In a revealing new interview, actress Margot Robbie has shared a shocking anecdote about an inappropriate gift she received from a male co-star during the early stages of her acting career. The disclosure comes as she promotes her latest film project, a fresh adaptation of Emily Brontë's classic novel Wuthering Heights.
An Unwelcome Early Career Gift
During a video interview for Complex conducted with singer-songwriter Charli XCX, who contributed original music to the Wuthering Heights adaptation directed by Emerald Fennell, Robbie was asked about the worst gift she had ever received. The 35-year-old Australian actress recalled a particularly offensive present from an unnamed male actor she worked with many years ago.
"Very, very early in my career, an actor I worked with, a male actor, gave me a book called Why French Women Don't Get Fat," Robbie revealed. "It was essentially a book telling you to eat less."
A Coded Message About Weight
The book in question, written by Mireille Guiliano and published in 2007, presents itself as a lifestyle guide but focuses heavily on dietary restrictions. Robbie interpreted the gift as a thinly-veiled suggestion about her appearance.
"He essentially gave me a book to let me know that I should lose weight," she explained. "I was like, 'Whoa, f*** you, dude.'"
Robbie emphasized that this incident occurred long before her Hollywood breakthrough, suggesting the actor wasn't a contemporary A-list star. "I was given the book really back in the day," she noted, adding that she has "no idea where he would even be now."
Context and Career Timeline
The 2007 publication date of the controversial book provides important context about when this incident likely occurred:
- Robbie's early career was primarily in Australian television, most notably on the long-running soap opera Neighbours, where she appeared as Donna Freedman from 2008 to 2011
- She also had guest roles on Australian shows like City Homicide and Review With Myles Barlow in 2008
- Her Hollywood breakthrough came in 2013 with Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street, where she starred opposite Leonardo DiCaprio
- Prior to that, she starred in the single-season ABC period drama Pan Am from 2011 to 2012
Given that Robbie has worked almost exclusively with major stars since her 2013 breakthrough, her claim that she hasn't kept up with the actor's career suggests this incident occurred during her Australian television years.
Interview Dynamics and Reactions
During the Complex interview, Robbie's revelation prompted a humorous reaction from her interviewer. When Robbie suggested she didn't know what had become of the actor's career, Charli XCX glanced directly into the camera and joked, "Your career's over, babe."
Robbie was careful to provide few clues about the actor's identity, likely to avoid speculation about which of her former co-stars might have been responsible for the insensitive gift.
Current Project: Wuthering Heights Adaptation
Robbie's disclosure comes amid promotion for her latest film, Emerald Fennell's adaptation of Wuthering Heights, in which she stars opposite Jacob Elordi. The film has generated significant discussion for several reasons:
- Radical reinterpretation: Director Emerald Fennell has taken substantial creative liberties with Brontë's original novel, transforming the story into what some critics describe as a more conventional romance
- Casting controversies: Jacob Elordi's casting as Heathcliff has sparked debate among fans, with some arguing the character was intended to be non-white in the original novel
- Representation concerns: The film has faced criticism for allegedly casting actors of color primarily in roles portraying morally challenged characters
- Mixed critical reception: Early reviews have been divided on Fennell's approach to the classic literary work
The film, which features original songs by Charli XCX, was released on February 13 and represents Robbie's latest high-profile project following her successful career trajectory from Australian television to Hollywood stardom.
Robbie's candid revelation about her early career experience highlights the sometimes problematic dynamics young actresses face in the entertainment industry, even as she continues to take on challenging roles in major productions like the new Wuthering Heights adaptation.
