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- With an impressive amount of incredible roles under her belt, Robbie has undoubtedly become one of the most promising and popular movie stars on Earth, as well as (reportedly) one of the highest-paid in the industry, earning a very-deserved amount of $12.5 million for her part in the new summer hit, Barbie (via Cosmopolitan). The actress has conquered the hearts of both the film industry and international fans thanks to her charming demeanor and kindness, but what makes Robbie stand out the most is arguably her incredible talent. From Jane Porter in The Legend of Tarzan to Harley Quinn in the DCEU, these are some of the actress' most memorable movie roles to date.
Since the black comedy The Wolf of Wall Street came out in 2013, Margot Robbie has swept cinephiles off their feet and proven herself to be quite the talented movie star. With big names like Leonardo DiCaprio and Matthew McConaughey in the first big film in which the blonde actress starred, directed by accomplished director Martin Scorsese, Robbie successfully launched her versatile career that has been enduring the test of time.
There are many great things about Robbie, and her stunning looks are not even the best part. Gifted and extremely hardworking, the actress is able to effortlessly capture anyone's attention whenever she appears on the screen. Set to star in Babylon, and bring iconic Barbie to life in Greta Gerwig's intriguing upcoming project, this far the skillful actor has made some interesting choices when it comes to the projects she picks. These are some of her best roles to date.
Updated on July 31, 2023, by Daniela Gama:
With an impressive amount of incredible roles under her belt, Robbie has undoubtedly become one of the most promising and popular movie stars on Earth, as well as (reportedly) one of the highest-paid in the industry, earning a very-deserved amount of $12.5 million for her part in the new summer hit, Barbie (via Cosmopolitan). The actress has conquered the hearts of both the film industry and international fans thanks to her charming demeanor and kindness, but what makes Robbie stand out the most is arguably her incredible talent. From Jane Porter in The Legend of Tarzan to Harley Quinn in the DCEU, these are some of the actress' most memorable movie roles to date.
10 Jane Porter — 'The Legend of Tarzan' (2016)
The Legend of Tarzan tells the famous, timeless story of a feral child raised by apes in the jungle. Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård brings Tarzan to life. Because every Tarzan needs his Jane, Robbie eventually appears on the scene as the ethnologist who teaches him civilization. They fall in love, and we all know how the rest of the story goes.
While this might not be her best role ever, it is still worth mentioning. Although Robbie's screen time could've been longer (and the movie, better), she still managed to showcase her skills and fully embody the spirit of the beloved Disney character. Bold, fearless, and no damsel in distress, Robbie's Jane is not one to mess with.
9 Jess Barrett — 'Focus' (2015)
Focus is undoubtedly an entertaining picture. Will Smith is Nicky, a veteran con man with a soft spot for Jess (Robbie's character who eventually also becomes a part of the con game). As per usual, their chemistry is off the charts.
While the actor's performance isn't out of this world in this, it still makes for quite a decent watch. In an interesting enough storyline, Jess is sassy, charismatic, witty, and everything you'd expect her to be. It's almost impossible not to fall in love with the character.
8 Queen Elizabeth I — 'Mary Queen of Scots' (2018)
Queen Elizabeth I is arguably one of the most challenging roles in Margot Robbie's filmography and the one in which she looks the most unrecognizable. Mary Queen of Scots, which also features Saoirse Ronan's unmatched talent, revolves around the true story of the 16th-century Scottish monarch while adding some small twists.
Playing a royal is never an easy job, let alone if there is a big amount of historical buffs watching your every move and pointing out what is accurate and what is not. Still, Robbie successfully managed to let her talent shine every time she stepped into the spotlight, once again demonstrating how much of a versatile actress she is, even without ever being classically trained in the proper Shakespearean way.
7 Sharon Tate — 'Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood' (2019)
Very few people would embody Sharon Tate's beautiful essence the same way that Robbie did, and that is exactly why she was perfect for the role. In a Quentin Tarantino film that tweaks history and reimagines the glamour and wildness of Hollywood's golden age, Robbie manages to do Tate justice by bringing her light and serenity to every scene she stars in.
Hypnotizing in her every move, Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood's Sharon Tate is beautifully written in the deliberately paced film — she is soft-spoken and witty, as well as very intelligent and intellectually curious. Though unfortunately, Robbie didn't have much screen time, she stood out and captured everyone's heart nonetheless with her impeccable acting and astonishing homage.
