For most of us, Margot Robbie entered our lives with Martin Scorsese’s 2013 epic of capitalist excess, The Wolf of Wall Street. Holding her own against Leonardo DiCaprio (in one of his best performances), Robbie instantly announced herself as a star.
Fast forward 13 years, Robbie has appeared in almost two dozen movies—oscillating between big-budget and smaller films. She’s had a couple massive hits (Barbie, Suicide Squad) and a couple bombs (Amsterdam; A Big, Bold, Beautiful Journey). She’s been nominated for two Academy Awards (I, Tonya; Bombshell) and been snubbed for a pair (Barbie, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood).
Along with a beauty that feels like it was sculpted specifically for the silver screen, Robbie brings energy, vulnerability, and a playfulness to her roles (polish on the surface, mischief just beneath). She also probably doesn’t get enough credit as a risk taker. She’s continually sought out interesting material (both as an actress and a producer), worked with auteurist directors (Quentin Tarantino, Wes Anderson, Greta Gerwig, Kogonada), and even done an image-spoofing cameo (in The Big Short).
Her latest movie, Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights, is another example of Robbie taking a creative shot. Robbie both stars in the film and also produced (as she has Fennell’s previous two films, Saltburn and Promising Young Woman). If its Charli XCX soundtracked trailer is any indication, Fennell’s take on the beloved classic is sure to stir some pots.
Will Wuthering Heights stack up with Robbie’s best performances? We’ll soon find out. In the meantime, check out these other great, (arguably) underseen Margot Robbie performances:
The Suicide Squad (2021)
The tale of Robbie and the Harley Quinn character is an unusual one. She’s played the character in three different movies for three different directors with vastly different results. Let’s review:
Suicide Squad (2016) — A summer blockbuster that made a boatload of money. Everyone agrees on two things about this movie: (1) it was terrible, and (2) Robbie made a great Harley Quinn and deserved better.
Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn (2020) — Robbie gets another bite at the Harley apple, this time in a movie with her at the center. While the buzz on Birds was much better than Suicide Squad (79% vs. 26% on Rotten Tomatoes), the movie made about a third of what the former film took home at the domestic box office.
The Suicide Squad (2021) — After hopping from Marvel to DC, James Gunn gave a rebooted squad the Guardians of the Galaxy treatment (think more wisecracks and a crazy-looking CGI weasel). The Suicide Squad (note the “The”) was unfortunately released in the wake of COVID, premiering in theaters and on HBO Max simultaneously, which led to diminished worldwide box office ($200 million versus $750 million for the original).
What makes The Suicide Squad my favorite of all the Robbie-Harley Quinn joints is the tonal fit. Gunn’s dark, wacky style really clicks with Robbie’s characterization. Her usage rate is also better in this one. I personally think Quinn is a better side than lead so she gets just the right amount of screen time here. And Robbie, as always, has a blast with the character.
I, Tonya (2017)
Yeah, I know Robbie got a Best Actress nod for this. And it also had a pretty decent box office haul for an independent film (taking in $30 million domestic). Yet, ask most people and they probably haven’t seen I, Tonya. Which is a bummer because it’s an electric movie with a raw Robbie performance. Along with being weird (in the best way) and funny, Robbie and the fourth-wall smashing script also indict the viewer—making you rethink this familiar story and the inherent classicism present in sports like ice skating.
Robbie was instrumental in getting this movie made—it was produced by her LuckyChap Entertainment company—and she goes all-in here. She plays notorious 90s tabloid figure Tonya Harding without overdosing on the makeup and prosthetics (though there are a lot of wigs). Instead, she gets to the heart of the character—nailing the bitterness and fragility of Tonya (just watch this scene). She also reportedly spent a significant amount of time learning to skate, which allows the filmmakers to show her on the ice without having to constantly cut away.
Babylon (2022)
Before its release in December 2022, there was major hype surrounding Babylon. It was from director Damien Chazelle (Whiplash, La La Land). It was about Hollywood in the 1920s/1930s (and Hollywood loves movies about itself). It had Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie in what could be Oscar-worthy performances… And then the movie came out and bombed hard, ending its run with $15 million at the U.S. box office (with a reported budget of $80-100 million).
This is particularly devastating because (1) it’s a really fun and fantastic movie, and (2) it contains the best performance Robbie has ever given. As Nellie LaRoy, an actress trying to make her name in pictures just as movies are converting from silent to sound, Robbie is pure fire—completely in step with everything this wild ride of a movie is doing. She’s uninhibited and fully committed here—dancing, doing lines, crying on cue, icing her nipples, fighting a snake, vomiting on aristocrats—you name it, she delivers. It’s a hilarious, heartbreaking, and unhinged performance that gets better with every rewatch.
I've seen many of those films they are quite something .. ill have to see Babylon some time .. !
Some great pics! I’d put The Wolf Of Wall Street in there, put her on the map.