What a doll What a doll

‘Legally Blonde’ star to make film on Barbie’s maker

Reese Witherspoon adapting 2010 book on Ruth Mosko Handler, co-founder of Mattel and daughter of Polish Jewish immigrants

By JTA 2 December 2015, 5:30 am

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Actress Reese Witherspoon attends the 2015 Baby2Baby Gala at 3LABS on November 14, 2015 in Culver City, California. (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic via JTA)

Hollywood actress Reese Witherspoon is co-producing and possibly starring in a film in the works about the Barbie doll’s Jewish creator.

Witherspoon, who won an Academy Award for her performance in “Walk the Line” in 2006, is partnering with Bold Films on an adaptation of the 2010 book “Barbie and Ruth: The Story of the World’s Most Famous Doll and the Woman Who Created Her,” Variety reported Tuesday.

The brainchild of Ruth Mosko Handler, who founded the Mattel toy company with her husband, Elliot, Barbie debuted in 1959. According to the Jewish Women’s Archive, Handler, who died in 2002, was the youngest of 10 children born to Polish Jewish immigrants. In addition to creating Mattel and Barbie, Handler, who had breast cancer, created Nearly Me, a producer of breast prostheses.

“Ruth Handler’s inspiring true story reveals the triumphs and struggles of the genius businesswoman behind the creation of Barbie, the most iconic doll in the world,” Bold Films chairman Michel Litvak told Variety.

Witherspoon, 39, has starred in numerous films, including “Legally Blonde,” “Pleasantville” and “Sweet Home Alabama.”