Margot Robbie’s love story with Tom Ackerley spans over a decade, evolving from close friendship to a deep partnership marked by mutual respect and shared ambitions. This tale, which began in 2013 amid the backdrop of a film set in London, showcases how the Australian actress’s personal life grew alongside her thriving career, embodying the essence of the “Margot Robbie love story.”
Robbie and Ackerley’s relationship is one built on sincerity and creative collaboration, beginning as roommates and friends before blossoming into marriage and parenthood. Their journey highlights the emotional tides Robbie describes feeling in her youth and the stability found through their bond, culminating in the arrival of their son in late 2024.
From On-Set Crew to Close Companions
Margot Robbie and Tom Ackerley first crossed paths in 2013 while working on the set of Suite Française, a WWII-era romance film where Ackerley was the third assistant director, and Robbie held a supporting role. This professional connection soon paved the way for a deeper friendship, as they shared the camaraderie of working alongside other crew members.
Following this initial meeting, Robbie returned to London for press duties related to The Wolf of Wall Street in early 2014. During this time, she and Ackerley, together with friends and future business partners Sophia Kerr and Josey McNamara, decided to rent a large three-bedroom house in the Clapham neighborhood. The household, which accommodated seven people, became a fertile ground for Robbie and Ackerley’s friendship to intensify.
Secret Romance Ignites Amid Shared Living
As they lived under the same roof, the dynamic between Robbie and Ackerley shifted beyond friendship. They initially kept their budding relationship under wraps, hesitant to take it seriously or alter the group’s harmony. Robbie recalled candidly,
“We kept it a secret because we weren’t really taking it seriously,”
Margot Robbie, Actress
It wasn’t long before their cohabitants became aware, sparking some lighthearted concern about how the new romance might affect the group. Robbie described the reaction:
“Everyone was, like, ‘No! This is going to ruin our group!’
Margot Robbie, Actress
And then it didn’t. It was fine.
Margot Robbie, Actress
Their ability to maintain the group’s cohesion while nurturing their relationship was a testament to their compatibility and respect for one another.
Margot Robbie’s Early View on Relationships
Before embracing romance with Ackerley, Robbie had been cautious about relationships. In a 2016 interview, she spoke openly about her past reluctance:
“The idea of relationships made me want to vomit,”
Margot Robbie, Actress
“And then this crept up on me. We were friends for so long. I was always in love with him, but I thought, ‘Oh, he would never love me back. Don’t make it weird, Margot. Don’t be stupid and tell him that you like him.’
Margot Robbie, Actress
Her apprehensions gave way to a joyful realization when their friendship turned romantic. Robbie described the moment she accepted their partnership as inevitable:
“Of course we’re together. This makes so much sense, the way nothing has ever made sense before.”
Margot Robbie, Actress
Building a Business and a Life Together
Alongside their personal relationship, Robbie and Ackerley co-founded LuckyChap Entertainment with close friends Josey McNamara and Sophia Kerr. The company emerged during their time sharing the Clapham house and symbolized their mutual commitment to creating and producing meaningful projects in Hollywood.
LuckyChap served as the launchpad for several influential films, including the Oscar-winning I, Tonya, which both Robbie and Ackerley co-produced. Their dedication to the company reflected their ability to blend business and personal life seamlessly.
Private Wedding and New Beginnings
In November 2016, just after moving to Los Angeles, Robbie and Ackerley secretly married in a beach ceremony in Byron Bay, Australia. The news of their wedding surfaced not through public announcements but via a photograph of Robbie flashing her sparkling ring finger while kissing her husband. The couple preferred to keep the nuptials intimate and private.
Shortly after, their roommates playfully enforced new boundaries with the message that being newlyweds meant setting up their own household. Robbie recalled:
“It was our roommates who told us, ‘You guys had a wedding. You have to live on your own now,'”
Margot Robbie, Actress
“It honestly hadn’t occurred to us. We were, like, ‘Hmm? What? Just the two of us? That’s gonna be weird.’ And the first time we were in a house, the two of us, it was weird. Nice. But we missed having heaps of people around.”
Margot Robbie, Actress
The Couple’s Close-Knit Living Style
Robbie has expressed a strong dislike for solitude, revealing in 2019 that her household often included her older brother and cousin, demonstrating their fondness for communal living. She remarked,
“It’s a common theme, isn’t it? I hate—hate—being alone.”
