Harley Quinn became a breakout character the very second Margot Robbie uttered her first line in David Ayer's Suicide Squad. Robbie’s performance turned the beloved DC character into a cinematic icon. A burgeoning franchise and a hit spinoff film later… and the actress is still having fun portraying the villain. The Oscar nominee recently explained why she keeps returning to play DC’s favorite super villainess over and over again.
Margot Robbie breathed new life into one of Batman’s most underrated villains when she stepped into the role. The two have become synonymous with each other despite Robbie and Harley Quinn’s different lifestyles and demeanors. That's part of what makes Robbie’s consistent portrayal of the DC supervillain even more extraordinary. The Suicide Squad star said about constantly playing everyone’s favorite madcap villainess on the big screen:
From a business or statistical standpoint, those are the high-paying jobs. So, I really want to advocate for women writing big blockbuster action films. And then also, the perception that women aren’t interested in action is ridiculous. Plus, they’re really, really fun.
Margot Robbie’s statement about women in the action genre was spot on. Many times, female lead and supporting characters are seen more as accessories to male characters or have an insignificant effect on the plot. That’s why headlining and producing a film like Birds of Prey was important for moviegoers. But Harley Quinn isn’t just an important character for audiences, but also for Robbie herself.
After being so blunt about doing Birds of Prey, the actress delved more into why the DC villainess has become her favorite character. Margot Robbie revealed to British Vogue that Harley Quinn allows her to stretch as an actress. She later recalled the DC super villainess popping up in real-life interactions with family and friends. Robbie admitted to having to put Quinn in her box in those moments.
Knowing the actress puts Harley Quinn in check now and then spoke volumes. Margot Robbie and Quinn live on the same plane at this point. But Robbie wouldn’t be the first actor to have trouble separating herself from a character. Being complete opposites allow the Aussie actress to tap into different sides of herself without dealing with the issues in real life. Much like DC fans, the actress is very much Team Harley Quinn.
Margot Robbie has been on the record pushing for improved things for the DC fan favorite. Whether it’s Quinn’s relationship with The Joker or in-depth discussion with James Gunn, Robbie is all about the best for the madcap villain. Birds of Prey star even pitched a possible Harley Quinn-Poison Ivy team-up. So, it’s safe to say the Aussie actress won’t be giving up on the DC supervillain anytime soon. To see Robbie as Harley Quinn once more, you can catch her in The Suicide Squad on Aug. 6 in theaters and on HBO Max.
