The three words that define Margot Robbie: “I needed to adjust people’s perceptions”
After her explosive role in The Wolf of Wall Street, in which Margot Robbie’s character was described as ‘the hottest blonde ever’, the actor was faced with a dilemma on how to not be typecasted by Hollywood and cast in similar roles.
The film was released in 2013, and it wasn’t until 2017 that Robbie starred in I, Tonya, the first movie produced by her production company in which she also starred in the lead role, something that would later become her key to success and unlocking the full power of the industry. Robbie’s performance was nominated for an Oscar, playing a fiery and determined figure skater who battles against public scrutiny, classism and criticism on her journey to the top.
The role marked Robbie as a truly versatile and committed performer. She dedicated herself to every ounce of the story, whether it be behind the screen or on camera. Since then, she has built a media empire for herself through her company, Lucky Chap, which soared to new heights after the release of Barbie and Saltburn.
However, her path towards the top was not straightforward, and Robbie had to cleverly strategise about the correct way to find power and work in Hollywood on her own terms, something that she has now mastered through the creation of one philosophy.
It is impossible to define Robbie’s range and talent, as the actor tries to surprise and challenge the public perception of herself as a performer through conflicting and diverse roles. She has played real-life figures such as Mary Queen of Scots, Sharon Tate and Tonya Harding, as well as bringing life and vitality to characters such as Nellie Leroy, the formerly lifeless Barbie doll and soon, Cathy from Emily Bronte’s classic novel, Wuthering Heights.
Her passion for filmmaking is truly infectious and joyous to behold, revitalising cinema by adding modern twists to classic stories and bringing a new generation to marvel at the big screen. But Robbie adopted one specific approach in order to be in the position that she is in today, working hard so that she can be presented with a wealth of ideas and different projects, without being helmed into one genre or type of character.
When discussing this, Robbie shared her simple motto that has led her to this juncture, saying, “Quality, versatility and longevity” were the three words that allowed her to “…chase the roles that people didn’t want to give me.”
Some of these roles were supporting parts in indie films like Z for Zachariah, in which she plays a 19-year-old farm girl. Initially, she was rejected for the role, but after Amanda Seyfried dropped out of the project, Robbie approached the producers again, who were unsure that her name carried enough weight to bring people to theatres. But Robbie convinced them that after the release of her next project, her name would carry weight, saying, “I knew I needed to adjust people’s perception of me right then, because otherwise I was just going to be given this one kind of thing.”
Through the sheer force of her creative spirit, determination, and those three little words, Robbie has forged a remarkable and colossal career that does not seem to be going anywhere. Robbie is here to stay, and so is her impact on cinema as a whole.
