Painful Glamour: Why Margot Robbie Regretted The Wolf of Wall Street’s Infamous Sex Scene

Released to rave reviews when it premiered in 2013, The Wolf of Wall Street was popular with critics and immensely popular with audiences, ending its theatrical run with an impressive box office gross of USD 116 million.

If you’ve ever seen the film, you’d know exactly why it was such a hit with audiences. The plot is off-the-rails and features scenes of debauchery, drug use, and nonstop partying and indulgence, helmed by protagonist Jordan Belfort (played by Leonardo DiCaprio).

In the film, Margot Robbie wore several iconic outfits, often including high heels, emphasizing her character’s bold and seductive persona. In one scene, she briefly appears in a striking head-to-toe Versace outfit from the Fall 1991 collection—a favorite of hers. The look features a structured jacket, matching skirt, and Medusa-embellished boots, capturing her character’s bold, opulent essence.

Margot Robbie channels bold sophistication in a sleek black leather trench coat and knee-high stiletto boots while filming The Wolf of Wall Street on September 25, 2012, in New York City (Credit: Dara Kushner / INFphoto)

Starring alongside DiCaprio is Jonah Hill as Belfort’s unhinged business associate Donnie Azoff, and Margot Robbie, who famously plays Belfort’s sultry mistress (and later wife), Naomi Lapaglia.

Margot Robbie’s performance as Lapaglia was easily one of the most recognizable in the film. Her striking beauty and spunky personality helped shape some of the film’s most memorable scenes, especially when she shared the screen with the enigmatic DiCaprio, whose performance as Belfort was also one of the most popular of the year.

Despite all the fanfare for Robbie’s performance, the actress has stated on record that she retrospectively regrets certain aspects.

Margot Robbie stuns in an off-the-shoulder hot pink top as Naomi Lapaglia, the glamorous and sharp-tongued wife of Jordan Belfort, in Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street (Credit: Paramount Pictures)

This article will examine what Margot Robbie regrets about her work in The Wolf of Wall Street and why.

Red Carpet Shoe Highlights from The Wolf of Wall Street

The promotional events for The Wolf of Wall Street were cinematic milestones and fashion showcases. Here’s a look at some standout footwear moments from the film’s premieres:

Margot Robbie Shines in Christian Louboutin’s So Kate Pumps

• Event: London Premiere of The Wolf of Wall Street
• Outfit: Margot Robbie dazzled in an Oscar de la Renta Pre-Fall 2014 gown featuring a tulip-shaped skirt.
• Footwear: She completed her look with metallic bronze Christian Louboutin So Kate pumps, which added glamour to her ensemble.
• Read more: Margot Robbie’s stunning appearance at the London premiere

Margot Robbie radiates elegance in a custom white one-shoulder Armani Privé gown with a black waist panel and open back, styled with sparkling Jacob & Co jewels at the New York premiere of The Wolf of Wall Street on December 17, 2013 (Credit: Ivan Nikolov / David Cardiff / WENN)

Jamie Chung’s Elegant Look with Christian Louboutin Heels

• Event: New York Premiere of The Wolf of Wall Street
• Outfit: Jamie Chung turned heads in a white silk Cushnie et Ochs dress with a deep V-neckline and gathered knot detail at the waist.
• Footwear: She paired her dress with dark burgundy Christian Louboutin Kate pumps, which showcased the signature red soles.
• See more: Jamie Chung’s red carpet look at the New York premiere

Daisy Lowe’s Bold Choice with Saint Laurent Boots

• Event: UK Premiere of The Wolf of Wall Street
• Outfit: Daisy Lowe made a daring statement in a sheer Saint Laurent dress, complemented by a chic tuxedo jacket.
• Footwear: She completed her ensemble with Saint Laurent’s Paris Ranger boots, adding an edgy touch to her look.
• Explore her style: Daisy Lowe’s daring outfit at the UK premiere

These memorable moments highlight the fashionable footwear choices that graced the red carpets during The Wolf of Wall Street premieres.

How Margot Robbie Landed Her Role in The Wolf of Wall Street

A Queensland, Australia native, Margot Robbie was born down under on July 2, 1990. From a young age, she sought to pursue a career in acting and landed her first roles in high school, appearing in several low-budget thriller films and television commercials.

