Margot Robbie, known for her impressive roles from The Wolf of Wall Street to Barbie, is opening up about the driving force behind her career decisions. When discussing her choices as an actress and producer, Robbie emphasizes the importance of the general audience over critics, expressing a clear focus on the people who actually experience and support her work. This perspective reveals her dedication to connecting with viewers, which has shaped much of her recent projects.
Understanding the Importance of the Audience Over Critics
In a recent interview with Joel Edgerton for Vogue Australia, Robbie and her Wuthering Heights co-star Jacob Elordi discussed their work on Emerald Fennell’s screen adaptation of the classic novel. Robbie described her mindset on set, revealing a distinct separation between her concerns for critics and her attention to audience reactions.
“I consider audience always. 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?’”
– Margot Robbie, Actress and Producer
Robbie’s viewpoint reflects the reality that while critics have a platform, the majority of viewers are the general public whose emotional engagement ultimately determines a film’s success. She further clarified her ethos on filmmaking:
“I just believe you should make movies for the people who are going to buy tickets to see the movies. It’s kind of as simple as that.”
– Margot Robbie, Actress and Producer
Creative Collaborations: Working Closely with Emerald Fennell
Robbie’s commitment to audience-focused storytelling is evident in her collaboration with director Emerald Fennell. As a producer, Robbie has supported Fennell through her feature films Promising Young Woman, Saltburn, and Wuthering Heights, all projects distinct for their bold visual style and emotionally charged narratives.
Though Fennell’s approach can be provocative and polarizing, Robbie values her for the emotional honesty she brings to her films, which often prioritize feeling over intellectual complexity. Robbie explained the strength of their partnership:
“I love working with Emerald [Fennell] because she always prioritizes an emotional experience over a heady idea. She’s very smart. She’s got great ideas and all this kind of stuff, but she’ll let a cool idea fall by the wayside to offer the option that’s going to be most exciting for the audience. I really appreciate that about her.”
– Margot Robbie, Actress and Producer
The Mixed Reception of Their Work and Audience Response
While critics have often divided opinions on Fennell’s films, including Wuthering Heights, audience feedback has generally been positive, with the movie currently holding a 76% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. This reflects a solid connection with the viewing public, complemented by respectable box office performance. Robbie’s philosophy of prioritizing the audience seems to be a driving factor behind these successes, positioning her and Fennell as collaborators who understand the balance between artistic vision and widespread appeal.
Upcoming Projects and Continued Commitment to Audience Engagement
Robbie’s ongoing focus on entertaining and emotionally engaging audiences suggests that her future projects will maintain this same direction. With Wuthering Heights currently in theaters nationwide, fans eager for more can also explore Saltburn, produced under Robbie’s LuckyChap banner and available on Prime Video. This approach not only highlights her dedication to films made by and for the audience but also underscores her influence as both an artist and producer shaping modern cinema.
