Margot Robbie, who rose to fame after her stunning performance in The Wolf of Wall Street, has been actively working on various projects since then. Her versatility as an actress is evident from her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I in Mary Queen of Scots, her role as Harley Quinn in the DC movies Birds of Prey and The Suicide Squad, and her depiction of Sharon Tate in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. However, despite these commercial successes, Robbie considers her work in I, Tonya as her best performance so far.
Robbie was a relatively new face in Hollywood when she landed the role in the biographical film, I, Tonya. Despite having already appeared in The Wolf of Wall Street and Suicide Squad, Robbie was uncertain about her potential in the industry. However, working on I, Tonya helped her overcome those doubts and boosted her confidence as an actress. In fact, Robbie has revealed that it was the first time she watched a movie and thought she was a good actor. This newfound confidence even led her to reach out to Quentin Tarantino which resulted in her being cast in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood alongside DiCaprio and Pitt. Despite initial concerns about her playing the disgraced ice skater, Tonya Harding, Robbie delivered a stellar performance in the film.
Margot Robbie had already established her acting skills before the pre-production of “I, Tonya” began. However, the film’s producer, Bryan Unkeless, was concerned whether the Australian actress could convincingly portray Tonya Harding on screen. Despite his doubts, Unkeless was impressed by the determination and intensity behind Robbie’s eyes, which he observed during the audition. Robbie spent a significant amount of time on the rink with choreographer Sarah Kawahara to prepare for the role. However, her preparation took a toll on her body, leading to a herniated disk on her neck. Although she could not perform the triple axel herself, she studied Harding’s footage for six months to perfect her portrayal. Robbie also worked on her posture to convey Harding’s vulnerability and constant need for validation. The film marked Robbie’s debut as a producer.
Steven Rogers discovered Harding’s story after his niece made him watch an ESPN documentary about Nancy Kerrigan. He was drawn to Harding, who had lost her career after her then-husband Jeff Gillooly orchestrated an attack against Kerrigan. Rogers tracked Harding down and even spoke with Gillooly while writing the script for “I, Tonya.” After sending the script to various producers, including indie production companies, the film landed on Margot Robbie’s radar. Robbie read the script with her then-boyfriend Tom Ackerley, and they decided to produce the movie despite the risk involved. “I, Tonya” became a critical hit and earned Robbie her first Oscar nomination, leading to the formation of LuckyChap Entertainment, which has produced other successful projects such as “Birds of Prey,” “Maid,” and “Dollface.” Robbie is also producing Greta Gerwig’s highly anticipated live-action “Barbie” movie, in which she will play the iconic Mattel character.
