Margot Robbie Reveals the Film That Changed How She Sees Herself as an Actor

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Margot Robbie is known for her iconic roles, but one film particularly changed how she viewed her own acting ability.

Margot Robbie became a worldwide star after her breakout role as Harley Quinn in the 2016 film, Suicide Squad. She reprised the character in both Birds of Prey and the subsequent The Suicide Squad.

Although those movies brought her widespread recognition, Margot Robbie has explained that a different project was actually the one that significantly altered her perception of her own abilities.

The movie I, Tonya, released in 2017 and directed by Craig Gillespie, marked a turning point for Margot Robbie. She starred as the often-debated figure skater Tonya Harding in the film, which proved to be a commercial success, earning $53 million globally despite costing only $11 million to make. Critics enjoyed the movie, and Robbie even received an Academy Award nomination for her performance.

I was reading an interview with Robbie, and she talked about how much work went into getting ready for the role. She said learning to ice skate wasn’t easy – it took months of really dedicated practice!

She explained that she trained intensely for several months – five days a week for four hours each day. It was challenging at first, and she struggled to grasp the concepts. However, with time, things started to make sense. She realized the sport was extremely demanding, but after dedicated training, she began to improve and eventually found it very enjoyable. Now, she’s truly passionate about it.

Robbie explained her strong connection to the character of Tonya Harding, telling Deadline that she felt an emotional resonance with her story. She was drawn to Harding as an athlete and an underdog, which made it easy to empathize with her. Robbie likened Harding’s life to the classic stories of people who rise to prominence and then fall from grace – a type of narrative she personally enjoys.

By thoroughly researching Harding’s life and difficulties, Robbie was able to portray a more sympathetic and relatable side to a figure who had often been criticized. She later realized she had developed a surprisingly deep understanding of the character.

That experience stayed with Robbie for a long time. She revealed at the 2022 BAFTAs that watching herself in the movie I, Tonya was when she finally understood she was a talented actress. The role gave her a level of confidence she’d never known before, empowering her to contact filmmakers she looked up to. This newfound confidence ultimately led to her reaching out to Quentin Tarantino and eventually landing the part of Sharon Tate in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

I, Tonya tells the story of figure skater Tonya Harding’s career and the infamous 1994 attack on her competitor, Nancy Kerrigan. The film uses a mix of interviews, dark comedy, and direct addresses to the audience to recount the events. Margot Robbie not only starred in the film but also helped produce it. The movie features a strong cast, including Sebastian Stan and Allison Janney, who won an Oscar and other awards for her performance. The film itself was widely recognized with nominations and wins at major award ceremonies.

The film I, Tonya is considered a turning point in Robbie’s career. It brought her critical acclaim and, importantly, boosted her confidence as an actress.

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2026-01-09 10:15