Why Suicide Squad's Margot Robbie is the actress leading men covet – and their partners fear
Her hair-raising turns in the DC Comics flick and the upcoming Legend of Tarzan mean there's a new major star on the Hollywood block
Hannah Hope
Margot Robbie at The Legend Of Tarzan premiere in Leicester Square (Image: WireImage)
There was something so old-school Hollywood about the way Margot Robbie answered the question at Comic Con.
Sandwiched between Will Smith and Jared Leto, the 26-year-old actress had been somewhat mute as Men in Black star Will raved about their upcoming blockbuster Suicide Squad on Saturday.
But when he was asked how he coped with the physical demands of the movie, Margot clearly decided she wasn't going to let the men have all the glory.
"Whatever everyone did in this film, I did in a pair of heels," she cooed, flooring the crowd at the San Diego convention with a put-down worthy of Bette Davis.
Watch: Cara Delevingne Snapchats the Suicide Squad team partying hard.
From Margot, few would expect any less. This is, beyond doubt, her year. The Australian beauty plays baseball bat-wielding Harley Quinn in the DC Comics movie, which sees the bad guys – including Leto's Joker – grudgingly band together to save the world.
She's proved so popular from the trailer alone that her character has already been given her own stand-alone follow-up film.
What's more, she's also single-handedly reinvented Jane, in the new movie The Legend of Tarzan, transforming her from a damsel in distress into a feisty 21st-century hero.
And she stole the show with her 30-second cameo in Oscar-nominated The Big Short , explaining the financial meltdown while taking a bubble bath. Then there was that very naughty scene in Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street.
A scene-stealing moment in The Big Short
There's a certain magic about her, which Tarzan's legendary late producer Jerry Weintraub tried to sum up, saying: "When I think of Margot Robbie, a single word comes to mind – Audrey Hepburn."
Despite being loved-up with boyfriend of three years, British assistant director Tom Ackerley, 26, Margot has been dubbed by some as the new Angelina Jolie – the screen siren who leaves her co-stars' partners fearing they could end up second best.
With Alexander Skarsgard in Tarzan
Alexander Skarsgard, who enjoyed a sizzling on-screen chemistry with Margot while playing the title role in Tarzan, could not stop gushing about her at the premiere earlier this month.
"What makes Margot so beautiful is not only that she's a stunningly gorgeous woman, but that she is not vain.
Margot Robbie is snapped surfing like a professional
"Margot is so down to earth and fun and that makes it even more attractive," said the 39-year-old.
"Margot and I had just a really deep connection from day one. We really found each other."
Alexander fixes Margot's dress on the Tarzan red carpet (Image: PA)
She certainly found him useful on the red carpet as he tenderly adjusted her dress.
The Swedish hunk's girlfriend of over a year, style guru Alexa Chung , 32, was later pictured looking none too pleased on the ride home.
Jada Pinkett Smith, Will's wife of 19 years, spoke out during the filming of 2015's Focus, when pictures emerged of Margot and her husband larking about in a photobooth as Margot flashed her bra.
Alexa doesn't look too impressed with Alexander (Image: XPOSUREPHOTOS.COM)
After Will was accused of flirting with his co-star, Jada said: "I'm not the kind of woman that believes that a man is not going to be attracted to other women. It's not realistic.
"Just because your man is attracted to another woman doesn't mean he doesn't love you."
How to copy Margot Robbie's Hollywood style
Ben Affleck , 43, who plays Batman in Suicide Squad, was also forced to deny reports that he had grown close to Margot during filming.
But unlike Jolie – who married co-stars Johnny Lee Miller, Billy Bob Thornton and Brad Pitt – friends say Margot's so-called screen siren appeal is down to her being a "boys' girl" with a dry sense of humour.
Margot's devoted to Tom (Image: EROTEME.CO.UK)
And friends tell the Mirror that Tom doesn't mind her having a harmless flirt.
A source close to the couple says: "Her career is on fire right now. Her sassy confidence and tomboy behaviour make her irresistible.
"Tom doesn't mind, in fact he encourages it. She's completely devoted to Tom.
"He is all for Margot getting attention as it's him she comes home to and sleeps with at night. The only problem is Margot's friendliness can sometimes be misconstrued as flirting and leading guys on.
"Cast and crew have often developed infatuations with her. She's the life and soul of any film set and all eyes are drawn to her."
Margot's made a splash as Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad
But Margot still doesn't realise quite how alluring she is. During the filming of hustler drama Focus, professional pickpocket Apollo Robbins was hired to teach Margot the tricks of the trade. And that meant using her sex appeal as a distraction.
Apollo said: "Margot is beautiful, but she doesn't seem to recognise the way she looks."
"I said, 'When this guy comes in what is he going to be looking at on you?' She had to learn they would be checking out her ass. She had never really exploited that before.
"She just thinks of herself as just an everyday girl who grew up on a farm with her parents," he says of the actress, who grew up with three siblings in rural Queensland. At age 16 she starred in a local independent movie, and soon ended up on Neighbours, playing Donna Freedman between 2008 and 2011.
A steamy scene with Leo in The Wolf of Wall Street
Her breakthrough role was as the sexy wife of Leonardo DiCaprio's Jordan Belfort in Scorsese's 2013 masterpiece.
But despite stripping off for the role, she wasn't a natural when it came to the raunchy scenes.
"I hadn't done a proper sex scene before," she said. "Tons of people are watching you. It's so awkward."
Margot has always resisted the lure of Tinseltown, opting instead for a low-key existence with Tom in Shepherd's Bush, West London.
"While most people are used to seeing her glammed up on the red carpet she actually loves to chill out make-up free in tracksuit bottoms and flip- flops," a friend says.
Tattooing Suicide Squad director David Ayer on set (Image: Joelkinnaman/Instagram)
And it seems her down-to-earth attitude stems from her upbringing.
"There's a thing in Australia called tall poppy syndrome," Margot said.
"People are really happy for you to do well, you just can't do better than everyone else or they will cut you down to size."
But she's probably walking a little taller after kicking ass in those Suicide Squad stilettos...
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