Barbie Ferreira has confessed that she is 'really scared' to get Botox. The 29-year-old actress, who shed 50 pounds two years ago, acknowledges that she may eventually undergo the treatment but currently values having an expressive face.
Speaking on the In Your Dreams podcast, she said: 'I haven't done Botox yet because I have to express a face and I'm really scared to go down that route. It'll eventually happen.'
The star's reluctance stems from her need to emote as an actress. 'I'm the most expressive person ever — I'm really scared of it. So what I do is, I like to do a lot of lasers like Potenza. I used to do Morpheus 8, which was crazy as a 23 year old,' she explained.
Ferreira, best known for her role in Euphoria, noted that the Morpheus 8 treatment was so intense that she was offered ketamine and laughing gas during the procedure, an offer she declined. 'I drove here! I'm good!' she joked.
Body Image and Public Scrutiny
In a separate interview with Bustle magazine, Ferreira discussed her discomfort with public commentary on her changing figure. 'It's hard because my whole family fluctuates in weight,' she said.
'I started modeling at 16, and I've looked different every year for over a decade. It's very trendy right now to talk about women's bodies, which is exactly why I personally don't talk about it,' she added.
The actress, who appears in two new films this week — Faces of Death and Mile End Kicks — expressed frustration with the constant focus on women's bodies. 'There is so much discourse around what I look like — and what other women look like — all the time. As women, we are in a losing game.'
'If we're too small or too big, we lose. We are human beings who fluctuate. I gain weight, I lose weight; that's just my life. I didn't realize people would be so hyper-fixated on it,' she remarked.
Early Experiences with Body Positivity
Ferreira revealed that she has been asked about her weight since she was a young teenager. 'People talk about weight gain from my Tumblr days — I was 14 years old in my mother's room!' she said.
She reflected on her early activism: 'Of course I'm going to look different. Back then, I spoke a lot about body positivity because I had to. People asked me about my activism when I was just a kid.'
'I didn't even know what activism meant. I'd put on a bikini for a campaign, everyone would get mad, and suddenly I was an activist. I'm 17 years old thinking, "Sure, I'll be an activist if that's what you want."'
But she now believes true activism requires dedication. 'Real activism is dedicating your life to a cause. I just believe people should be reflected in the media as they are. My career continues to do that.'
Weight Loss Compliments as a 'Trap'
When she started receiving compliments on her weight loss, Ferreira felt conflicted. 'That's why unhealthy eating patterns continue — you want people to think you look good. It's funny how people never say "you look great" when someone gains weight. I honestly believe many people would look great if they gained some weight!'
'But the comments are constant. I could be in character as someone else or just being myself, and the focus is always on my body. It feels like my cross to bear,' she shared.
Coping with Stress and Fame
Ferreira said her response to feeling overwhelmed is to retreat. 'My response to stress is to stay home. I will hermit, and that's OK. I live my life, I just don't do flashy things. I'll be at the Renaissance Faire, though — I go every year. I do a little skirt and a corset and sit at the joust. I love wholesome fun because I grew up too fast.'
She also commented on how fans can pressure actresses to downplay their charisma, citing Jennifer Lawrence as an example. 'Look at Jennifer Lawrence — she had an incredible personality and was funny and goofy, and people were really hard on her for it.'
'Women are often told to be smaller in this job. I try to be myself, even if people are like, "What is this b**ch on?" I'm not anything — maybe just a Celsius,' she admitted.
'I'm an expressive theater kid. I try to show my personality in contained spots, like on podcasts with people I actually like.'
Leaving Euphoria and New Projects
Ferreira quit her breakout role as Kat in Euphoria in 2022 after two seasons, later explaining that she 'wanted to be able to not be the fat best friend.' She has no knowledge of the upcoming third season. 'I haven't watched it yet, but I am going to see it. I want to see where the characters go and I love the girls. I don't think [any of the actors know] what's going on — I think they only get their specific sides of the script.'
Now she has two new films: Faces of Death and Mile End Kicks. 'We shot Faces of Death years ago and Mile End Kicks about a year and a half ago. The fact that they are out the same week is really funny. I'm trying to juggle both, but they are so different, I don't get confused,' she said.
Love Life and Avoiding Hollywood Clichés
Ferreira revealed she has never dated an actor. 'I only know how to date normal-ish people. To impress me, you need a real personality and real life. I grew up in a different place than a lot of people in Hollywood. I'm an immigrant kid from New York who watched people hustle their way out of their situations. I don't search for the next "it" person to date. And I hate PR relationships — I could never do that. I want to be like Tilda Swinton.'
Regarding fame, she admitted it still surprises her. 'I grew up in a non-Hollywood environment, and I'm Brazilian, so I'm a big fan of everything. I grew up as a fan of film, TV, and pop stars. It's just so different when you're on the other side.'
'You get to meet people that you have projected an image of for so long, and then you don't know who they really are until you meet them. I actually try to avoid meeting people that I love.'
