Margot Robbie: Five Films for Newcomers
Written by Andreas Babiolakis
Happy thirty first birthday to Margot Robbie! The Australian superstar was only just getting started this time ten years ago. While a member of the soap opera Neighbours, American audiences may have first saw her in the short lived series Pan Am. It wouldn’t take long afterwards for Robbie to be one of film’s most recognized and beloved thespians, whose chameleon capabilities are as outstanding as her charisma. She’s been in indie works (Z for Zachariah), blockbuster events (the terrible Suicide Squad, and the much better Birds of Prey, as DC Universe’s Harley Quinn), and has even been a cameo appearance as herself in The Big Short, with everything in between being accomplished as well. Furthermore, she is a fantastic producer who co-founded LuckyChap Entertainment with her husband Tom Ackerley; their latest release is Promising Young Woman. For now, let’s narrow down on some of her best performances, since she’s clearly not slowing down as a tour-de-force in Hollywood. Here are five films for newcomers of the works of Margot Robbie.
5. Mary Queen of Scots
While Mary Queen of Scots was a bit of a drag, Margot Robbie’s work as Queen Elizabeth is essentially the sole reason to check it out. Sure, some of her transformation is thanks to the outstanding makeup work done on her, but Robbie uses this opportunity to truly become the royal icon. It’s the kind of performance that stands out in a less-than-stellar film, and really reminds you of how much heavy lifting such a strong actress can carry to make a feature even watchable.
4. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
I find Margot Robbie’s performance as the late Sharon Tate in Quentin Tarantino’s revisionist film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood beyond terrific, but let’s be honest: it is a really small part, especially concerning her dialogue. Her presence is meant to feel like the angelic recreation of a Hollywood rising star that was taken from us far too soon, and Robbie’s respectful, convincing, and hypnotic performance does exactly just that.
3. Bombshell
Now Bombshell is a better film than Mary Queen of Scots, but you’ll find Robbie stealing scenes in this supporting role as well. She plays a composite of various survivors of sexual assault at Fox News, and she represents them with extreme sensitivity. Being a powerful voice for the voiceless, Robbie’s Kayla is extremely important and well executed in a post Me-Too world.
2. The Wolf of Wall Street
Robbie’s big breakthrough post Pan Am is her brilliant role as Naomi in Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street. People entered the theatre wanting to see Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill up to no good, but they left blown away by Robbie’s sharp, bold, and intense work here. As booming dramatically as she is infectiously hilarious, Naomi is a major highlight of this film that no one expected when the film came out. It turned Robbie into the next big name overnight.
1. I, Tonya
When Robbie is given a great film and free rein to bring whatever she wishes to a role, you’ll get something as multi faceted and detailed as her role as figure skater Tonya Harding in I, Tonya. Matching the film’s electric and jagged nature, Robbie turns the disgraced athlete into a person whose pleas are to be heard, with a story that has been misconstrued time and time again. Furthermore, Robbie juggles a myriad of tones, angles, and years in Harding’s life. What I love is how this doesn’t even feel like this will be her greatest performance, since we have so much to see from her still. Nonetheless, for now, this is what I’d consider to be Margot Robbie at her best, and the starting point if you wish to discover her as an actress; better late than never.
Andreas Babiolakis has a Masters degree in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management from Ryerson University, as well as a Bachelors degree in Cinema Studies from York University. His favourite times of year are the Criterion Collection flash sales and the annual Toronto International Film Festival.