Margot Robbie, Actress
Traveling together is also a major aspect of their relationship. They have embarked on unique journeys such as riding the British Pullman from London, the Orient Express from Paris to Venice, and the Seven Stars train across Kyushu in Japan. Robbie has whimsically stated,
“All I want to do is live on a train.”
A Love Rooted in Everyday Life and Culinary Pleasures
Food plays a significant role in their relationship, with Robbie confessing her culinary limitations and praising Ackerley’s exceptional cooking talent. She shared on the Table Manners podcast:
“My husband is a phenomenal cook,”
Margot Robbie, Actress
“He could be a chef, he is so good. We are like a perfect match.”
Margot Robbie, Actress
Despite his impressive skills, Robbie noted that she only discovered Ackerley’s cooking prowess well into their marriage. She recounted some humorous culinary mishaps, like serving undercooked ham to her in-laws and quickly intervening to prevent an accident:
“I watched his grandma nearly put a raw piece of pork in her mouth,”
Margot Robbie, Actress
“She could have died so I slapped it out of her hand!”
Margot Robbie, Actress
The couple’s ability to mix business with pleasure also extends to their collaboration in the entertainment industry. Robbie emphasized their dynamic to Porter magazine in 2018:
“I’m a great advocate of doing business with your partner,”
Margot Robbie, Actress
“Being married is actually the most fun ever, life got way more fun somehow. I have a responsibility being someone’s wife, I want to be better.”
Margot Robbie, Actress
Meanwhile, Robbie highlighted their personal connection with Ackerley as equally that of best friends and roommates regardless of their professional roles:
“We’re still best friends and roommates, so nothing’s really changed at all.”
Margot Robbie, Actress
Maintaining Boundaries and Communication
Though their careers often require travels and periods apart, Robbie and Ackerley adhere to a strict rule of not being separated for more than three weeks. Robbie explained:
“Even if we both have to fly to a country in-between where we both are for one night, we’ll do it and then fly back to work the next day. And we speak all day, every day on the phone.”
Margot Robbie, Actress
This constant communication has been an essential factor in sustaining their strong relationship through the hectic demands of Hollywood.
The Journey of Bringing Barbie to Life
A significant chapter in their professional and personal partnership came with the development of the long-anticipated Barbie film. Deciding in 2018 that this project was ideal for LuckyChap, the couple enlisted Greta Gerwig to write the screenplay, with Noah Baumbach co-writing.
Both Robbie and Ackerley were impressed with the script from the start, though it also instilled some apprehension about the challenges ahead. Robbie recounted their reaction upon reading the screenplay for the first time:
“We just looked at each other, pure panic on our faces,”
Margot Robbie, Actress
“We were like, Holy f–king s–t. I think the first thing I said to Tom was, This is so genius. It is such a shame that we’re never going to be able to make this movie.”
Margot Robbie, Actress
Despite these feelings, they were committed to bringing the project to fruition, involving themselves deeply with Mattel, the doll’s maker. Robbie described their approach to preserving the brand’s integrity:
“We spent time at Mattel headquarters,”
Margot Robbie, Actress
“We went into their factories, we watched them make a doll and we talked to people who make them. They knew we were coming from a place of respecting the brand.”
Margot Robbie, Actress
The couple engaged in detailed conversations with Mattel executives, dissecting the script line by line, ensuring alignment with the company’s standards.
Behind-the-Scenes Strength: Ackerley’s Steady Role
Tom Ackerley played a key producer role in the film but preferred stepping back from the spotlight. Robbie praised his grounded nature and disposition towards production work rather than public attention:
“He likes being behind the camera. He’s not fazed by any of this stuff.”
Margot Robbie, Actress
Ackerley himself recognized the impact of the film’s marketing, foreseeing its legacy in cinematic history:
“I think this’ll be the [marketing campaign] they do dissertations on,”
Tom Ackerley, Producer
He also acknowledged the strong on-screen chemistry between Robbie and co-star Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken, respectively, noting it as a “great combination.”
The Couple at Major Events and Awards
Ackerley joined Robbie at many key moments throughout the Barbie promotional cycle, including the film’s world premiere in July 2023. He experienced the Academy Awards with Robbie in March 2024, marking his first attendance as a nominee alongside his wife, who has been nominated three times.
