America Ferrera on Margot Robbie, Greta Gerwig ‘Barbie’ Oscar snubs: 'It's just so undeniable what they created'

America Ferrera is overjoyed about her first Oscar nomination, but admits she's a bit frustrated that the film's director, Greta Gerwig, and star Margot Robbie, aren't sharing the honor with her.

While calling into TODAY on Jan. 24, Ferrera shared her excitement for her first Oscar nod and the "disappointment" she felt surrounding the "Barbie" snubs.

On Jan. 23, Ferrera learned that Margot Robbie was left out of the best actress category for "Barbie", and Greta Gerwig was overlooked for best director.

“It’s really a disappointment,” Ferrera said of the two not being nominated in their respective categories.

“It’s just so undeniable what they created, how unprecedented, how unexpected,” Ferrera continued. “You know, Greta wrote this brilliant script with her partner and then as a director, created a whole world, and, to me, she is an incredible masterful filmmaker."

"And I think that’s what people are bummed about,” she added.

Other than Ryan Gosling, who received a best actor in a supporting role nod for his portrayal of Ken, Ferrera was the only other actor recognized for their work in "Barbie," receiving a best actress in a supporting role Oscar nom her relatable character of Gloria.

While speaking with TODAY, Ferrera recalled how she first learned she was nominated.

"I was home alone. I had sent my kids off to school with my husband and he was in the car also listening to the nominations and I just kind of got back in bed and I laid down with my iPhone. And I just thought, well, I'll just take this news lying down," Ferrera joked. "And when it happened I gasped and I was so silent. I had no one to confirm that what I was hearing was real so there was a moment of like, what's happening? Am I imagining this? And then my phone started blowing up so I knew it was real."

Ferrera noted that the second person to congratulate her after her publicist was Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose. In 2022, DeBose took home her first Oscar for "West Side Story."

"It was so sweet and moving," Ferrera said of DeBose's text message to her.

After that, Ferrera said she received a call from her hubby, director Ryan Piers Williams, who was "very excited" about the news.

In "Barbie," Ferrera delivered one of the film’s most powerful monologues. In the film, she spoke about the constant pressures women face to meet societal expectations.

“It is literally impossible to be a woman,” Ferrera says on-screen before launching into a speech and rallying all the Barbies together.

Ferrera was nominated alongside Emily Blunt (“Oppenheimer”), Danielle Brooks (“The Color Purple”), Jodie Foster “Nyad” and Da’Vine Joy Randolph (“The Holdovers”).

In an interview with Variety, Ferrera explained that along with DeBose, she also received congratulatory messages about her first Oscar nomination from some of her Hollywood friends, including her “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” co-stars, Blake Lively, Amber Tamblyn and Alexis Bledel.

The foursome has remained close friends since appearing in the coming-of-age movies together and recently reunited to support Ferrera at a “Barbie” screening in December.

“They FaceTimed me as a group right away,” Ferrera revealed to Variety. “It was hilarious and funny and emotional and it’s wonderful to be celebrated and held up by my sisters. These women who I’ve had the honor of growing up with in this industry and being loved and cheered on and supported by them. Which we all do for each other.”

She added, “They’re amazing, and such a gift in my life.”

Although fans have been celebrating the first-time nominee, they have also been calling out the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences for the lack of directing and best actress nominations for Gerwig and Robbie. Although “Barbie” received eight nominations, Gerwig and Robbie were left out while Ferrera and Ryan Gosling were recognized.

Gosling received a best actor in a supporting role nod for his role as Ken. “Barbie” was also nominated for best picture and adapted screenplay.

Gosling released a statement, obtained by TODAY.com, where he thanked the Academy for his recognition and also said he was "disappointed" Gerwig and Robbie didn't receive nominations.

"I am extremely honored to be nominated by my colleagues alongside such remarkable artists in a year of so many great films. And I never thought I’d being saying this, but I’m also incredibly honored and proud that it’s for portraying a plastic doll named Ken," he began.

Gosling then pointed out that Ken and the movie would not exist without the director and star.

"No recognition would be possible for anyone on the film without their talent, grit and genius," he said. "To say that I’m disappointed that they are not nominated in their respective categories would be an understatement."

He added, "Against all odds with nothing but a couple of soulless, scantily clad, and thankfully crotchless dolls, they made us laugh, they broke our hearts, they pushed the culture and they made history. Their work should be recognized along with the other very deserving nominees."

At the end of his statement, he expressed his support for Ferrera and the members of the "Barbie" crew who received other nominations.

Fans voiced their frustrations on X. “Greta gerwig being snubbed at the #Oscars despite barbie being the ONLY $1 billion movie solely directed by a woman feels VERY sus to me…” one tweeted.

Another said, “Regardless of your feelings towards Barbie as a film, how do you not even acknowledge the women who made it exist (Margot and Greta) yet nominate it for Best Picture and acknowledge its male star for both his performance and his song?? Margot was the perfect Barbie too… #Oscars.”

Though Gerwig wasn't nominated for best director, she still made history with "Barbie" being nominated for best picture. The nomination marks Gerwig’s third best picture-nominated film — the most for a female director in Oscars history. She previously received best picture nominations for “Lady Bird” in 2017 and “Little Women” in 2019.

Despite the “Barbie” snubs, in speaking to Variety, Ferrera and others also called attention to the diverse and historic nominees. “Killers of the Flower Moon” star Lily Gladstone became the first Native American person to be nominated for best actress in a leading role. Foster and Colman Domingo (best actor in a leading role for “Rustin”) also made history as the first two openly LGBTQ actors to be nominated for portraying LGBTQ characters, according to Variety.

Ferrera applauded the historic achievements when speaking to the publication.

“It feels great to see the range of women that are being acknowledged in the supporting actress category and so excited that Lily Gladstone was in the best actress category as well,” she said.

She continued, “We should be getting to enjoy the work and performances of all different kinds of artists. Opportunities were created for these artists to do their work. It’s exciting to see that those opportunities did exist in this year of film for women of color to get to shine and be a part of the of the best filmmaking of the year.”

This article was originally published on TODAY.com