Barbie with ASL features alumna Leila Hanaumi 

Barbie, the blockbuster Warner Brothers Pictures film that debuted on July 21, 2023, is now streaming on Max. There are two versions, one of which features Leila Hanaumi, ’12, rendering all cast members’ dialogue and songs in American Sign Language.  

The studio says, “Grounded in research and feedback from the Deaf community, as well as counsel from community leaders, Barbie with ASL was produced for Max featuring ASL performer Leila Hanaumi (Deaf Austin Theatre’s The Laramie Project, ASL cover for Tove Lo in the ‘True Romance’ music video). Barbie with ASL will be displayed as a unique title in-app and can be identified by its key art with the sign language symbol. 

Hanaumi and Margot Robbie, who played Barbie in the film, attended a screening and conversation for the Deaf community on December 14 in Los Angeles. This event was in collaboration with Deaf West Theatre, “a celebrated Deaf institution in Los Angeles for over 30 years,” and RespectAbility, “whose mission is to fight stigmas and advance opportunities so people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of community.” 

Read the Warner Brothers Discovery news release about Barbie with ASL. 

Read the people.com story about Leila Hanaumi. 

Watch The Daily Moth interview with Leila Hanaumi.