Matt Bomer almost did something very rare in the movie business in 2023: he was in two films that were up for Best Picture. She almost had a part in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, which became a worldwide hit and a cultural phenomenon.
The actor is known for having a polished screen personality and giving gripping performances. But Bomer ultimately opted out of playing one of the many Kens, choosing instead to focus on his role in Maestro, Bradley Cooper’s Leonard Bernstein biopic. Looking back, Bomer says he made the right choice—and has no regrets.
In a recent interview with Business Insider, Matt Bomer opened up about the tough decision to walk away from Barbie. The actor had previously shared with Vanity Fair that he auditioned for one of the Ken roles in the satirical comedy, but stepped away from the project to prioritize time with his family and commit more fully to Maestro.
“Even though my part in Maestro was smaller,” Bomer told BI, “Bradley was so collaborative with me from the get-go. And it was such an immersive experience that to have just flown in from London to film my scenes really quick and fly back to London — I feel like Maestro wouldn’t have been the same experience for me.”
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The actor’s decision becomes even more striking when considering the massive success of Barbie. The movie starring Greta Gerwig made over $1 billion around the world and became a culture classic. It was praised for its bright pictures, sharp humour, and lessons for women.
Some well-known actors, like Ryan Gosling, Simu Liu, Kingsley Ben-Adir, and Scott Evans, played Ken in the movie. Matt Bomer could’ve easily added his name to that dynamic mix, but he says the trade-off would’ve come at too high a personal and professional cost.
In contrast, Maestro, while not as commercially explosive as Barbie, earned critical acclaim and snagged several Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Bomer portrayed David Oppenheim, Bernstein’s lover, in a nuanced role that complemented Bradley Cooper’s intense and transformative performance as the famed composer.
The film offered Bomer a deeper dramatic space, something he found invaluable as an actor. “It was life-changing,” Bomer said about Maestro. “It shaped the way I work as a dramatic actor—probably for the rest of my career on film.”
The actor also noted the importance of preserving balance in his personal life. Matt Bomer shares two children with his husband, Simon Halls, and explained that the demanding schedule of filming both Barbie and Maestro back-to-back would’ve meant sacrificing meaningful time with his family.
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In the end, it wasn’t just a matter of picking between two well-known films; it was also about making sure that his work matched his values. Bomer has already had a busy year in 2022, between shooting the epic historical romance Fellow Travellers and Maestro.
His choice shows that he carefully considers both his artistic ethics and his own well-being. People will always wonder what kind of Ken he could have been, but Bomer is still sure he made the right choice.
