Margot Robbie, the Oscar-nominated Australian actress-producer, recently shared her filmmaking outlook, emphasizing that she creates movies with the audience in mind rather than critics. Speaking in an interview published on February 16 for Vogue Australia alongside her Wuthering Heights co-star Jacob Elordi and moderator Joel Edgerton, Robbie explained that her primary focus lies on how moviegoers will respond emotionally to her films.
She stated, “I consider audience always,” directly addressing the question of how she takes viewers into account.
“I’ve never, ever been on set and thought, ‘What are the critics going to think of this?’ I’m like, ‘What’s an audience going to feel right now? What’s their emotional response going to be?’”
Robbie further asserted the simplicity of her approach:
“I just believe you should make movies for the people who are going to buy tickets to see the movies,”
making it clear that audience engagement drives her decisions.
Collaboration with Emerald Fennell Reflects Shared Values
Robbie also highlighted her connection with Emerald Fennell, the writer-director of Wuthering Heights, explaining that they share a filmmaking philosophy centered on emotional resonance rather than intellectual concepts. This shared value strengthens their professional relationship and enriches their creative process.
She said,
“I love working with Emerald, too, because she always prioritizes an emotional experience over a heady idea,”
then added,
“She’s very smart and she’s got great ideas and all this kind of stuff, but she will let a cool idea fall by the wayside to offer the option that is going to be most exciting for an audience. And I really appreciate that about her.”
Testing Audience Reactions Through a Unique Screening Experience
In preparation for the Valentine’s Day release of Wuthering Heights, a new adaptation of Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel, Robbie arranged a special early screening for her friends. The event served both as a test audience session and a social gathering with a theme linked to her character, Catherine Earnshaw.
Robbie’s friends hosted a fake bachelorette party for Cathy, incorporating Victorian-inspired attire and spirited reactions to the film, especially to Jacob Elordi’s portrayal of Heathcliff, Cathy’s lover. On the talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live! in January, Robbie described the screening as a memorable and intense experience, recalling the lively atmosphere.
She recalled,
“The theme, I think, was Victorian slutty.”
Regarding the energy at the party, Robbie said,
“It ended up being the craziest night ever, but the screening itself … 20 women were like frothing at the mouth,”
adding,
“They were like rabid dogs, and they were a couple of drinks in already, and then the movie started and they were screaming so much.”
Robbie painted a vivid scene:
“Everyone’s wearing lace, corsets and veils, and drunk and screaming at the screen. And when Jacob came on screen, I think it registered on the Richter scale; they screamed so loud.”
She joked about Elordi’s popularity, saying,
“Honestly, I was like, if he walked in right now, I think they would eat him, so it was safer that he wasn’t there.”
Wuthering Heights Now Showing in Theaters
The film, produced and starring Robbie, is currently playing in theaters. This project not only demonstrates Robbie’s dedication to her filmmaking philosophy but also highlights the excitement and passion of audiences ready to engage with her work on a personal level. Her focus on creating movies primarily for the enjoyment and emotional response of moviegoers signals a commitment to accessible storytelling that challenges conventional emphasis on critical reception.
