Margot Robbie recently opened up about how her natural Queensland accent was considered “too Australian” for her role on the iconic Australian soap opera, Neighbours. The actress, who played Donna Freedman, explained that producers requested she soften her thick Aussie twang when she joined the show in 2008.
Prime Video shared a rare video this week featuring Robbie delivering her Neighbours dialogue in an unfiltered, broad Australian accent, demonstrating just how distinct her original speech was before working with a dialect coach.
Video Shows Robbie’s Accents Before Dialect Coaching
In the clip posted on TikTok, Margot is heard exclaiming, “Everyone’s already left!” while dressed in a bridesmaid’s outfit, her words steeped in a strong Australian intonation. She adds, “Are you kidding me?” and mentions a taxi taking “an hour,” all delivered with thick Queensland inflections that caught the attention of fans.
Viewers quickly took to the comments to poke fun at her pronunciation. One stated, “An ouwwwher? (An hour),” while another noted,
“To think this was AFTER a dialogue coach.”
Another fan reflected,
“The way she says I am kills me and I’m Australian,”
with further reactions exclaiming, “OH NAUUURRRRR!”
Actress Shares Insights into Dialect Coaching Experience
Robbie recently spoke with Graham Norton about her early career challenges with her accent. She revealed that the producers on Neighbours hired a dialect coach because her natural voice was considered too “Ocker,” the term often used to describe a strong Australian accent.
Margot described the experience with humor, saying,
“I couldn’t hear that I had a bad accent, so I was like, what do ya mean.”
She demonstrated her original twang while recalling how the show’s team told her,
“you’re just awful to listen to. We’re going to send you off to work with this woman, and it’ll round out your accent,”
affirming the need for accent training to fit the soap’s expectations.
Margot Robbie’s Career Before and After Neighbours
Before making her mark in Hollywood, Robbie built her reputation on Australian television, especially through Neighbours, which ended its 40-year run in 2025. Robbie appeared in over 350 episodes between 2008 and 2011, establishing herself as a household name in Australia.
She also had guest roles on City Homicide and Review With Myles Barlow in 2008. However, after her breakthrough in film around 2013, she predominantly focused on movie roles, with recent work including a new adaptation of Emily Brontë’s classic novel, Wuthering Heights.
What This Means for Margot Robbie’s Future Work
The story behind Margot Robbie’s “too Australian” accent highlights the pressures actors face in adjusting their natural voices to meet casting or industry standards. Despite this early challenge, Robbie’s successful transition to international stardom shows her adaptability and talent.
Her journey from dialect coaching on Neighbours to leading Hollywood films suggests that while her accent once held her back, refining it was a stepping stone that helped open doors—allowing her to embrace a broader range of roles while still honoring her Australian roots.