Reflecting on the Oscars experience, Ackerley shared:
“It’s obviously incredibly overwhelming at times, but it’s such a celebration of cinema. And being at the center of it, it’s a dream come true, truthfully.”
Tom Ackerley, Producer
Barbie secured eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, emphasizing the significance of their joint efforts.
Welcoming Parenthood and Protecting Privacy
In July 2024, Robbie publicly showcased her pregnancy, and by November, reports confirmed the arrival of their first child, a baby boy. The couple has chosen to maintain privacy around their son’s name and personal details.
Robbie has consistently emphasized her intent to shield her family from undue public scrutiny, explaining the evolution of her approach to privacy:
“I’m trying to keep that side of things private and protect him,”
Margot Robbie, Actress
“Earlier in my career, I’d speak more freely in interviews. I’ve just been burnt so many times, when people have taken what I’ve said out of context. And I read stuff all the time where people put me in quotation marks saying things I’ve never said.”
Margot Robbie, Actress
“When you shift from your 20s to your 30s and beyond, you think, ‘I am going to do things differently. Here are my new boundaries.’”
Margot Robbie, Actress
About motherhood, Robbie told Entertainment Tonight in August 2023 that it has been “the best” experience in her life, marking a new and fulfilling chapter for her and Ackerley.
Chronology of Their Relationship Milestones
2014: Living Together as Roommates
Following their encounter on Suite Française, Robbie and Ackerley joined forces with friends to co-found LuckyChap Entertainment while sharing a house in London’s Clapham area. This communal living arrangement facilitated the growth of their personal and professional ties.
February 2015: Romance Blossoms at a Hockey Game
While still roommates, their relationship quietly shifted to romance. They made their romance public during an outing to a New York Rangers game and confessed to initially downplaying their feelings.
“We kept it a secret because we weren’t really taking it seriously,”
Margot Robbie, Actress
“’Oh, whatever, we’re just mates, we’re just mates.’ And then… everyone found out.”
Margot Robbie, Actress
May 2016: Confessions of Long-Held Affection
Robbie admitted she had always been in love with Ackerley but feared those feelings would not be reciprocated, calling him the “best-looking guy in London.” Eventually, she embraced the connection fully.
December 2016: Quiet Wedding Ceremony
The couple married in a private ceremony on a Byron Bay beach, revealing their union only through a subtle photo of Robbie’s wedding ring.
September 2017: Putting Career Before Honeymoon
Robbie disclosed that they postponed their honeymoon to work on the film I, Tonya, prioritizing their shared professional goals.
“We did this film instead of our honeymoon,”
Margot Robbie, Actress
“There were times we were sitting in a car parked in Atlanta freezing cold being like, ‘We should be on a beach right now. We should be on a honeymoon. What are we doing?!’ Following our dream.”
Margot Robbie, Actress
July 2023: Joint Appearance at Barbie Premiere
At the global debut of Barbie, Ackerley accompanied Robbie, remaining a firm presence behind the scenes.
August 2023: Vacation in Greece
Following an intense press tour, the couple enjoyed a romantic getaway in Greece, symbolizing their balance of work and personal time.
January 2024: Public Praise at Critics Choice Awards
Robbie openly expressed gratitude for Ackerley’s grounded nature, characterizing him as “not fazed” by Hollywood’s spotlight.
“He likes being behind the camera. He’s not fazed by any of this stuff.”
Margot Robbie, Actress
March 2024: Oscar Nominee Experience
Ackerley’s first nomination and attendance at the Academy Awards alongside Robbie emphasized their joint success in the film industry.
November 2024: Becoming Parents
The couple welcomed their son, marking a new dimension to their relationship away from the public eye.
The Enduring Impact of Margot Robbie and Tom Ackerley’s Partnership
Margot Robbie and Tom Ackerley’s relationship story encompasses more than romance—it is an ongoing partnership of shared dreams, creative synergy, and family life. Their journey demonstrates how personal bonds can enrich and support demanding careers, and how privacy and communication remain vital amid fame.
From their first encounter on a film set to becoming trusted collaborators on a major Hollywood project like Barbie, their story is a powerful example of love and professionalism intertwined. With a newborn son and ongoing projects ahead, Robbie and Ackerley continue to build a life together that balances the intense realities of Hollywood with the everyday joy of companionship.
