A Filmmaker's Guide: Margot Robbie

In this chapter of ‘the filmmaker’s guide’ we’re actually going to be learning about literature and film together. I understand that many of you are sitting in university during difficult times and finding it increasingly hard to study and I understand that many of you who are not at university or not planning on it are possibly stuck of what to do, need a break or even need to catch up on learning film before you get to the next level. This guide will be brief but will also contain: new vocabulary, concepts and theories, films to watch and we will be exploring something taboo until now in the ‘filmmaker’s guide’ - academia (abyss opens). Each article will explore a different concept of film, philosophy, literature or bibliography/filmography etc. in order to give you something new to learn each time we see each other. You can use some of the words amongst family and friends to sound clever or you can get back to me (email in bio) and tell me how you’re doing. So, strap in and prepare for the filmmaker’s guide to film studies because it is going to be one wild ride.

Margot Robbie

Australian-born actress Margot Robbie should be known for a lot more than just her stunning appearance, but that often gets in the way as well, of her great acting talent. Born in the early 90s, Margot Robbie would have grown up with all the greatness of the changing era of cinema through the 2000s. Starting off her roles in Australian TV shows and then moving on to shows such as Pan Am, where she portrayed a 1950s-looking blonde hostess - Margot Robbie really had to work up from the bottom to get where she is today. Fascinatingly, Margot Robbie does not actually come from any money at all. Growing up not necessarily poor, but definitely nowhere near middle class, Robbie often had to hold down jobs as a teenager to help her mother pay the bills. A great amount of respect should go out to this woman who had no other option than to work her ass off for years.

In about thirty years or so, I bet that Margot Robbie is going to be one of the classic actresses of our era. A sort of blend between the Marilyn Monroe rom-com queen and the Bette Davis bad-ass. A goddess of cinema in our era, I would like to take a look at all the range and quality of the films of Margot Robbie so far. Expansive as it is, it is a wonder to me why she has not won a Best Actress Oscar yet.

I would like to take the time to say how much I love and adore Margot Robbie. Now, let us take a look at her incredible filmography and her best roles.

The Best Roles of Margot Robbie

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

Naomi. A bad ass. A businesswoman. A control-freak. She is everything that entails to be this machiavellian anti-hero in a drama about one of the world's greatest assholes - Jordan Belfort. In real life, as in the movie, the woman is a beautiful representation of class and style. Margot Robbie portrays her with an air of mystery, an air of pompousness and this twisted reality in which she has been drawn into that definitely is not suiting her well. I thought that this breakout role really defined how far Margot Robbie could go. But then I watched her as Harley Quinn.

Suicide Squad (2016)

Even if you did not enjoy the movie itself, you have to admit that the Harley Quinn phenomena that came out of it was an absolute hit. Harley Quinn has now become one of the characters that is synonymous with the new DC universe and has even gotten her own spin-off movie entitled "Birds of Prey". The outfits, the design and the portrayal of the character all scream 1980s glam pop crazy and honestly, I think it suits Margot Robbie very well. I do not think that anyone else in this role could have done this as fluidly and with the air of satire that Margot Robbie brings to it.

I, Tonya (2017)

A masterpiece of a performance in my opinion. Margot Robbie's finest piece of work as the disgraced ice skater, Tonya Harding. I think we all have an image of a horrid and awful contestant who would do anything to win when we think of Tonya Harding. If you have not heard of her then please proceed to watch this film because it is scarily accurate - Ms. Harding said it herself. I would say that this is my favourite ever performance by a woman in a biopic but then again Diana Ross in "Lady Sings the Blues" exists. Margot Robbie as Tonya Harding is definitely in the top five though.

Mary, Queen of Scots (2018)

I went to see this in the cinema alone whilst my older brother and his wife were on their honeymoon somewhere, I don't remember where. But I felt like this was a highly underrated performance because you completely forget that it is Margot Robbie, the same woman who plays Harley Quinn. You forget that this is that woman because of the way Elizabeth I is being presented as this almost broken queen who is nearing the end of her friendship with Mary. She has no other options than to listen to her court. It is an amazing and Oscar-Worthy performance in my opinion. Dangerously emotional and very alike to Cate Blanchett's performance as Queen Elizabeth I as well.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)

Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate was absolutely praised by Sharon Tate's sister who saw the film and felt that it was her sister before her untimely death. Mostly, Margot Robbie's role was based on actions, expressions and body language as Sharon Tate did not talk that much. She provided this backdrop for Hollywood, creating this image of a 1960s culture queen. Whilst Tarantino paid his homage to her through having her avoid certain death and giving her a happy ending of still being alive, this alternate history seems like a film made for Sharon Tate and her beautiful, wonderful legacy of being both a fashion icon and a great actress. I won't lie when I say that I almost cried.