By Ani Morgan
The Barbie® Tribute Collection™ honors the legacies of visionaries whose contributions have defined popular culture through the years. And no woman in entertainment is more iconic than Lucille Ball and her unique, lovable brand of comedic genius that has charmed audiences steadily since 1951.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the beloved sitcom I Love Lucy, which has prevailed as a television mainstay well beyond its original six-season run. Now, just in time to celebrate seven delightful decades, the Barbie® Tribute Collection™ Lucille Ball Barbie® Doll is set to make its dazzling debut!
A departure from the Barbie® Loves Lucy! line, this Bill Greening-designed beauty is not another Lucy Ricardo rendition, but a celebration of the multi-hyphenate TV icon and trailblazer who brought that character to life, Lucille Ball.
To call this leading lady a legend would be an understatement. Lucille Ball wore many hats – mother, comedic powerhouse, studio executive, and later, the first woman to run her own production company when she took the helm at Desilu Productions in 1962 – and that’s what this doll gracefully represents.
“This new Barbie series focuses on highlighting real accomplishments,” says Principal Barbie® Designer Bill Greening. “For Lucille Ball, it was about going beyond I Love Lucy to celebrate everything in her arsenal: Hollywood actress, TV icon, businesswoman, and mother.”
The doll’s look is quintessentially 1950s, with a navy blue full-skirted cocktail dress, delicate lace cardigan, “pearl” earrings, silver heels, and Lucille’s aquamarine engagement ring (a true-to-life detail). The thoughtfully placed Desilu script is a subtle reminder that there’s much more to Lucille Ball than the entertaining character everyone knows and loves.
“We used a PR photo of Lucille Ball as our inspiration,” says Bill. “I did not want to pick a fashion too iconic to I Love Lucy, but something Lucille may have worn in that era.”
Sculpted incredibly to her likeness, the doll features a poseable Gigi body and Lucille’s signature red hair. “We have had a long history of creating Lucy dolls, and the Lucy face sculpt is a great likeness,” says Bill. “The blue dress really makes her red hair pop!”
The opportunity to collaborate with Lucie Arnaz, daughter of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, was a true highlight for Bill and the rest of the Barbie® Signature team. Lucie, along with her brother Desi Jr., formed Desilu, too LLC, which is dedicated to preserving the family’s illustrious legacy.
“To hear her talk about her mom was surreal,” Bill says. “We worked with her on details like Lucille’s ring. She also wanted the doll to have silver heels, because she said that was something her mom would have worn going out.”
Lucie had a similarly positive experience. "After more than 20 years and 23 dolls celebrating Lucy and Ricky Ricardo and I Love Lucy episodes, my brother, Desi Arnaz, Jr., and I are very pleased Mattel has chosen to honor our mother, Lucille Ball, in their celebration of great women of achievement with her very own Barbie doll!”
Indeed, while almost everyone has fond memories of watching I Love Lucy reruns growing up, only two kids knew the woman filling those legendary (and likely sparkly!) shoes as Mom.
“The Mattel Barbie Signature Tribute Collection has created an exquisite Lucille Ball doll which showcases Mom's beauty, class, and professional accomplishments, resplendent in a perfect copy of Mom's own satiny navy-blue cocktail ensemble with white lace shrug, pearl drop earrings, aquamarine ring, and sparkly high heels,” continues Lucie. "[The doll is] smartly carrying not a pocketbook but a Desilu Studios Shareholder Prospectus! This is the Lucy we loved and we know you will, too.”
The Barbie® Tribute Collection™ Lucille Ball Barbie® Doll is part of our Black Label® series of dolls and will be available for $40 in the online shop. When she arrives, there will be a limit of two (2) dolls per person, so as many Barbie® and Lucille Ball fans as possible can enjoy our tribute to this television icon! (This limit is subject to change at a later date.)
The world will always love the schemes and shenanigans of Lucy Ricardo, but it’s Lucille Ball’s storied career that captures the spotlight here. Add this scene-stealing legend to your collection while supplies last, in honor of what would have been her 110th birthday on August 6th!
Images and signature of Lucille Ball licensed by Desilu, too, LLC.
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