The latest set video from 2023's live-action Barbie provides further proof that Margot Robbie's portrayal of the iconic toy isn't going to be what so many expect it to be. This appears to be a Barbie who's far more than a superficial airhead, a character who shrugs off short-sighted pigeonholing, much as Robbie herself continues to do with her acting career.
Having initially been introduced to wider film audiences in 2013, Robbie has since received two Oscar nominations and continues to reinvent herself for each and every role she takes on. She's truly one of the most talented actors working today and it often feels as though her best work is still yet to come. Redditors seem to agree with this assessment, and the following list represents their appreciation for her body of work.
As the #MeToo movement gained momentum in the latter half of the 2010's, the story of a trio of Fox News reporters coming forth after experiencing sexual harassment from Fox CEO Roger Ailes was adapted into a film by Jay Roach. Margot Robbie portrayed Kayla Pospisil, alongside Charlize Theron as Megyn Kelly, and Nicole Kidman as Gretchen Carlson.
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Although Bombshell didn't perform well at the box office, Robbie's performance received considerable acclaim. Robbie was nominated for a best-supporting actress Oscar for her efforts, and despite not winning, Redditor u/alon55555 offers a commonly held opinion of Robbie's work in the film stating, "I've just finished watching Bombshell and I think that Margot Robbie is outstanding."
In 1994, American figure skater Tony Harding was embroiled in controversy after her fellow competitor Nancy Kerrigan was attacked. The subsequent investigation lead to Harding being found complicit in the attack. She was banned from competitive figure skating for life, and in 2017, this dramedy biopic was released, with Robbie starring as Harding.
I, Tonya is a compelling, often hilarious watch that wouldn't have been the same without Robbie. Her performance helps cast a sympathetic gaze on Harding and the life she worked so hard to get - only to have it ruined by others. Redditor u/OtherPete isn't exaggerating when they sum up Robbie's Harding role with "She is phenomenal in "I, Tonya"."
The iconic Tarzan character has been the source of numerous film and TV adaptations over the years. With 2016's The Legend of Tarzan, an attempt was made to bring the character back yet again, undoubtedly in hopes of building a franchise. While the film had a strong cast which included Robbie, its critical and box office results were modest.
Not everything an actor appears in can be a massive hit, and sometimes their performance is one of the main reasons to check out a film. This seems to be the case for some with The Legend of Tarzan, in which Robbie's performance as Tarzan's wife Jane has been singled out. Redditor u/MovieMike007 acknowledges this with "She was pretty fun as Jane in The Legend of Tarzan and she had some great scenes with Christoph Waltz."
There have been several films over the years that have attempted to tell the real-life tale of the turbulent relationship between Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Stuart. This 2018 effort couldn't quite find the success it craved, despite a strong cast that included Margot Robbie as Queen Elizabeth and Saoirse Ronan as Stuart.
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Once again, Robbie delivers a performance that surpasses the quality of the film itself. As England's esteemed monarch she does what she can with the role, the likes of which are entirely worth a viewing. As Redditor u/Blucthulhu points out, "She doesn't get as much screen time as Saoirse Ronan but she's still very good in Mary Queen of Scots."
This 2015 post-apocalyptic drama had a cast of just three, with Robbie the sole female character alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor and Chris Pine. The film explored a love triangle during an extremely difficult and distressing time, but audiences simply weren't interested and Z For Zacharia was a substantial box office failure.
Z For Zacharia may not have found a great deal of favor with general audiences, but critics saw something more in the film. Robbie's performance was a particular highlight, and Redditor u/JMaesterN was one general audience member who enjoyed Robbie's performance enough to point to it as one of her best with a simple, "Z For Zachariah (2015)."
Martin Scorsese's star-studded epic was nominated for 5 Oscars and told the real-life story of stockbroker Jordan Belfort, as portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio. The film is full of debauchery and triumph, and Margo Robbie's role as Belfort's wife, Naomi Lapaglia, is an expertly crafted one.
Because of the often repellent behavior of Belfort and his cronies, The Wolf of Wall Street isn't necessarily for everyone. That being said, Robbie's small but essential role doesn't go unnoticed despite the film's grandeur. Redditor u/Getupkid1284 is one of many who ranks this as Robbie's best, acknowledging it with a simple "Wolf of Wallstreet (smaller part)."
As something of a standalone film for the popular Harley Quinn character, Birds of Prey managed to find success without the character's partner in crime, The Joker. The film was more or less well received by both critics and fans - a somewhat rare achievement within the narrow genre confines of superhero movies.
It's a testament to Robbie's popularity as Harley Quinn that the spin-off was made in the first place, and her ability to embrace the character's macabre side is truly worth seeing. Some might think the film isn't Robbie's best, but Redditor u/aduong disagrees, saying "Birds of Prey and before you roll your eyes trust me give it a try. Pure evil awesomeness."
Focus brought Will Smith and Margo Robbie together to tell the story of con man Nicky Spurgeon (Smith) who joins forces with amateur con artist Jess (Robbie). As Nicky helps Jess get better at her craft, the two enter into a love affair, only to break up and be reunited years later under less than favorable circumstances.
The film wasn't a particularly big hit, a surprise that gave the star power of both Smith and Robbie. That being said, Robbie was still able to charm critics and fans, and despite receiving middling reviews, the film still has its share of supporters. Redditor u/seantheaussie counts themselves as one of these supporters, admitting, "Focus is my favourite of hers..."
This underrated 2013 comedy-fantasy told the story of Tim Lake (Domhnall Gleason) who learns that the men of his family are able to travel backward in time. Reluctant at first, Tim employs the tactic to try and win over his crush, Charlotte (Robbie) before moving on to other romantic pursuits.
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About Time provided Robbie with the chance to play a young man's crush, something that didn't exactly stretch the bounds of her impressive acting abilities. Nonetheless, she pulled it off convincingly enough for Redditor user u/nashcameronn to answer the question of what her best movie is with a straightforward "About Time".
One of the biggest surprises of 2015 was Adam McKay's exploration of the American mortgage market and its effects on the 2009 financial crash. The film won the best-adapted screenplay Oscar and offered a talented cast comprised of Steve Carrell, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt, Marisa Tomei, and Margot Robbie.
This role was a particularly small one for Robbie, so much so that she wasn't even officially credited. Regardless, the brief scene with her drinking champagne in a bubble bath while explaining mortgage bonds is vital to the film's plot, as acknowledged by Redditor u/PhilRiversOnTrakt: "She has a small but important part in The Big Short (2015)".
Next: Margot Robbie & 9 Other Movie Stars Who Got Their Start On Neighbors