Margot Robbie names her favourite silent film: “Better than 90% of movies I’ve seen in my life”
If you were – for some reason – not massively familiar with Margot Robbie before 2023, the release of Barbie certainly turned her into one of the biggest stars of the 21st century. Playing the titular character in Greta Gerwig’s cinematic phenomenon alongside Ryan Gosling as Ken and a huge ensemble cast of stars, Robbie was praised for bringing the beloved Mattel doll to life in an extravaganza of song, dance, and dramatics.
Yet, before Barbie, Robbie had racked up several Oscar nominations, including ‘Best Actress’ for her portrayal of Tonya Harding in I, Tonya and ‘Best Supporting Actress’ for her role as Kayla in Bombshell. Still, one of Robbie’s most iconic roles remains her impressive turn as Naomi in The Wolf of Wall Street, directed by Martin Scorsese. The movie saw the then-22-year-old play the wife of Leonardo DiCaprio’s character, Jordan Belfort, morphing her Australian accent into one from Brooklyn.
The role put the actor on the map, who had only starred in a string of movies until this point, like I.C.U and About Time, with her most prominent acting job being a recurring role on the soap opera Neighbours. Robbie’s career subsequently grew at a rapid pace, with the star appearing in films like Suicide Squad, Terminal, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and Babylon.
Robbie’s appearance in Babylon, directed by Damien Chazelle, saw her explore the exciting early days of Hollywood when silent films were being phased out in favour of sound cinema, with her character, Nellie LaRoy, navigating the murky world of fame and glamour as she ascends the ranks to become a star. To prepare for the role, Robbie had to immerse herself in many old films, particularly the silent kind.
Silent films aren’t usually the go-to for most modern audiences who have been raised on sound cinema, and Robbie admits that she hadn’t seen many until she signed onto Babylon. “I hadn’t watched too many silent films. The Charlie Chaplin stuff, sure—I’d seen clips,” she told W Magazine.
Yet, when she immersed herself in the world of early cinema, she realised that “silent films are incredible.” The actor continued, “And Damien [Chazelle] is the biggest advocate for the silent era because he’s such a cinephile. He’s watched everything and can tell you the great ones to watch.”
This led Robbie to pick her favourite silent film, explaining, “The first ‘Best Picture’ winner for the Oscars in 1927 was a film called Wings. Clara Bow is in it. And it is a masterpiece. Like, it is better than 90% of the movies I’ve ever seen in my life.” The movie was honoured at the first Academy Award ceremony in 1929, two years after its release, and remains an incredibly important film, with director William A Wellman channelling his first-hand experience of World War I into the movie.
The movie is noted for its impressive scenes of aerial combat, with war creating the backdrop for a love triangle that has inspired many romance movies ever since. Despite the fact the two men lust after Bow’s character, the movie features many tender moments between the two men, with the film often being considered the first to feature a homoerotic kiss. It’s a beautiful, at times moving film, and it’s no wonder Robbie calls it a favourite.
