home

A&E had an interview about the Barbie© Doll and the people behind the doll. It was shown on A&E in 2006.

The producer of the show, John Griffin, contacted Gwen for an interview. He had read "Barbie Talks" and really enjoyed the book. He said that over the years he had read a lot of biographies. Gwen and Glenda's was one of the best he had ever read. He felt that it was a refreshingly honest story, a from the heart biography and a fun read.

The A&E crew actually came to Gwen's home in Las Vegas to interview her. Needless to say Gwen was very nervous about the whole experience. Gwen had been in front of a camera many times before but never doing a one on one interview. The interview was suppose to last an hour but in fact took about three and a half hours. John asked so many more questions about the book than Gwen expected. Of course, Gwen thinks that most of
the interview will end up on the cutting room floor but she felt that it was an interesting experience. She didn't get her heart rate back to normal or her stomach out of her toes until the next day.

Gwen's sister Melanie took some wonderful pictures, which are shown below.


John Griffin and Gwen reviewing the book "Barbie Talks" and the questions that John will ask Gwen on camera


John and his assistant producer Tara Larsen reviewing more questions.


Getting ready to start the interview


Gwen, very nervous, trying to calm down and put on
 a good face!

 

 

Gwen is waiting for the next shot. Kris, the camera woman, is in the background arranging the furniture in Gwen's living room. 
 
Note the Barbie award on the wall.


Kris Smith, the camera woman, is setting up the camera. It was really weird because she wanted to shoot the interview in Gwen's hallway.


 
Melanie Martinez, Gwen's sister, cooking lunch for the A&E crew. She is a fantastic cook and lunch was wonderful

Here are a few of the questions they asked her:

  1. Gwen, how did you get hired as a toy designer? You went from dancing on bar tops to creating talking dolls, correct?
  2. The story of how Gwen created a rather risqué talking Tom and Jerry. What happen when Elliot Handle heard it?
  3. Why was Gwen a birthday present to Elliot Handler?
  4. Gwen's experiences at toy show trying to go to a nice restaurant in New York.
  5. What does "a third ear" on a horse mean?
  6. The meeting between Gwen and Ruth Handler regarding breast cancer.
  7. Gwen trying to make it in a predominately male R&D.
  8. Gwen's reaction to Barbie recently saying that she hated math.
  9. How Barbie cloths were sewn in the early days of Mattel.
  10. How Glenda became the British voice Stacy.
  11. And of course, how Gwen became the voice of Barbie.