Early Life and Family Background
Margot Elise Robbie was born on July 2, 1990, in Dalby, a small rural town in Queensland, Australia. She grew up on her family’s farm in the Gold Coast hinterland and was the third of four children. Margot’s mother, Sarie Kessler, worked as a physiotherapist, while her father, Doug Robbie, was a former farm owner and sugarcane tycoon. Her parents divorced when she was young, and she, along with her siblings, was primarily raised by her mother. Robbie’s childhood was marked by hard work and adventure. She often helped her mother financially by working multiple jobs from a young age, including tasks like bartending, cleaning, and sandwich-making. Despite financial struggles, Robbie's mother supported her love for performance.
Growing up, Margot was an adventurous and energetic child who loved surfing, snowboarding, and spending time outdoors. She was drawn to the arts and had a deep fascination with acting. Robbie attended Somerset College, where she began to explore drama and theater. She took drama classes and participated in school plays, gradually cultivating her passion for acting. Her interest in acting grew stronger as she neared graduation, and after finishing high school in 2007, she moved to Melbourne to pursue her acting career professionally.
Early Career and Breakthrough in Australia
Upon moving to Melbourne, Margot Robbie began auditioning for various acting roles. She initially struggled to find significant work but soon landed some commercial roles and guest spots on television shows. In 2008, her big break came when she was cast in the long-running Australian soap opera Neighbours. The show was immensely popular in Australia and had a significant international following, which gave Robbie an excellent platform to showcase her talents.
Robbie played the character Donna Freedman, a quirky and free-spirited teenager, in Neighbours. Her performance was widely appreciated, and what was originally a guest role was expanded into a regular one. Robbie remained on the show for three years, from 2008 to 2011, and received two Logie Award nominations for her work. While Neighbours gave her steady work and exposure, Robbie’s ambitions extended beyond Australian television. In 2011, she made the bold decision to move to the United States, hoping to break into Hollywood.
Transition to Hollywood and Early Roles
After moving to Los Angeles, Robbie encountered the same struggle many aspiring actors face in Hollywood: tough competition and few opportunities. However, her perseverance soon paid off. In 2013, she made her feature film debut in About Time, a British romantic comedy-drama directed by Richard Curtis. Although her role as Charlotte was small, it marked her entry into international cinema.
Her breakthrough came later that same year when she was cast in Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), a black comedy based on the memoir of stockbroker Jordan Belfort. Robbie played Naomi Lapaglia, the wife of Leonardo DiCaprio’s character, and her performance was a standout. Her portrayal of the seductive yet sharp and strong-willed Naomi garnered significant attention, and critics praised her for holding her own alongside seasoned actors like DiCaprio and Jonah Hill. The film was a major commercial and critical success, propelling Robbie into the spotlight as one of Hollywood’s rising stars.
Rise to Fame: 2014–2016
Following the success of The Wolf of Wall Street, Margot Robbie quickly became one of Hollywood’s most sought-after young actresses. In 2014, she starred in the romantic crime-comedy Focus, opposite Will Smith. While the film received mixed reviews, Robbie’s performance was well-received, and she demonstrated her versatility as an actress. Her next major role came in Z for Zachariah (2015), a post-apocalyptic drama where she played the lead character, Ann Burden, alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor and Chris Pine. This role allowed Robbie to showcase her dramatic range in a more serious, introspective film.
In 2016, Robbie’s career reached new heights with her portrayal of Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad. The DC Comics supervillain film was a commercial hit despite receiving mixed reviews, and Robbie’s performance as the unpredictable, colorful, and anarchic Harley Quinn was widely regarded as the film’s highlight. Robbie’s embodiment of Harley Quinn made her an instant fan favorite, and the character became a cultural icon. Robbie would go on to reprise this role in later films, solidifying her status as one of the leading faces in the superhero genre.
In the same year, Robbie took on the role of Jane Porter in The Legend of Tarzan, alongside Alexander Skarsgård. Though the film itself didn’t achieve great critical acclaim, Robbie’s performance was appreciated, and she continued to build a reputation for bringing depth and strength to her characters, even in large-scale blockbuster productions.
Establishing Herself as a Leading Actress and Producer
By the late 2010s, Margot Robbie was not only established as one of Hollywood’s leading actresses but also began to take more control over her career by moving into production. In 2014, Robbie co-founded the production company LuckyChap Entertainment with her husband Tom Ackerley and friends Josey McNamara and Sophia Kerr. The company focused on producing female-driven stories and giving a platform to diverse voices in film.
In 2017, Robbie produced and starred in I, Tonya, a biographical black comedy-drama about the life of controversial figure skater Tonya Harding. Robbie’s portrayal of Harding was widely praised for its complexity and emotional depth, showing both the fierce ambition and the vulnerability of the athlete. I, Tonya was a critical success and earned Robbie her first Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, as well as nominations for a Golden Globe and BAFTA Award. The film's success also marked a major milestone for LuckyChap Entertainment.
Continued Success and Critical Acclaim
Following I, Tonya, Robbie continued to choose diverse and challenging roles. In 2019, she appeared in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood as Sharon Tate, the real-life actress and wife of director Roman Polanski, who was tragically murdered by members of the Manson Family in 1969. Although her role was relatively small, Robbie’s portrayal of Tate was met with praise for its grace and charm, capturing the innocence and tragedy of Tate’s life.
That same year, Robbie starred in Bombshell, a drama about the sexual harassment scandal involving Fox News CEO Roger Ailes. Robbie played the fictional character Kayla Pospisil, a composite of several women who worked at Fox. The film, which also starred Charlize Theron and Nicole Kidman, was critically acclaimed, and Robbie’s performance earned her a second Academy Award nomination, this time for Best Supporting Actress.
In 2020, Robbie reprised her role as Harley Quinn in Birds of Prey, a spin-off centered around her character. Unlike Suicide Squad, this film was better received by critics, particularly for its colorful, action-packed style and Robbie’s performance, which added more layers to the character of Harley Quinn.
Personal Life
Margot Robbie tends to keep her personal life relatively private, but her relationship with British assistant director Tom Ackerley is well-known. The couple met while working on the film Suite Française in 2013 and began dating soon after. They married in a private ceremony in Byron Bay, Australia, in December 2016. The couple co-runs LuckyChap Entertainment, and Robbie has spoken fondly of their working relationship, stating that they complement each other creatively.
Robbie is known for her laid-back, down-to-earth personality, often speaking about her love for her Australian roots and her passion for surfing and outdoor activities. Despite her glamorous roles in Hollywood, she has maintained a reputation for being approachable and grounded.
Impact and Legacy
Margot Robbie’s rise from a small-town girl in rural Australia to one of Hollywood’s brightest stars is a testament to her talent, determination, and willingness to take risks. Her performances have consistently demonstrated her range, from comedy to drama to action, and she has earned the respect of her peers and critics alike. Beyond acting, Robbie’s efforts as a producer, especially through LuckyChap Entertainment, have contributed to shifting the industry towards more female-driven stories and diverse narratives.
As of the early 2020s, Robbie continues to balance acting with producing, taking on ambitious projects in both areas. She is set to star in and produce a variety of films, including Barbie (2023), a live-action adaptation of the iconic doll, which generated significant anticipation due to its unique casting and feminist approach.
Margot Robbie's legacy continues to grow, marked by her dynamic career choices, her contribution to empowering women in film, and her undeniable impact on both the Australian and international entertainment landscapes.
Photo: MTV International
License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
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