Margot Robbie’s 10 Best Movies Ranked – From Breakout Roles to Award-Winning Hits

Margot Robbie is undoubtedly one of the most successful actresses in Hollywood, headlining blockbuster films and excelling in every role.

After dominating this summer’s pop culture with her lead role in Barbie, Margot Robbie is riding a new career high and scooping up more fans by the minute.

Margot Robbie channeled classic Hollywood glamour with her softly pinned updo, radiant pink-toned makeup, and luminous blue eyes, elevated by a dramatic layered pearl choker and fluffy off-the-shoulder gown at the Barbie premiere (Credit: Nils Jorgensen / INSTARimages)

Refusing to ride on her undeniable good looks, this idolized actress fought her way to the top with ferocious determination and years of hard work, making her a perfect role model for any aspiring entertainer.

With two Academy Award nominations already in the bag, Margot Robbie is here to stay, and audiences are ready for more.

Margot Robbie radiated timeless elegance with her softly waved blonde hair, warm-toned makeup, and piercing blue eyes, perfectly complemented by a plunging rust-hued gown and statement pearl drop earrings (Credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock)

Despite being just 34, Margot Robbie has already built an impressive resume of over 30 film and television credits. Each role has amplified her star power, from indie gems to global blockbusters, and showcased her remarkable versatility.

To celebrate her meteoric rise and ongoing impact on Hollywood, we’re highlighting 10 of Margot Robbie’s most memorable and career-defining films.

Margot Robbie: From Circus School to Hollywood Icon

Margot Robbie was born on July 2, 1990, in the rural town of Dalby, Queensland, Australia. She is of German, Scottish, Sorbian, and remote Polish ethnic descent.

After her parents split up when she was only five years old, Margot spent most of her childhood at her maternal grandparents’ farm, growing up with her three siblings: a sister and two brothers. At 8 years old, Margot even participated in circus school, earning a trapeze certificate.

Standing at 5 feet 5 ½ inches (166.4 cm), Margot Robbie often turns to high heels to elevate her red carpet presence—literally and stylistically. Known for her love of designer footwear, she’s frequently spotted in towering stilettos and fashion-forward pumps. To combat the inevitable discomfort of long events in heels, Margot has shared one of her go-to beauty hacks: Still Standing, a soothing foot spray.

Margot Robbie brightened the red carpet in a sunshine-yellow mini dress paired with chunky lavender ankle-strap platform heels, creating a playful color-blocked look that showed off her long legs and effortless Aussie charm (Credit: Sara De Boer / Startraksphoto)

During high school, Margot was determined to become an actor and worked three jobs while also picking up roles in a few indie horror films.

After school, Margot moved from home to pursue her acting career, and she eventually picked up a regular role on the Australian soap opera Neighbours.

She made her feature film debut in the romantic comedy About Time in 2013 at the age of 22. That same year, Margot Robbie’s popularity exploded due to her role in the big-budget drama, The Wolf of Wall Street.

Springboarding off of her success, she focused on the development side of cinema. Together with her future husband, Tom Ackerley, she opened her own production studio, LuckyChap Entertainment.

Glowing with youthful radiance, Margot Robbie turned heads with voluminous lashes, shimmering smoky eyeshadow, and glossy pink lips—her tousled blonde waves and confident smile completing the fresh, red carpet-ready look (Credit: Dave Proctor / Startraksphoto)

In the decade since, Margot Robbie has become a household name and one of the premier leading ladies in Hollywood. Let’s look at some of the best films of her career and see how much she’s made a remarkable impact on cinema.

10. Falling for Margot: Her Film Debut in About Time

About Time is a lighthearted romantic drama written and directed by Richard Curtis. It was Margot Robbie’s feature film debut.

Margot Robbie exudes youthful charm as Charlotte in the 2013 romantic comedy-drama About Time, marking one of her earliest feature film appearances (Credit: Universal Pictures)

The movie tells the story of a young man named Tim Lake (Domhnall Gleeson), who discovers he can travel back to previous points. Using the power to better his love life, Tim hops back and forth from past to present, searching for true love.

In the film, Margot Robbie plays Charlotte, a friend of Tim’s younger sister and the first woman he tries to woo with his time-traveling abilities. Her soft presence and undeniable glow easily charmed audiences with this initial role.

9. A Star Among Stars: Margot Robbie in Asteroid City

Created by the illustrious and celebrated director Wes Anderson, Asteroid City is a comedy with a cast list that speaks volumes.

The movie, set in the 1950s and detailing the production of the fictional, eponymous stage play, stars Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Tilda Swinton, Bryan Cranston, Willem Dafoe, and many more.

Jason Schwartzman as Augie Steenbeck and Tom Hanks as Stanley Zak in the 2023 comedy-drama film Asteroid City (Credit: Focus Features / Universal Pictures)

As a play within a movie, Margot Robbie plays two roles: Mrs. Steenbeck on stage and the unnamed actress who plays her.

During a few scenes toward the film’s end, Margot bounces off lead actor Jason Schwartzman with impeccable chemistry, leaving an impact with her brief screen time.

