Margot Robbie (born February 27, 1990) began her acting career on the long-running Australian soap series Neighbours, which also showcases Russell Crowe and Kylie Minogue.
Margot Robbie has established herself as an actress by portraying a wide range of characters in both comics and films, from heroines to heroes to wicked Barbies. She has been nominated for multiple Academy Awards thanks to her ability to represent multifaceted characters on screen convincingly. With the release of her latest film, Barbie, this week, Complex prepared a list of Margot’s 12 most-rated films on IMDB.
Robbie made it look easy to juggle the various characters, plots, and sequels in 2016’s Suicide Squad; she gave Harley Quinn equal parts craziness and charm, and she will further develop this offbeat antihero in 2020’s Birds of Prey.
Mary Queen of Scots (2018) – 6.3
Stream Now on Netflix, Prime Video and Apple TV
Genres: Biography, Drama, History
The way Robbie plays Elizabeth I is mesmerizing. Robbie’s acting skills are on full display, from her commanding presence to the inner turmoil she experiences as queen. Robbie successfully captures the tense nature of their interactions and the political underpinnings of their relationship.
Ronan shines with an unconventional independence that rings true in the modern era, while Robbie reveals her softer side. Even with the ridiculous red wig, chalky skin, and scars from Elizabeth’s smallpox, her beauty shines through, and it is impossible to forget that she was previously Australia’s Next Top Model.
Their reunion is poignant because it exemplifies the challenges women face in positions of authority and shows how Mary, who fought for her rights and kingdom while remaining independent, and Elizabeth I, who remained firm yet yearned for an heir who could assume her throne, met each other halfway.
Even though Beau Willimon’s script occasionally simplifies complex relationships to broad incidents and some costumes appear anachronistic, Margot Robbie and Saoirse Ronan’s captivating lead performances and an outstanding supporting cast (including Jack Lowden, who excelled in 2017’s underrated Calibre or Dunkirk) elevate this peripatetic drama.
Focus (2015) – 6.6
Stream Now on Hulu
Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Romance
In Focus she teams up with Will Smith for a romantic tale about con artists at their peak – Robbie plays each plot twist with dexterous grace while keeping everything Hollywood-chic!
Nicky, played by Will Smith, is a seasoned gentleman thief whom rookie Jess (Margot Robbie) sets her sights on. Nicky agrees to work with Jess to pick each other’s brains and teach each other some valuable tricks. The film’s sophisticated tone comes from director Glenn Ficarra and writer John Requa, known for their work on Bad Santa and I Love You, Phillip Morris, respectively.
Robbie’s movie star charisma is on full display, lifting even the most mediocre scripts with ease, and is the driving force behind several of the film’s most memorable scenes, such as when she is surprised by the camera crew’s tearful reaction or when she struggles to hide her frustration during shoots.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2016) – 6.6
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Genres: Biography, Comedy, Drama, War
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, is a fun film based on Kim Barker’s memoir The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and it marks Margot Robbie’s first dramatic role. Robbie and Martin Freeman were the real stars of the event, but Tina Fey kept Jimmy Fallon on his toes with her fast wit and impeccable language.
Kim Baker (Fey), a TV journalist, accepts a three-year assignment reporting on the Iraq War from Kabul. There, she meets other journalists, their hunky security escorts, and the expat social scene, which immerse her in an altered version of the Western lifestyle, resulting in some unforgettable scenes involving female friendships and competitive maneuvering within high-stakes professional environments.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot delves into the impact deployment can have on loved ones left behind. Despite its lack of intensity, the film provides insightful analysis that uses just enough comedy to avoid coming off as propaganda.
The film’s star gets the spotlight, but director Glen Ficarra and writer John Requa also deserve credit for their stellar casting of supporting characters that significantly improve the film. In particular, Margot Robbie’s performance as journalist Tanya Vanderpoel stands out for its talent, wit, and unwavering humanity.
Bombshell (2019) – 6.8
Stream Now on Apple TV
Genres: Biography, Drama
Margot Robbie has a unique talent for balancing high-profile film roles with more introspective projects that show off her acting range and earn her critical acclaim. This is true whether she plays the earnest figure skater of I, Tonya, or Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad.
Robbie’s efforts in Bombshell appear to have paid off, as she was nominated for an Oscar for her portrayal of Kayla Pospisil, an amalgamation of women who went up against Fox News founder Roger Ailes following multiple women’s allegations of sexual harassment, which Ailes rejected. She could now be considered for the award for Best Supporting Actress.
The script by Charles Randolph lives up to its billing as an eye-opening look at how regular people can bring down individuals with incredible power, money, and corruption in their veins. Robbie becomes the emotional center of the film as she bears witness to Ailes’ sexual harassment of female employees and to her own and others’ eventual degradation.
