvis Kens, including a set of his wedding day.
Prince William
Another wedding saw Prince William get his very own Ken doll.The set was released in 2012 to celebrate the first wedding anniversary of Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales.It was a limited edition set and it's even displayed at the National Portrait Gallery!
Daniel Radcliffe
The Harry Potter star has inspired many Ken dolls made of the famous boy wizard from the extremely popular film and book series'.Barbie has made many dolls of the Harry Potter stars, including Ron Weasley, played by Rupert Grint, and Cedric Diggory, played by Robert Pattinson. The new Harry Potter TV series, due to be released in 2026 or 2027, has announced its casting of Dumbledore - but we don't know who will be taking on the iconic roles of Harry, Ron and Hermione yet.
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Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Harry Potter star Tom Felton sparks social media MELTDOWN with JK Rowling remarks amid controversies
Harry Potter star Tom Felton sparked social media meltdown when he revealed his feelings on the franchise's controversial author JK Rowling at the Tony Awards 2025 on Sunday. The actor, now 37, who portrayed Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies from 2001 until 2011 and will reprise the role for for the Broadway show Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, refused to criticize the woman who launched his career in a candid Variety interview. When asked if asked if the controversy around the author's views affect his work, the star replied: 'No, I can't say it does. I'm not really that attuned. 'The only thing I always remind myself is that I've been lucky enough to travel the world. Here I am in New York. And I have not seen anything bring the world together more than Potter, and she's responsible for that. So I'm incredibly grateful.' Given that the controversy surrounding Rowling centers on comments she has made about transgender identity—remarks widely condemned as transphobic —Felton's comments quickly ignited a wave of both backlash and support online. Harry Potter star Tom Felton sparked social media meltdown when he revealed his feelings on the franchise's controversial author JK Rowling at the Tony Awards 2025 on Sunday Many fans praised the actor. 'Thank goodness someone in that franchise learned not to bite the hand that feeds him,' one wrote, as another added, 'Who would have thought Draco would be the most level-headed.' Another fan commented, 'The fact that Felton remained so cheerful/loyal about the series where he plays the villainous punching bag and the main three became so jaded and separated from what gave them their current lives shows God still has a sense of humor.' Still another chimed in, 'What a classy response. Tom stays winning.' Yet another applauded him, writing, 'Good for him, I'm glad he didn't fold to the pressure like the others did a few years ago. She's an amazing advocate for women, such a fighter and totally brilliant.' But others took issue with Felton's support of Rowling. One user subtly dragged the actor, writing, 'Who is this guy who thinks Harry Potter is a cultural zenith — and why are we listening to him?' Another slammed him, posting, 'What would a privileged straight white cis-male know about the oppression faced by my trans colleagues?' Given that the controversy surrounding Rowling centers on comments she has made about transgender identity—remarks widely condemned as transphobic —Felton's comments quickly ignited a wave of both backlash and support online And one summed it up bluntly: 'I mean, you should distance yourself from Rowling. Her Harry Potter profits go to anti-transgender organizations.' During the interview with Variety, Felton went on to express his excitement about the upcoming Broadway production. 'I think we all thought the wizarding world would slowly… that the fandom flame might douse over the years, but clearly it's not.' 'I think the most exciting part is to do it live. It took nine months, more or less, to shoot a film. And this is all compact. This is all reimagined into a very lovely new, tight story. And I get to be a dad, which has been fun.' And now, 14 years after the film series came to an end, he has revealed that he will reprise the role for the Broadway show Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Tom will join the cast in November and star in the show for 19 weeks, concluding his run in March 2026. He shared the exciting news on the Today show on Thursday morning, stating, 'Being a part of the Harry Potter films has been one of the greatest honors of my life. 'Joining this production will be a full-circle moment for me, because when I begin performances in Cursed Child this fall, I'll also be the exact age Draco is in the play.' Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, based off a screenplay written by J. K. Rowling, takes place 19 years after the original series ended. It follows Harry, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Draco's kids as they head off to Hogwarts. Harry's son Albus and Draco's son Scorpius become best friends and get up to their own adventure - and almost destroy the entire wizarding world along the way. 'It's surreal to be stepping back into his shoes - and of course his iconic platinum blond hair - and I am thrilled to be able to see his story through and to share it with the greatest fan community in the world,' Tom added. 'I look forward to joining this incredible company and being a part of the Broadway community.'


Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Nick Frost reveals he's been targeted by trans activists as he prepares to work with JK Rowling after accepting role of Hagrid in HBO's Harry Potter series
Nick Frost has revealed he has been targeted by trans activists after accepting the role of Hagrid in the new HBO Harry Potter series. The actor, 53, will star as the legendary Hogwarts groundskeeper in the much-anticipated show, which is set to begin filming this summer. However after sharing the exciting announcement on Instagram, Nick revealed he was forced to turn off the comments on the post due to being swamped with criticism for collaborating with JK Rowling. The famous author, who is also serving as an executive producer of the new series, has become a vocal presence in the transgender debate. Distancing himself from Rowling's trans views, Nick told the Observer: 'She's allowed her opinion and I'm allowed mine. They just don't align in any way, shape of form.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Rowling has been vocal on the subject of trans people for several years; in 2018, a spokesperson explained that her 'like' of a tweet calling trans women 'men in dresses' had been a 'middle-aged moment'. And following the Supreme Court judgement on April 17, Rowling has consistently referred to transgender women as being 'men'. Despite turning off interaction with fans, the publication asked Nick if he believes the debate may overshadow the new series. He added: ' I don't know but maybe it shouldn't blow over? We shouldn't just hope it will go away because if makes it easier maybe we should educate ourselves.' In his announcement post, the actor posed with a classic copy of the first book in JK Rowling's series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. He is set to play the role that was made famous by veteran actor Robbie Coltrane in the original film series, before his death in 2022. Nick captioned his post: 'You're a wizard, Harry!!! 'Thank you for trusting me with such a loyal, gentle and courageous half-giant like Rubeus Hagrid. Robbie, I promise I won't let you down.' Elsewhere, critics of the Harry Potter author criticised her role as an executive producer on the show because of her views on transgender issues. HBO chiefs later defended her role, saying Rowling had a 'right to express her personal views'. In a move that's sent shockwaves of excitement across the fandom, Hollywood heavyweight John Lithgow has been announced as the new Albus Dumbledore. Janet McTeer, known for her powerhouse performances on stage and screen, will step into the sharp heels of Professor McGonagall, while rising star Paapa Essiedu takes on the darker, more complicated role of Severus Snape – a part made famous by the late Alan Rickman. The casting, which was officially announced earlier this month, forms part of HBO's hotly anticipated reboot of J.K. Rowling 's seven-book series – a full-scale, decade-long adaptation that promises to stick far more closely to the original storylines than the blockbuster films. Fans say this could be the most exciting reboot yet, with many calling the casting 'perfectly magical' and praising the diverse, inclusive approach taken by producers. Showrunner and executive producer Francesca Gardiner said: 'We are happy to announce the casting of John Lithgow, Janet McTeer, Paapa Essiedu, Nick Frost, Luke Thallon and Paul Whitehouse to play Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Hagrid, Quirrell and Filch.' Executive producer and director Mark Mylod added: 'We're delighted to have such extraordinary talent onboard, and we can't wait to see them bring these beloved characters to new life.' The new series is aims to 'lead a new generation of fandom' and hopes to recapture the beloved details Harry Potter fans have enjoyed for 25 years. It will be executive produced by Harry Potter author JK Rowling, Ruth Kenley-Letts, Neil Blair and David Heyman. Back in 2023, the Mail's Alison Boshoff revealed how Rowling would personally approve all of the key castings in the forthcoming series. The author previously said: 'Max's commitment to preserving the integrity of my books is important to me. 'And I'm looking forward to being part of this new adaptation, which will allow for a degree of depth and detail only afforded by a long-form television series.'


Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Emma Watson looks casually chic in a brown leather jacket and baggy jeans as she enjoys low key outing in Paris
Emma Watson looked effortlessly chic as she enjoyed a low key outing in Paris on Sunday. The actress, 35, showed off her sense of style in a brown leather jacket and baggy jeans as she stepped out. She added a cap and scarf and had on a pair of headphones while getting some fresh air in the French capital. Emma wore a pair of giant dark shades and added a preppy edge to her look with a white jumper. She pulled her brunette tresses back and opted for minimal makeup to highlight her natural beauty. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Emma's outing comes after her dad warned the parents of the new Harry, Ron and Hermione of the 'impact of fame on children' as filming for the HBO Harry Potter TV series begins. The latest leading trio were finally announced this week after months of speculation - with Dominic McLaughlin landing the title role, while Arabella Stanton is set to play Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout will portray Ron Weasley. Emma played Hermione for ten years in the Harry Potter film series, and now her dad Chris has told of how he worked hard to keep her 'grounded.' He told Times Radio: 'As a parent, you have to be scared... This can be a very difficult thing for a parent and child to handle, or not. 'It certainly helped that I don't actually watch movies, it's not a big thing in the house, and so it was easier for us to keep her feet on the ground.' He added: 'Normal life continued as far as possible: her homework would go back to school on motorbikes, admittedly, but she had to do her homework and check in.' Filming for the new HBO series started this week in France with cast and crew setting up on the Île de Sein off the coast of Brittany where they are thought to be re-creating the famous moment that Hagrid said, 'You're a wizard Harry!' JK Rowling gave her approval to the trio cast as the new child stars of the multi-million-pound TV adaptation - after previously giving short shrift to racists complaining about producers' picks. There has been some online backlash against what has been branded ' woke ' reinterpreting of the wizarding franchise based on the seven bestselling books by Rowling, 59, which prompted eight movie versions. But the multi-millionaire author yesterday gave her first public response to the new Harry Potter television casting announcement, with showbusiness insiders suggesting she would have a key role in the new productions. One fan took to X, formerly known as Twitter, asking the bestselling author to inform the new recruits the wizarding franchise's creator felt about their casting. And Rowling responded by declaring: 'All three are wonderful. I couldn't be happier.' The writer was replying to a tweet which said: '@jk_rowling @streamonmax @harrypotter Please tell Dominic, Arabella and Alistair that they are already loved by the fandom and we can't wait to see the show! We wish them all the best and that they have a magic time.' The new adaptation will be spread across seven seasons, equal to the number of books - although there were eight films with the final Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows split into two parts. The HBO TV show is said to be costing £75million per episode - and the three child actors taking the lead roles have been tipped to land themselves even bigger fortunes than the original stars. Producers Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod praised the 'wonderful' talent of the three newcomers when making Tuesday's casting announcement. They said: 'After an extraordinary search led by casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann, we are delighted to announce we have found our Harry, Hermione, and Ron. 'The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen. 'We would like to thank all the tens of thousands of children who auditioned. It's been a real pleasure to discover the plethora of young talent out there.' Rowling released the first Harry Potter novel Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 1997, followed by Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets the following year. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was released in 1999, followed by Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in 2000. Three years later Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was published and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in 2005. The final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was released in 2007. The first movie was released in 2001 and the final one came out in 2011. They played their roles for a decade.