6 Kayla Pospisil — 'Bombshell' (2019)
In this biographical drama by Jay Roach starring Robbie and Ryan Gosling, Robbie steps in the shoes of Kayla Pospisil, a fictional deeply passionate employee at the news network and one of the victims, among others, including Megyn Kelly (played by Charlize Theron) and Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman), of Fox News head Roger Ailes' sexual harassment.
With an incredible make-up department that completely transformed famous faces until they were no longer recognizable, Bombshell is generally a great film that sends out a powerful message; it celebrates the bravery of individual actions. Although some events of the film are real, two of the most disturbing scenes were fictional — Robbie starred in both of them, delivering a heartbreakingly excellent performance.
5 Naomi Lapaglia — 'The Wolf of Wall Street' (2013)
Iconic in every sense of the word, Naomi Lapagalia, Robbie's character in The Wolf of Wall Street, was based on Nadine Caridi (though the role was dramatized and not intended to portray Caridi accurately), ex-wife of unsympathetic “Wolf” Jordan Belfort (played on-screen by Leonardo DiCaprio). There is no doubt that the actress' role in Scorsese's hit film was a huge part of Margot's career. Although she had starred in some popular series at that point, TWoWS introduced her to Hollywood.
Naomi is an interesting character, to say the least. She goes from being someone people would describe as a textbook bimbo who loves the lavish lifestyle and is very attracted to wealth, to a loving and dedicated mother. Witty and intelligent, she's possibly one of the most likable characters in the film. There is no doubt that the breakthrough role cemented Robbie as an incredibly talented actress.
4 Nellie LaRoy — 'Babylon' (2022)
With a fantastic score, superb cinematography, and memorable production design, Damien Chazelle's bold film is certainly not to everyone's liking; instead, the ambitious and extravagant Babylon was, unfortunately, a big letdown to some critics and members of the audience when it first premiered. However, there is no way to deny that Robbie's Nellie LaRoy was, hands down, one of the strongest aspects of the movie.
Inspired by the silent movie star Clara Bow, Nellie is a bold, loud, and fun character that most viewers can not help but sympathize with thanks to Robbie's remarkable performance, which arguably turned out to be one of her career-best.
3 Tonya Harding — 'I, Tonya' (2017)
Robbie's wild (in the best possible way) portrayal of Tonya Harding is mind-blowing. I, Tonya, beautifully directed by Craig Gillespie, explores the anxieties and struggles of the former Olympic figure skater, including her framing in a violent scandal in the 1990s that resulted in her being permanently banned from doing the one thing she loved the most.
Powerful, raw, and emotional, Robbie's performance in the female-led sports film won her an Academy Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role. And for good reason: while it is a portrayal of a real-life person, Tonya is arguably the actress' best performance to date as she completely showcased her unparalleled talents.
2 Harley Quinn — DCEU
If Naomi Lapaglia introduced Margot Robbie's name to the film industry, Harley Quinn victoriously increased the accomplished actress' popularity in no time. When it comes to Robbie's Harley, there is such a thing as perfect casting.
The beloved DC character has appeared in three films so far and has shown great character development since the first Suicide Squad, which premiered in 2016. There is hardly any doubt that Robbie was born for the role. In fact, it is odd to even picture anyone else filling her shoes and attempting to bring the eccentric clown queen to life (even though Lady Gaga will probably surprise viewers in the second installment of Joker). Much like her previously mentioned character Jane, Margot Robbie's trademark role isn't afraid to show off her fierce nature and will gladly exceed any expectations imposed upon her.
1 Barbie — 'Barbie' (2023)
This 2023 summer blockbuster is everything everyone has asked for and more. Although Barbie is by no means revolutionary or groundbreaking in its feminist message, it shines a powerful light on everything that is wrong with the patriarchy and does not shy away from pointing out major flaws through not-so-subtle jokes. Robbie, of course, plays the Stereotypical Barbie in Gerwig's silly fun film, and as pretty much everybody was expecting, does not disappoint.
No doubt, the beloved actress was born for this role. The innocent yet very mature and humane way Robbie brought the iconic plastic doll to life is both touching and impressive, with stunning costume design and hair and makeup to match. No doubt, the film goes down in history as one of Robbie's most iconic roles so far, and general audiences seem to agree, with Barbie breaking records at the box office during its second weekend.