Robbie’s sublime portrayal of Kayla, an amalgamation of several real staffers portrayed here, through subtle pain and heartbreaking innocence lost, sets her apart from the other nominees for Best Supporting Actress, including Kate McKinnon for her portrayal of Megyn Kelly and Allison Janney for her extraordinary turn as Ailes’ attorney Susan Estrich. Ailes’s public shaming of Kayla will also leave you reeling.
Suite Française (2014) – 7.0
Stream Now on Prime Video
Genres: Drama, Romance, Thriller, War
Suite Francaise is a powerful and intriguing exploration of love, devotion, and complicated feelings, and it is based on a novel by Irene Nemirovsky set in France during the Nazi occupation. Despite some shaky accent delivery by Margot Robbie and a lackluster performance from Michelle Williams as Lucile, Matthias Schoenaerts stands out as the disgruntled farmer sent to the German officer’s platoon. The combination of Eduard Grau’s gorgeous photography and their smoldering chemistry elevates this World War II drama above the norm.
Suite Francaise features the extraordinary charisma and talent of Michelle Williams, and it tells the story of a French woman’s fragile affair with a Nazi soldier during World War II. The story is compelling because of the outstanding performances of Michelle Williams and Matthias Schoenaerts in the leading roles.
Lucile, played by Robbie, is a naïve rural girl who finds herself attracted to Bruno (Matthias Schoenaerts). The film delivers a compelling story about love during warfare, although their romance feels forced at moments. Kristen Scott Thomas shines as Lucile, while Matthias Schoenaerts gives Bruno a dangerous softness that only increases the tension.
Goodbye Christopher Robin (2017) – 7.1
Stream Now on Disney+ and Apple TV
Genres: Biography, Drama, Family
In Goodbye Christopher Robin, Margot Robbie plays the role of Daphne, the mother of Christopher Robin, whose son’s mischievous antics inspired Winnie the Pooh. Kelly MacDonald, who plays his nanny, is shown in a strong and symbolic way of upper-crust English society. She is a sympathetic force who always has his best interests at heart.
With a fantastic portrayal as Daphne in this British drama about A.A. Milne. Christopher Robin (Will Tilston), the son of Winnie the Pooh author A. A. Milne, and the Milnes. Daphne Milne, played by Robbie, is the mother of Christopher Robin (Will Tilston) and Milne’s wife. To Milne’s Daphne, she is Daphne. Robbie portrays Daphne to Will Tilston’s Milne’s Christopher Robin, while Will Tilston plays Christopher Robin.
Directed by Simon Curtis (“My Week with Marilyn,” “Woman in Gold”) and set in a grand country home, this film is a beautiful family drama. Curtis gives gorgeous cinematography of the country estate location, lighting it all in breathtakingly attractive ways; the scenes set within Hundred Acre Wood, the nursery for many of the film’s iconic characters and the site of some of its most powerful emotional moments, are awe-inspiring.
Babylon (2022) – 7.1
Stream Now on Apple TV and Prime Video
Genres: Comedy, Drama, History
Since making her acting debut in Quentin Tarantino’s Manson Story, in which she portrayed Sharon Tate, Margot Robbie has shown she is capable of much more. Her portrayal of Nellie LaRoy, a gorgeous Hollywood starlet in the 1920s, in Babylon, a film directed by Damien Chazelle, is multifaceted and evocative.
Nellie Robbie (Robin Wright Penn), Jack Conrad (Brad Pitt), and Manuel Torres (Diego Calva) are the three main protagonists in “Love Letter 2,” the second “love letter to Hollywood” from director David Fincher. There’s a lot of excess, decadence, fun, and injustice as the characters make their way through the mayhem that is the transition from silent to sound filmmaking.
Robbie’s portrayal of Nellie is the film’s crowning achievement; she creates a fascinating protagonist who navigates Hollywood’s destructive side and the industry’s attempts to stifle women who are outspoken, confident, and sexually uninhibited. Tragically, viewers may get bored of Nellie’s destructive antics rather quickly.
Robbie uses Nellie, who is both entertaining and annoying, to showcase the kind of star power seen in only the best actors. Nellie forgetting her lines during a scene where gaffers are sneezing, and doors are slamming is hilariously absurd.
Barbie (2023) – 7.1
Stream Now on Apple TV
Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Margot Robbie has always astonished viewers with her ability to completely transform into any character she plays, whether Sharon Tate in Hitch, Harley Quinn in Batman, Nellie LaRoy in Babylon, or Stereotypical Barbie in Barbie. Robbie’s portrayal of Stereotypical Barbie in Barbie left a lasting impression. In the film, she coexists with Issa Rae’s President Barbie, Alexandra Shipp’s Doctor Barbie, and Dua Lipa’s Mermaid Barbie, all of whom play more realistic roles.
There has been a lot of Oscar buzz surrounding Margot Robbie’s performance as Barbie, and for good reason. The actress has had several notable roles in films, including her breakout performance as Harley Quinn in Batman v Superman and her sad performance as Sharon Tate in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Still, her appearance as Mattel’s iconic doll, Barbie, may be her most remarkable performance yet.