Her first serious taste for acting came in the form of guest roles in various television series, including the crime drama City Homicide and the children’s series The Elephant Princess, both in 2008, when Margot was only 18 years old.

Margot Robbie appears as Donna Freedman in Neighbours, wearing a classic blue checked school uniform during one of her early scenes in the long-running Australian soap opera (Credit: Network 10)

She continued to act on television, securing the leading role as Donna Freedman in the Australian soap opera Neighbours for three years. She followed that role up with a small part in Richard Curtis’ About Time in 2013.

Undoubtedly, Robbie’s breakout role was as Lapaglia in The Wolf of Wall Street, which launched her path to becoming a huge Hollywood star.

According to director Martin Scorsese, Margot Robbie landed the role of Lapaglia during her audition. She was acting out a scene in which she argues with Leonardo DiCaprio.

Leonardo DiCaprio as Jordan Belfort and Margot Robbie as Naomi Lapaglia share an intimate moment in The Wolf of Wall Street, with Robbie wearing a La Perla Maison Frastaglio Iconic Push-Up Bra under her sultry black-and-cream slip (Credit: Paramount Pictures)

During the audition, Robbie slapped DiCaprio across the face, which both the actor and Scorcese thought was perfect for the character. The rest is history. She was only 24 years old when she was cast as Lapaglia.

Margot Robbie Regrets Infamous Sex Scene in The Wolf of Wall Street

It’s no secret that Margot Robbie is one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood, and her naturally gorgeous looks played a part in her landing the role as Belfort’s smoking hot mistress in the film.

DiCaprio and Robbie filmed several intimate scenes together in the film, and Robbie regrets filming one scene in particular.

In one of these frisky scenes, Lapaglia and Belfort make love on a pile of cash, as Belfort was a notoriously wealthy investment banker and conman.

Armani Privé Gown and Brian Atwood Heels at NYC Premiere

For the New York premiere of The Wolf of Wall Street on December 17, 2013, Margot Robbie wore a custom white one-shoulder Armani Privé gown with black beaded detailing. She paired the elegant look with Brian Atwood heels that subtly elongated her 5ft 5½ (166.4 cm) frame, adding height and enhancing the gown’s statuesque silhouette.

Actress Margot Robbie stuns in a custom white Armani Privé gown with black detailing at the New York premiere of The Wolf of Wall Street on December 17, 2013—her Brian Atwood heels remained hidden beneath the floor-length hem (Credit: Dara Kushner / INFphoto)

As this is a Hollywood production, the US cash was naturally fake currency, props created by the famous prop-making house, RJR Props.

This became a sore point for Robbie, as she remarked in an interview with The Daily Beast in 2017: “I got a million paper cuts on my back from all that money! It’s not as glamorous as it sounds. If anyone is planning on having sex on top of a pile of cash: don’t.”

Margot Robbie stuns in a backless turquoise Hervé Léger bandage mini dress—an unforgettable, figure-hugging look worn when Naomi first captivates Jordan Belfort’s attention in The Wolf of Wall Street (Credit: Paramount Pictures)

The scene may have looked glamorous on screen, but filming it was anything but. Robbie revealed she suffered multiple paper cuts on her back from the prop money, which was rougher than real currency. “The fake money is like paper,” she said. “When I got up off the bed, I turned around to get my robe, and everyone gasped.” The texture had left visible abrasions on her skin—proof that cinematic luxury doesn’t always feel luxurious behind the scenes.

How Much Margot Robbie Was Paid for The Wolf of Wall Street

Due to her breakout role as Lapaglia for the young Robbie, she was not paid as handsomely as some of her more high-profile co-stars.

Margot Robbie channels Naomi’s seductive power in a hot pink off-the-shoulder Azzedine Alaïa bandage dress and Manolo Blahnik “Campari” Mary Jane pumps during the iconic nursery scene in The Wolf of Wall Street (Credit: Paramount Pictures)

Leonardo DiCaprio reportedly made nearly USD 10 million for his role in The Wolf of Wall Street. At the same time, Jonah Hill practically had to beg to work with DiCaprio and Scorsese, only receiving USD 60,000 for his work in the film.

