Margot Robbie doesn’t flinch. Not in her performances, not in interviews, and definitely not in the choices that rocketed her from indie anonymity to Hollywood royalty. Take her full-frontal scene in The Wolf of Wall Street, the moment that burned her into the minds of millions as Naomi Lapaglia, the sultry and sharp-tongued bombshell who weaponizes sexuality like a master tactician. That decision? All Robbie. Scorsese might’ve been at the helm, but this was her play—and she wasn’t about to half-ass it.
Appearing on TCM’s Talking Pictures podcast, Robbie revealed that Martin Scorsese, legendary director and purveyor of cinematic grit, actually gave her an out. “He said, ‘Maybe you can be wearing a robe if you’re not comfortable,’” Robbie recounted. But for her, it wasn’t about comfort. It was about authenticity. “That’s not what she would do in that scene,” Robbie said. “The whole point is that she’s going to come out completely naked—that’s the card she’s playing right now.”
And she’s right. Naomi Lapaglia isn’t timid, and neither is Robbie. The scene—iconic, divisive, unforgettable—wasn’t just about shock value. It was about power, agency, and, let’s face it, the kind of cinematic charisma that only someone like Robbie could bring to the table.
A Star is Born: How Robbie Made DiCaprio Sweat
Let’s rewind to Robbie’s audition. Picture it: Leonardo DiCaprio, Hollywood’s golden boy, reading lines with a then-unknown actress from Australia. The script calls for a kiss—a safe, predictable move. But Robbie, channeling a mix of Naomi’s brazenness and her own wild instinct, made a different choice.
“I thought, ‘I could kiss Leonardo DiCaprio right now, and that would be awesome. I can’t wait to tell all of my friends this,’” Robbie said. “And then I thought, nah. And just walloped him in the face.”
The slap landed with a crack that echoed in the room. Dead silence. For a second, Robbie thought she’d just kissed her career goodbye—well, figuratively, anyway. “I was thinking, ‘I’m going to get arrested. That’s assault or battery. Not only will you never work again, but you’re going to jail, you idiot.’”
Then came the laughter. DiCaprio, Scorsese, the room—everyone broke into hysterics. Robbie had done what every aspiring actor dreams of: she’d left an impression. “They said, ‘That was great.’”
It was more than great—it was gutsy, bold, and exactly what sealed her fate as Scorsese’s Naomi. Robbie didn’t just walk into the room and play a part; she flipped the script. Literally.
The Anatomy of a Breakout
The Wolf of Wall Street wasn’t just Robbie’s big break—it was her arrival as a force of nature. Released in 2013, the same year she charmed audiences in the underrated romance About Time, the film showcased Robbie’s ability to steal scenes, go toe-to-toe with DiCaprio, and own her power on screen.
She didn’t stop there. Fast-forward six years, and Robbie reunited with DiCaprio for Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, cementing her status as one of the most versatile and bankable stars in the industry. From I, Tonya to Barbie, she’s made a career of defying expectations and redefining what it means to be a leading lady in Hollywood.
No Regrets, No Apologies
Looking back on her Wolf of Wall Street experience, Robbie remains unapologetic. The full-frontal scene that could have been dialed back? The slap that could have cost her the role? These weren’t just moments—they were statements. “You’ve got to go all in,” Robbie seems to say with every move she makes. “Or why bother?”
Margot Robbie isn’t just an actress. She’s a modern-day icon, a disruptor in heels, and proof that the boldest choices often lead to the biggest payoffs. Whether she’s slapping DiCaprio or redefining Barbie, one thing’s clear: she plays by her own rules—and Hollywood is better for it.
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Last modified: December 4, 2024
