Margot Robbie Slapped Leonardo DiCaprio To Get Famous — And That's Just The Start Of This Story

She Improvised A Slap In Her Wolf Of Wall Street Audition And Thought She'd Get Arrested

During her audition opposite Leonardo DiCaprio, the script called for Margot Robbie's character to kiss him — instead, she slapped him across the face and screamed an expletive, totally unscripted. She's said the room went dead silent and she was certain she'd just tanked her one shot at stardom, but Scorsese and DiCaprio burst out laughing, and she got the part.

She Turned Down Birdman's Oscar-Winning Role To Do Focus With Will Smith Instead

Before Emma Stone landed the part and got an Oscar nomination for it, Margot Robbie was actually offered the role of Riggan's daughter in Birdman. She passed to star opposite Will Smith in the con-artist thriller Focus — a decision that ended up being the reason David Ayer and Warner Bros. wanted her for Harley Quinn.

She Never Even Auditioned For Harley Quinn — And Almost Lost It To Emma Roberts First

Margot Robbie has said she was simply offered Suicide Squad without a single audition, since producers already knew her chemistry with Focus co-star Will Smith would translate to the screen. But before she was ever approached, the role had reportedly been offered to Emma Roberts, who turned it down to star in Scream Queens instead.

She Found Tonya Harding's Life Rights By Calling A Number That Rang To A Motel 6

Margot Robbie has said she went looking for the I, Tonya script rights herself, tracking down a contact number for Tonya Harding's agent listed on Harding's own website — which turned out to be a Motel 6. She then personally interviewed both Harding and ex-husband Jeff Gillooly before ever stepping foot on set, eventually starring in and producing the film through her own company, LuckyChap.

She Almost Said No To Playing A Queen Because She Thought She 'Didn't Deserve' It

When director Josie Rourke first invited Margot Robbie to play Queen Elizabeth I in Mary Queen of Scots, Robbie turned the role down, saying the idea of following in the footsteps of actors like Cate Blanchett scared her off completely. She eventually came back around, telling Rourke she'd take it as long as the door stayed open to cast someone better if needed.

Emma Stone Passed On Playing Jane — So Margot Robbie Swung In Instead

Before Margot Robbie was cast as Jane in The Legend of Tarzan, the role had reportedly been up for grabs between her and Emma Stone, with Stone ultimately passing on the part in early 2014. Robbie ended up landing it fresh off her Wolf of Wall Street breakout.

She Didn't Audition For Barbie — And Originally Wanted Gal Gadot To Play Her

As a producer on the project, Margot Robbie has said she didn't audition to play Barbie because she essentially cast herself. She's also revealed she originally pictured Gal Gadot in the role, calling her "Barbie energy," but Greta Gerwig insisted on writing the part specifically for Robbie once she signed on to direct.

She Got Barbie Greenlit By Comparing It To Jurassic Park In One Meeting

Margot Robbie has revealed that her pitch to Warner Bros. and Mattel leaned on the idea that studios succeed when they pair a big commercial idea with a visionary director — citing "dinosaurs and Spielberg" as her example before promising Barbie would make a billion dollars. It ended up grossing over $1.4 billion worldwide, making her the rare producer whose own prediction actually came true.