It’s an empowering and freeing part that allows her to stretch her acting abilities to the limit, unlike the roles she took on in Bombshell and Birds of Prey. Towards the end of the film, she gives a moving speech in which she confronts the many hypocritical paradoxes that young women face as they mature. This dramatic point in the film’s narrative arc gives an already irony-filled film even more impact.
The Suicide Squad (2021) – 7.2
Stream Now on Netflix and Prime Video
Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Margot Robbie’s portrayal of the conflicted Harley Quinn in The Suicide Squad sets her apart as a notable actor in this DC Universe bad guy extravaganza. Quinn’s anarchic humor, brazen sexuality, and undisguised cuckoo-ness set her apart from the misfiring Squad members.
She also has the physicality to be compelling during fight scenes, and she does so with a graceful balletic grace, twirling and flipping away enemies as they come at her. This is so entertaining that it deserves its own movie spinoff, proving that this actress is capable of more than just pouting and looking good in tight clothing.
The film’s faulty notions detracted from the otherwise impressive performances. Margot Robbie shines out as a strong female lead because of the intensity she brings to her moments with Jared Leto’s Joker.
Robbie delivered a brilliant performance as she tried to rise beyond the script’s limitations and make a name for herself in the Hollywood film industry. Even if it wasn’t flawless, it was a fantastic scenario that proved she could hold her own as a writer. She’s off to a great start, and her independence is on full display here.
I, Tonya (2017) – 7.5
Stream now on Prime Video and Hulu
Genres: Biography, Comedy, Drama, Sport
Interviews with those engaged in one of the stranger scandals in recent memory—the 1994 conspiracy to kneecap Nancy Kerrigan, a rival figure skater, before the Olympics—would always be the center of this film. I, Tonya, directed by Craig Gillespie, is a black comedy/straight drama hybrid that succeeds thanks to the outstanding performances of its two characters.
With a performance that can be both heartbreakingly honest and delightfully hilarious, Margot Robbie perfectly captures Harding’s stern façade. She plays the victim or villain role without breaking stride or altering her signature wild curls and bright wardrobe.
Robbie has already demonstrated in her brief career that she can handle a wide range of material and play a variety of complex characters. Robbie’s portrayal of disgraced figure skating champion Tonya Harding encapsulates all of Harding’s paradoxes as both a public figure and self-image, as she was both a defiant hero and victim during her chaotic existence.
As Harding’s mother, Allison Janney is a perfect fit. Jeff Gillooly; Sebastian Stan, who has excelled in the past playing broken characters like in “The Martian” and “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” also does so here.
Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019) – 7.6
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Genres: Comedy, Drama
Many people had strong feelings about Margot Robbie’s casting as Sharon Tate on Once Upon a Time… here in Hollywood. Not because of her acting (she’s fantastic), but because she and her co-stars in Once Upon a Time have fewer lengthy conversations than Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt do within the Hollywood area. Many people wondered after the Cannes premiere if Tarantino had just inserted Western clichés into the film since Margot was in it.
Despite having less speaking time and less screen time than her male co-stars, Robbie leaves an indelible impression. She gives Tate life with a light, buoyant, and optimistic performance; by the film’s end, Tate seems ready to achieve greatness.
She goes to watch herself in a Dean Martin movie, and the experience is both hilarious and heartbreaking. She smiles and cheers along with the audience as she watches herself on television, and you can almost feel the energy yourself.
That scene is a poignant reminder that Margot Robbie can accomplish anything if she is willing to take risks and accept challenging parts. For that reason alone, she was a perfect choice to play Sharon Tate in this film, and I do not doubt that her performance will be discussed for years to come.
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) – 8.2
Stream Now on Netflix
Genres: Biography, Comedy, Crime, Drama
Margot Robbie, an Australian actress, broke through in the United States with the lead part in Martin Scorsese’s white-collar criminal drama The Wolf of Wall Street. Robbie was already well-known in her native Australia thanks to roles in shows like Neighbours and Pan Am. Still, her daring performance as Naomi in Scorsese’s white-collar crime thriller catapulted her career into Hollywood’s biggest stages, paving the way for roles like Harley Quinn and Sing.
Naomi Belfort, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, is portrayed by Robbie. Robbie does a fantastic job as Naomi; her sexuality is a key element of Jordan Belfort’s deceptive toolkit, and she expertly juggles the two roles throughout the film. Robbie and DiCaprio share numerous fantastic combat scenes, but her best work comes when she uses defiance to overcome his cunning and grab the upper hand.
Robbie used improvised lines during her audition for this film; one scene she came up with on her own and delivered brilliantly was one in which she threw water in her husband’s face.
Robbie gives us laughs without watering them down, as when she mocks her husband’s gym membership by calling him an “owl.” She never lets anybody else steal the spotlight from her in a scene, which is why her humorous moments are so memorable.