8. Survival and Suspense: Leading Z for Zachariah

Based on Robert C. O’Brien’s 1974 book, Z for Zachariah is a sci-fi film about a handful of survivors living on a post-apocalyptic Earth.

Margot Robbie as Ann Burden, Chiwetel Ejiofor as John Loomis, and Chris Pine as Caleb in the 2015 apocalyptic science fiction film Z for Zachariah (Credit: Lionsgate / Roadside Attractions)

Margot Robbie stars as farmer Ann Burden, who meets two other survivors, John Loomis (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Caleb (Chris Pine). As the trio attempts to solve various problems in this new life, a love triangle emerges, leading to tension and disagreement.

At 25 years old, Margot Robbie did an excellent job in the lead role, helping her career grow. Interestingly enough, Margot lucked out with Z for Zachariah, as she only obtained the role of Ann after the original actress, Amanda Seyfried, dropped out due to her schedule.

7. Harley Takes Center Stage: Margot in Birds of Prey

Based on the DC comic book series, Birds of Prey was directed by Cathy Yan and stars Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn.

Margot Robbie fully embraces her chaotic antihero persona as Harley Quinn, wielding her signature baseball bat in the 2020 DC superhero film Birds of Prey (Credit: YouTube)

In the film, Harley gathers a ragtag group of heroes, including The Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett), and others. Together, they aim to take down the ruthless crime lord Black Mask (Ewan McGregor) after he puts a bounty on their youngest member.

Margot Robbie must have been eager to fill the shoes of Harley Quinn again, as she pitched the idea for the movie to the executives of Warner Bros.

6. The Breakout Role: The Wolf of Wall Street

The Wolf of Wall Street may not have been Margot Robbie’s first movie, but the movie put her on the map in a big way.

Margot Robbie captivates as Naomi Lapaglia in The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), exuding glamor and confidence in one of her most iconic and career-defining roles (Credit: Paramount Pictures)

Directed by Martin Scorsese, one of the best cinematic auteurs of our time, The Wolf of Wall Street tells the true story of seedy stockbroker Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio).

In the film, Margot Robbie plays the role of Jordan’s second “trophy” wife, Naomi, who wields immense power over her husband through sly seduction.

Due to the excessive amount of attention she gained from the undeniably steamy role, Margot Robbie considered quitting acting altogether. Still, she decided to stay in the business after discussing the situation with her mother.

5. Real Meets Fiction: Playing Sharon Tate in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood

Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood is a dark comedy and drama written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. It stars an ensemble of actors, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and others.

Margot Robbie portrays actress Sharon Tate with grace and subtle vulnerability in Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 film Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, capturing the spirit of 1960s Hollywood (Credit: Sony Pictures Releasing)

Set in Hollywood circa 1969, the movie follows fictional actor Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his stunt double, Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), as they try to salvage a crumbling career.

Mixing real life with fiction, the 28-year-old Margot Robbie plays Sharon Tate, the real aspiring actress who was murdered by the Manson Family cult in 1969.

Ensuring that she respectfully portrayed the deceased, Margot Robbie spent time with Sharon’s sister, Debra, who even let her borrow some of Sharon’s old jewelry to wear in the film.

4. Economics Made Sexy: Margot Robbie in The Big Short

Based on Michael Lewis’s book, The Big Short is a drama that details the global economic crisis of 2008 and how a faulty housing market in the United States spurred it.

Although thoroughly entertaining, the film deals with some complex financial concepts. It features a handful of celebrity cameos to help explain these confusing rules.

The impressive ensemble cast of the 2015 biographical crime comedy-drama film The Big Short (Credit: Paramount Pictures)

Sipping champagne and enjoying a bubble bath, Margot Robbie, who appears in the film as herself at 24 years old, effortlessly explains the corrupt system of subprime mortgages and the concept of “shorting” a stock.

This is easily one of Margot Robbie’s most unique appearances in a film, and the scene’s legacy lives on. It most recently went viral during the GameStop stock short squeeze in 2021.

3. Her Biggest Box Office Hit Yet: Margot Shines in Barbie

Co-written and directed by Greta Gerwig, Barbie is a 2023 comedy based on the hugely popular Mattel toy brand. Playfully balancing cartoon-like wonder with some essential and progressive societal commentary, Barbie was a box office smash and easily one of Margot Robbie’s best films.

Margot Robbie brings the iconic doll to life as Barbie in Greta Gerwig’s 2023 fantasy comedy Barbie, dazzling in a pastel pink gingham dress and matching accessories inside her dreamhouse (Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

As you might expect, Margot Robbie plays the lead role of Barbie, the blonde-haired bombshell, who has everything going for her. However, Barbie’s perspective on life is shattered when she and her dutiful boyfriend Ken (Ryan Gosling) travel from Barbie Land to the real world.

Funnily enough, although Margot Robbie was an obvious pick for the lead role, she rarely played with Barbie dolls growing up and had little nostalgia for the brand.