Conversely, Robbie reportedly received an estimated USD 347,000 for her performance in The Wolf of Wall Street. While this pales compared to Leonardo DiCaprio, when compared to her co-star Jonah Hill, we think she did just fine, considering how little Hill made.

Why Margot Robbie Insisted on Nudity in The Wolf of Wall Street

In recent years, many actresses have revealed that they have often felt pressured to appear nude in sex scenes for Hollywood films or that they felt uncomfortable appearing nude but felt as though they had to sustain their careers by doing so.

The opposite is true for Margot Robbie, who insisted on appearing nude for her role in the film. According to urban legend, Martin Scorsese offered to wear a bathrobe during the filming of her nude scenes, but Robbie refused.

Margot Robbie smolders in a sleek white Armani Privé gown with a dramatic low back and glossy black waist panel at the New York premiere of The Wolf of Wall Street (Credit: ACE / INFphoto)

Her reasoning for insisting on this was related to her performance, as she stated: “The whole point of Naomi is that her body is her only form of currency in this world. So when Marty Scorsese was trying to help me out, and said in the scene where she seduces Jordan, perhaps I could have a robe on, I said she wouldn’t. She has to be naked.” We couldn’t agree more.

Have you seen The Wolf of Wall Street? What were your thoughts on some infamous scenes involving Margot Robbie? When it’s all said and done, the film will go down in pop culture history as one of the most thrilling dramatic films of the 2010s.

Margot Robbie’s Most Iconic High Heel Moments

Margot Robbie consistently captivates with her impeccable fashion sense, particularly her choice of footwear. Here are some of her most memorable shoe moments:

Margot Robbie Shines in Chanel Satin Pumps with Lucite Heels

• Event: London Screening of ‘Terminal’
• Outfit: Margot dazzled in a black lace dress from Chanel’s Fall 2018 Collection.
• Footwear: She completed her look with black satin pumps featuring gradient Lucite heels, adding a modern twist to her ensemble.
• Read more: Margot Robbie’s chic appearance at the ‘Terminal’ screening

Barbiecore Elegance: Custom Pink Polka-Dot Manolo Blahnik Mules

• Event: 35th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards
• Outfit: Embracing the Barbiecore trend, Margot wore a bubblegum pink Balmain mini dress adorned with black polka dots and rosette accents.
• Footwear: She paired her dress with custom pink polka-dot Manolo Blahnik mules, which feature peep-toes and four-inch heels.
• Read more: Margot Robbie’s Barbie-inspired look at the Palm Springs Film Festival

Gothic Glamour: Saint Laurent ‘Amber’ Velvet Sandals

• Event: 27th Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards
• Outfit: Margot embraced a gothic glam aesthetic in a head-to-toe Saint Laurent ensemble.
• Footwear: She completed her look with Saint Laurent’s ‘Amber’ black velvet sandals, featuring open square toes and buckled ankle straps.
• Read more: Margot Robbie’s gothic glam look at the Gotham Awards

Classic Elegance: Chanel Heels at ‘Asteroid City’ Premiere

• Event: New York Premiere of ‘Asteroid City’
• Outfit: Margot stunned in a black-and-white Schiaparelli Spring/Summer 2023 dress, showcasing her timeless style.
• Footwear: She paired the ensemble with classic black Chanel heels, epitomizing timeless elegance.
• Read more: Margot Robbie’s elegant look at the ‘Asteroid City’ premiere

Edgy Chic: Pierre Hardy’s ‘Laser’ Pumps

• Event: Refinery29 ’29Rooms Los Angeles: Turn It Into Art’ Opening Night Party
• Outfit: Margot showcased an edgy look in a Saint Laurent Spring 2018 ensemble, featuring a leather jacket with a contrasting snakeskin panel and leather shorts.
• Footwear: She completed her outfit with Pierre Hardy’s ‘Laser’ pumps, characterized by pointed toes, a curvy-cut collar, and a half-d’Orsay silhouette.
• Read more: Margot Robbie’s edgy style at the 29Rooms event

These standout moments highlight Margot Robbie’s versatility and her ability to make bold fashion statements with her choice of footwear.