Margot Robbie’s 11 Best Performances, Ranked

Hi, Barbie! From her breakthrough role in 'The Wolf of Wall Street' to 'Bombshell' and, of course, her standout turns as Harley Quinn, The Hollywood Reporter ranks the best performances of the actress' career. 'The Wolf of Wall Street,' 'I, Tonya,' 'The Suicide Squad' and 'Barbie.' Mary Cybulski/Paramount Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection; 30West/Courtesy Everett Collection; Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett Collection; Jaap Buitendijk/Warner Bos./Courtesy Everett Collection Home Movies Movie Features Margot Robbie’s 11 Best Performances, Ranked Hi, Barbie! From her breakthrough role in 'The Wolf of Wall Street' to 'Bombshell' and, of course, her standout turns as Harley Quinn, The Hollywood Reporter ranks the best performances of the actress' career. By Lexi Carson Plus Icon Lexi Carson Associate Editor More Stories by Lexi Eric Dane’s Friends Launch GoFundMe to Support Actor’s Two Daughters After His Death ‘Toy Story 5’ Trailer: Buzz Lightyear and a Balding Woody Reunite to Rescue Kids From Electronics ‘Love Story’ Star Paul Anthony Kelly Explains the Weight of Portraying JFK Jr. and Filming His Final Moments With Jackie Kennedy View All February 21, 2026 Share on Facebook Share on X Google Preferred Share to Flipboard Send an Email Show additional share options Share on Reddit Post a Comment Share on Whats App Share on Pinterest Share on LinkedIn Print the Article Share on Tumblr It’s been more than a decade since Margot Robbie left her homeland of Australia to make it in Hollywood. Since then, she has made audiences cry and laugh, and she even brought people back to movie theaters, as Barbie became a global phenomenon. So, how’d she do it? Robbie’s an actress who — without going method — commits to immersing herself into her characters through extensive preparation, including learning how to ice skate, performing her own stunts, aerial work and working out for hours every day, as well as conducting thorough research to understand her character’s mindset. All of that work is designed to give the most authentic performances while either portraying real-life people, such as Tonya Harding and the late Sharon Tate, or fictional characters, including Nellie LaRoy, Kayla Pospisil, and her three beloved interpretations of Harley Quinn (though we’re only counting her best one!). In addition to becoming a household name, Robbie is a three-time Oscar nominee. Yes, three, she earned the third nod as a producer in 2024’s best picture category for Barbie, in addition to … well, you probably already know if you’re reading this. But even when she’s not the lead of a film or has a very limited screentime, as in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and The Big Short (the latter didn’t make this list), she still makes her part memorable. Read on for a look at the actress’ best performances. (This story first published on Sept. 28 and has been updated to include Wuthering Heights.) ‘Dreamland’ (2019) Image Credit: Paramount Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection In an underrated performance, Robbie stars in Dreamland, a film set in 1930s Texas with a Bonnie and Clyde-like premise. But this time, with a twist: now, the female is the criminal. Robbie plays Allison Wells, a fugitive bank robber who meets teenage Eugene Evans (played by Finn Cole of Peaky Blinders). He falls in love with her and becomes her partner in crime. The pair’s chemistry is off the charts, which makes the performances feel genuine. Toward the end of the film, in Allison’s final scene, Robbie radiates in the dramatic moment where she pleads with Eugene not to abandon her and their plans. “I didn’t make you into anything you didn’t already want to be,” Allison says to him while failing to realize what she’s created. The charisma and vulnerability Robbie is able to bring to Allison were crucial for the role to work and for viewers to see the complexity of her journey. The lesser-known film first premiered at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival and did not have a wide theatrical release. It hit theaters for a limited run in November 2020 but struggled at the box office, as the COVID-19 pandemic was at its height. With Robbie’s strong performance and Lyle Vincent’s stunning cinematography, it’s a shame this film didn’t get more attention.