Margot Robbie responded firmly after a former male co-star gave her an insulting gift early in her career. The Oscar-nominated actress revealed this incident during a recent interview with Charli XCX for Complex, where she addressed the inappropriate nature of the present and its implications.
The Unexpected Gift and Margot Robbie’s Reaction
Robbie recalled that one of her male colleagues from a past project had given her a copy of French Women Don’t Get Fat, a book that promotes eating less. She described the gesture as a pointed suggestion that she needed to lose weight early on in her career.
“Very, very early in my career, an actor I worked with, a male actor, gave me a book called French Women Don’t Get Fat, and it was essentially a book telling you to eat less,”
Robbie said.
Her response was immediate and blunt:
“And I was like, whoa, fuck you, dude.”
She further explained,
“He essentially gave me a book to let me know that I should lose weight. I was like, ‘Wow.’”
Robbie also remarked with some disbelief about the man’s current status, saying she has
“no idea where he would even be now.”
Context of the Book and Robbie’s Career
The book, written by Mireille Guiliano and first published in 2004, focuses on French eating habits rooted in moderation rather than dieting. Despite the message behind this gift, Robbie chose not to disclose the identity of the actor or the project they were working on together.
Since that early encounter, Margot Robbie has carved out an impressive Hollywood career with standout roles in films like The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), Suicide Squad (2016), I, Tonya (2017), Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019), Bombshell (2019), Babylon (2022), and Barbie (2023). Her work has earned her three Academy Award nominations, including Best Actress in a Leading Role for I, Tonya, Best Supporting Actress for Bombshell, and Best Picture for Barbie.
Upcoming Role and Praise from Director Emerald Fennell
Robbie is set to star alongside Jacob Elordi in the film adaptation of Wuthering Heights, directed by Emerald Fennell, releasing on Friday. Fennell shared with British Vogue why Robbie was the perfect fit to portray Cathy, highlighting the actress’s powerful presence.
“Cathy is a star,” Fennell explained.
“She’s willful, mean, a recreational sadist, a provocateur. She engages in cruelty in a way that is disturbing and fascinating. It was about finding someone who you would forgive in spite of yourself, someone who literally everyone in the world would understand why you love her. It’s difficult to find that supersized star power. Margot comes with big dick energy. That’s what Cathy needs.”
Robbie’s ability to confront negativity and continue to rise shines through, demonstrating her resilience in Hollywood. Her response to the former co-star’s gift reflects a refusal to be diminished by outdated or hurtful attitudes as she continues to build a diverse and celebrated body of work.
