Margot Robbie has openly credited Rachel McAdams with playing a crucial role in her own acting success. The 35-year-old actress, known for hits like Barbie, Wuthering Heights, and The Wolf of Wall Street, revealed that watching McAdams’ audition for The Notebook deeply influenced her approach before important auditions. This insight came during an interview on BBC Radio 2, where Robbie shared how McAdams’ performance helped shape her mindset.
The Impact of Watching Rachel McAdams’ Audition
Before attending auditions, Margot Robbie would study McAdams’ work carefully, using it as motivation to improve her own performances. She said,
“She’s so good, and she’s so charming and real, and like, in it. I used to watch it before I’d go to an audition, I was like, ‘OK, just try and be as good as her.’”
– Margot Robbie
Robbie also acknowledged that this practice influenced every role she secured. She explained that her commitment to fully embodying a character in the audition room was driven by watching McAdams’ dedication firsthand:
“It’s just the commitment. I always watched it to remind myself that you have to fully commit in the audition room.”
– Margot Robbie
Their Collaboration and Personal Connection
Margot Robbie and Rachel McAdams worked together in Richard Curtis’ 2013 romantic comedy About Time. Despite having a minor role in the film, Robbie fondly recalled McAdams’ kindness during their time on set. She shared an emotional reflection on their interaction, emphasizing McAdams’ generosity:
“I got to work with her in About Time. I had a small role, and she’s the lead in it. I was absolutely no one back then and she was so lovely to me and my brother. I’ll never forget how she’d go out of her way to be so kind. I just love her.”
– Margot Robbie
Balancing Acting with Film Production
Beyond acting, Margot Robbie co-owns LuckyChap Entertainment, a production company. She distinguishes the experience of pitching new projects from the process of auditioning for roles. Speaking at the Hollywood Reporter’s Actresses Round Table, Robbie described pitching as a challenging form of persuasion rather than a performance rooted in truth. She said,
“It feels like selling. It feels like I’m a con artist convincing everyone that something insane is actually going to work.”
– Margot Robbie
Robbie further reflected on the nature of acting, emphasizing honesty over deceit:
“Whereas auditioning feels like … The funny thing is, I’m not good at lying. And people are like, ‘Don’t you lie for a living?’ No, I’ve never seen acting as that. I feel like acting is making something so incredibly truthful, and making it sound like the most honest thing that could ever come out of your mouth.”
– Margot Robbie
She added,
“Whereas pitching, it’s not lying, either, but it’s a lot of promising something you don’t actually know.”
– Margot Robbie
Significance and Influence on Future Work
Margot Robbie’s admiration for Rachel McAdams highlights the power of mentorship and inspiration within the acting community. By using McAdams’ performances as a benchmark, Robbie developed the confidence and commitment needed to succeed in Hollywood. Their professional collaboration on About Time strengthened this bond, influencing Robbie’s approach both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. As Robbie continues balancing her acting career with producing films at LuckyChap Entertainment, this early inspiration remains a cornerstone of her artistic philosophy and drive.
