'Mary Queen Of Scots' To 'Focus': Five Iconic Performances By Margot Robbie

The upcoming romantic comedy Barbie, starring Margot Robbie, was co-written by Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach and is based on the Mattel toyline of the same name. After a number of animated movies and television shows, it is the first fashion doll-based live-action movie. Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie both appear in the movie, which is scheduled to release in 2023. 

Speaking of Margot Robbie, her startling appearance in The Wolf of Wall Street only took two years for her to gain enough popularity to appear in films as herself, as she did in The Big Short in 2015. And as a result of I, Tonya, she was nominated for an Oscar in 2018. She'll also be a regular at this year's event because Robbie was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for Bombshell and her portrayal of Sharon Tate was a major source of emotion in the Best Picture-nominated film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

Margot Robbie Best Performances 

In the midst of it all, Robbie also rose to fame as Harley Quinn, one of the brightest stars of the DC Extended Universe, stealing the show in Suicide Squad and earning the main role in Birds of Prey. She was once more one of The Suicide Squad's greatest elements. Read on to learn about 5 iconic performances given by Margot Robbie. 

Mary Queen Of Scots 

Margot Robbie claimed that she had to be persuaded to take on the role of Elizabeth I in the movie Mary Queen Of Scots because she was "terrified" of following in the footsteps of legendary actors like Cate Blanchett. Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie portray royal cousins who are engaged in a power struggle with one another over the kingdom. In contrast to Robbie's Protestant Queen Elizabeth I of England, Ronan portrays Mary, the Catholic queen of Scotland. The passionate, complex Mary Queen of Scots and Robbie’s performance are the few things that make a stronger argument for reevaluating the patriarchal historical truths we have come to accept.

The Wolf Of Wall Street 

Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio are at their most contagious and dynamic in The Wolf of Wall Street, which is hilarious, self-referential, and utterly wicked. Martin Scorsese has demonstrated in his decades of directing how he is able to extract the best performances from his actors. While some movies include legendary performers like Robert De Niro, others use actors who are less experienced, at least when the movie was being filmed, such as Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver. There are times when a person can surprise both themselves and other people. The ideal illustration of this is Robbie's decision to deviate from the script. The future isn't predetermined, of course, but Robbie's audition and life itself demonstrate that occasionally the riskiest decisions can result in the best outcomes.

The Suicide Squad

The Suicide Squad is a humorous, fast-paced return that plays to the violent, anarchic characteristics of the original material. It is enlivened by writer-director James Gunn's distinctly twisted vision. Most comics-savvy moviegoers would describe Suicide Squad as a "mess"—a (profitable) failure that was difficult to sit through despite the appearance of Margot Robbie's incredibly powerful Harley Quinn. Since Harley spends much of her time on the island alone and away from the other Squadsters, she has the opportunity to exercise self-determination in a way that is more predictable. She discovers that her brand of joyful anarchy has made her a hero throughout the world. When told that she "symbolises anti-American fervour," Robbie put herself in Harley’s shows to observe her eyes briefly go wide with confusion, as if her disregard for social norms is so fundamental that she could never imagine caring about any type of political system. 

Focus

Robbie's first on-screen pairing with Will Smith came in 2015's Focus. Robbie has classic movie star magnetism as Jess Barrett, an ambitious, aspirational con woman who is taken under the wing of Smith's cunning Nicky Spurgeon and ultimately falls in love with him. But when this romance comes to an end, Robbie masterfully assumes the role of a "femme fatale," keeping the viewers on their toes and making them continuously question their faith in her integrity. Being enigmatic without becoming annoying is a difficult tightrope act to walk, but Robbie pulls it off with ease, establishing herself as a formidable cinematic presence for the ages.

Suggested Reading: Margot Robbie To Lead The New Pirates Of The Caribbean Film

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

Tate is thankfully left alone by the writer-director, who gives Robbie the freedom to just inhabit this icon rather than turning her into a typical Tarantino "troublemaker" and making her tap out quick-witted remarks. As a result, the movie is all the more effective. Robbie savours Tate's wistful and whimsical amazement as we witness what may very well be some of her final days, enabling her to exist unaware of the hostility that awaits and to only enjoy her daily excursions. It seems so simple on the surface, but the scene in which she is sitting in a movie theatre, sweetly in awe of the audience's amusement at her acting, is illuminating in execution and demonstrates Robbie's devoted attention to expressing every aspect of Tate's identity.

The views expressed are the author's own.