In The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), Robbie made her Hollywood breakthrough as Naomi Lapaglia, the glamorous wife of Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jordan Belfort. Though it was one of her earliest major roles, Robbie held her own against some of the biggest names in the industry. Her performance was not only memorable for its boldness and confidence but also for the way she added depth to a character who could have been written off as superficial. This role catapulted her into stardom and solidified her place as one of Hollywood’s brightest new talents at the time.
Her turn as Sharon Tate in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) was subtle yet impactful. Robbie portrayed Tate with grace and warmth, bringing a lightness to a film that often explored darker themes. While the role was less dialogue-heavy than some of her others, Robbie’s performance relied on presence and emotion, capturing Tate’s innocence and joy in a way that resonated deeply with audiences. The scenes of Tate watching herself on screen in a theater remain some of the most touching moments of the film.
Of course, Barbie (2023) is perhaps her most culturally significant role to date. Taking on the challenge of embodying the world’s most famous doll, Robbie infused the character with wit, humor, and emotional complexity. Far from being just a glossy performance, her Barbie wrestled with questions of identity, perfection, and purpose, making the film both a box office sensation and a cultural milestone. Robbie’s performance was central to the movie’s ability to balance playful fantasy with meaningful commentary, further showcasing her skill at blending entertainment with substance.