This story is part of Ensemble's doll week

Feeling nostalgic for our childhood toys and the rich inner-world that came with them, we dug through our old family albums and asked some friends to do the same.

From the tattered, dog-eared teddys that came with us everywhere, to our beloved plastic dolls with wonky haircuts and felt-tip tattoos, reminisce with us below.

Yvonne Todd, artist

I’m six-years-old in my Takapuna bedroom; my front teeth have fallen out and I look like a small, jovial vampire. The doll’s name is Lucy. I clearly recall her hostile expression and plugs of dry, unbrushable nylon hair. This was my pre-Barbie era, before my grandparents wantonly purchased Superstar Barbie for me on their Surfers Paradise holiday and changed things forever.

Eli Matthewson, comedian

I was exploring my grandparents office once when I was about six or seven and I opened a drawer to find, still in their box, three vintage barbies from the 50s, including the one in the black and white swimsuit. I thought they were so glamorous, and it was the first time I realised the value of keeping things inside their packages. I pressured my grandparents to let me take them home, but they rightly refused. I would peek in the drawer every chance I got from then on though.

Olivia Shivas, editor of The D*List

This is a childhood memory I wish I had: playing with a fun and colourful Wheelchair Barbie! While I had lots of blonde skinny Barbies as a kid (and a couple of brunette ones) and saw Hospital Barbe in the store, I never saw ones that looked like me. And although I was given Wheelchair Barbie as a 27-year-old, it's just as memorable as my childhood toys. This Barbie also came with a very bright but practical accessory – a wheelchair ramp, for all the little steps and bumps to access Barbie's Dreamhouse. 

Ash Williams, actor and designer

I was obsessed with My Scene and Bratz dolls. This photo is from my first year living in New Zealand in 2004 on Christmas Day. I’m wearing an extremely coordinated outfit that I picked out myself and had just received the doll I had been begging my mum to buy me. Jade was my favourite Bratz doll because my middle name is Jade and she had long, dead straight hair which is something I always longed for as a 9-year-old curly haired cutie. I would pretend I was her whenever my mum straightened my hair, I even tried to get my parents to start calling me Jade. Didn’t stick. 

Lochie Stonehouse, makeup artist

Barbies and dolls were an integral part of my childhood. I always travelled with one, two or three in tow… around the garden, off to the supermarket or while at Montessori. My favourite was Esmeralda from Hunchback of Notre Dame and Ariel from The Little Mermaid.

Courtney Joe, stylist

I’m turning six-years-old here and naturally, I’m doll obsessed. I had moved on from my Barney era and I recall this being my my first “proper” birthday party at the very proper children’s party venue Lollipops Playland.

The doll cake was a sign of the times – these were the “it” cake for all the Barbie girlies of the late 90s (Regency dress icing and all). I remember being concerned at the time that the doll was not a “real” Barbie (and I definitely wasn’t going to have one from my collection be covered in cake and icing), but it looks like I’m still pretty chuffed with the result.

Julia Palm, designer

One of the only toys that made it to Aotearoa when we immigrated from Sweden in the mid 90s was my stuffed toy koala. A constant companion as I adjusted to a new home and learnt English.

I also swear it smelt like biscuits! I also loved Playmobil, Troll Dolls, Pippi Longstocking and Moomin. I didn’t get my first Barbie until I was a little older and remember giving them haircuts - they ended up with fierce mullets.

Zoe Walker Ahwa, Ensemble co-founder

Weirdly when I went to find photos of me with my Barbies, there were none – but plenty with other late 80s plastic toys. Here I’m photographed in my bedroom in the late 80s, standing proudly in front of several of my favourite toys of the time, including my beloved doll house (that blue line on the side was me painting it with nail polish) and Dolly Surprise doll whose crimped red hair I totally destroyed. I’m wearing my favourite acid wash denim dungaree dress.

My sister and I were quite spoilt. Mum and dad allowed us to be very creative with how we decorated our rooms, choosing paint colours (at different stages of our childhoods, we had bright yellow, sickly salmon pink and bright blue textured walls). This red paint-splattered monstrosity was clearly part of that ‘creative freedom’.

Rebecca Wadey, Ensemble co-founder

My upbringing was sadly bereft of many commercial toys. My mother puts this down to her Parents Centre affiliations and the fact my childhood was largely split between growing up on the (wild and overgrown) banks of the Waikato River and our section at Ōpito Bay where we camped until I was about 10 and we built the bach. This photo is taken there, I would say it’s around 1978 and my mother is obviously multitasking by toilet training me while I’m feeding my doll. Her parenting style totally backfired, by the way. Once I had children of my own I went overboard on commercialised toys and got them Fisher Price dolls houses and figurines off TradeMe, Matchbox cars, anything I could get my hands on. Kids these days are no doubt sitting on the potty with an iPad. (I promise I am not a boomer!)

Lara Daly, Ensemble publishing coordinator

This photo represents my typical OCD bedtime routine, aged seven. I had to have all my little friends tucked in before I could think about going to sleep, and I rotated them every night because I felt bad for the ones at the end. 

My Barbie isn't in the pic – she was actually the 'teacher' for my toys and teddys so I think she slept in her dolls house (which I have no photos of, only an embarrassing home video). My giant panda, Bambo, came with me everywhere. There's also my transgender Snoozen Matt (who used to be called Lucy) rocking the one hoop earring as you can see – I pierced his ear. At the back is a bald head of a freaky doll called 'Goody' who I recently had a nightmare about. 

This story was published during the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes of 2023. Barbie and other films would not exist without the labour of writers and actors.