2. Action-Packed and Unfiltered: Robbie Returns in The Suicide Squad

The Suicide Squad is a darkly comedic superhero film based on the DC comic book series, written and directed by James Gunn.

Although it contains characters from the previous film, Suicide Squad (2016), this movie tells a new story about a group of villains who must infiltrate the fictional island nation of Corto Maltese to destroy a secret government experiment.

Margot Robbie returns as Harley Quinn in The Suicide Squad (2021), delivering a fierce, action-packed performance in a bold red dress with her signature split-dye hair and deadly precision (Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

Reprising her role for the third time, Margot Robbie delivered another standout performance as Harley Quinn, infusing the film with her signature mix of charisma and chaos.

At 31, she tackled many of the action scenes herself, prompting director James Gunn to admit his “biggest regret later” was not showcasing more of her stunt work on screen.

1. Her Most Acclaimed Role: Margot Robbie Transforms in I, Tonya

Written by Steven Rogers and directed by Craig Gillespie, I, Tonya is a mockumentary-style sports biopic about the life story of professional figure skater Tonya Harding.

Margot Robbie transforms into disgraced figure skater Tonya Harding in I, Tonya (2017), delivering an intense and emotionally charged performance that earned her an Academy Award nomination (Credit: Neon / 30West)

Cheekily based on potentially misleading interviews, the film stars 27-year-old Margot Robbie as Tonya and details the athlete’s troubled early career and her subsequent involvement in the assault of competitor Nancy Kerrigan.

In addition to starring in this unique, genre-mixing film, Margot Robbie also directly helped in its creation, as it was the first film her company, LuckyChap Entertainment, helped produce.

Despite the touchy subject matter, I, Tonya was a hit with film critics, and Margot Robbie’s performance earned her an Academy Award nomination for Actress in a Leading Role.

Stepping Out in Style: Margot Robbie’s Most Iconic Red Carpet Moments

Margot Robbie has consistently captivated audiences with her impeccable fashion choices on the red carpet. Here are some of her most memorable looks and the standout footwear that complemented them:

Margot Robbie Dazzles in Schiaparelli at the ‘Asteroid City’ Premiere

• Event: ‘Asteroid City’ Premiere at Alice Tully Hall, New York City
• Outfit: Margot turned heads in a black-and-white Schiaparelli Spring/Summer 2023 couture dress, featuring a velvet bodice and a pleated white mini skirt.
• Footwear: She paired the ensemble with asymmetrical black pointed-toe pumps, adding a modern edge to the classic look.
• Read more: Margot Robbie’s Chic Schiaparelli Look at Asteroid City Premiere

Gothic Glamour: Margot Robbie in Saint Laurent at the Gotham Awards

• Event: 2017 Gotham Independent Film Awards
• Outfit: Embracing a sultry aesthetic, Margot wore a sequined emerald one-shoulder Saint Laurent dress with a draped detail and asymmetrical slit.
• Footwear: She completed the look with black velvet Saint Laurent ‘Amber’ sandals, exuding gothic glamour.
• See more: Margot Robbie Goes Gothic Glam in Head-to-Toe Saint Laurent

Margot Robbie turned heads at the 13th Governors Awards in Los Angeles wearing a stunning emerald green one-shoulder Bottega Veneta gown from the Resort 2023 collection, featuring a cut-out waist and elegant ruching (Credit: Blaine Ohigashi / ©A.M.P.A.S.)

Sequined Elegance: Margot Robbie at the ‘I, Tonya’ UK Premiere

• Event: ‘I, Tonya’ UK Premiere at The Curzon Mayfair, London
• Outfit: Margot sparkled in a floor-length Louis Vuitton dress adorned with black, silver, and white sequins.
• Footwear: She paired the dazzling gown with black leather Givenchy ‘Shark Tooth’ sandals, adding a bold touch to her ensemble.
• Discover more: Margot Robbie Sparkles in Louis Vuitton Sequin Dress and ‘Shark Tooth’ Sandals

Vintage Charm: Margot Robbie in Chanel at the Met Gala

• Event: 2023 Met Gala
• Outfit: As a Chanel ambassador, Margot wore a black floor-length gown from Chanel’s 1993 Haute Couture collection, originally modeled by Cindy Crawford.
• Footwear: She completed the vintage look with classic black Chanel heels, epitomizing timeless elegance.
• Explore her style: Margot Robbie Dazzles in Vintage Vinyl Corset Chanel Dress at Met Gala

Radiant in Red: Margot Robbie at the Critics’ Choice Awards

• Event: 2024 Critics’ Choice Awards
• Outfit: Margot embraced the all-red trend in a custom Balmain gown, featuring 3D rosettes along the off-the-shoulder neckline, reminiscent of the 1996 Radiant Rose Barbie.
• Footwear: She paired the vibrant gown with matching red heels, completing the monochromatic look.
• See her look: Margot Robbie Is Blooming in Custom Balmain at Critics’ Choice Awards

These red carpet moments highlight Margot Robbie’s versatility and ability to seamlessly blend classic elegance with modern trends, solidifying her status as a fashion icon.