The Wolf of Wall Street: Margot Robbie reveals why she insisted on full-frontal nudity in Martin Scorsese's classic

Margot Robbie discusses slapping Leonardo DiCaprio, listening to Titanic music on set, and her breakout role in Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street.

Margot Robbie in a still from The Wolf of Wall Street

Retrospectively, Margot Robbie considers her nude moment from The Wolf of Wall Street. The actor discussed her experience co-starring with Leonardo DiCaprio in the 2013 Martin Scorsese film on the Talking Pictures podcast with Ben Mankiewicz of Turner Classic Movies. Robbie, then in her early twenties, had her breakthrough role in the film playing the character of Naomi Lapaglia, the wife of Jordan Belfort (played by DiCaprio).

Robbie’s decision to go nude despite alternative suggestions

Even though Scorsese suggested an alternate scene, Robbie insisted on having a naked one in the film. According to her recollection of their conversation, the filmmaker suggested that she could wear a robe if she felt uncomfortable. However, Robbie didn't believe that the suggestion was appropriate for the role; she would never act in such a manner in that scenario. The card she is currently playing is the idea that she will emerge entirely nude.

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During her audition for the role, Robbie decided to act independently. The actor claimed that at the end of one scene, DiCaprio's character told her to kiss him, but she had different plans.

Audacious audition moment that left an impression

There was a moment when she fantasised about planting a kiss on DiCaprio's lips. She had immediate plans to inform all her friends about this. Then she said, "No," and Robbie clarified that she had just slapped him across the face. For three seconds, during what seemed like an eternity, there was complete silence.

After making their decision, Scorsese and DiCaprio couldn't help but break into laughing. They could hardly contain their laughter. The laughter between Leo and Marty was contagious. It was amazing, they said. As she recalled her conviction that it was an assault or battery, she couldn't help but giggle. She believed she would face a jail sentence and would never be able to find employment again. Why did she feel compelled to hit him with such intensity? If she had used less force, it might have been more manageable.

Life-imitating-art moment with Titanic

Robbie remembered feeling like she was going to be one small part in this big circus, even though the film was her breakout role. Describing it as a life-imitating-art moment, Robbie listened to the score of Titanic before filming an emotional scene with DiCaprio, and she added that the film always makes her cry.

In the film, following her divorce request, there was a major, chaotic incident. That was the day Kate Winslet arrived to see Leo on the set. The actor was attempting to maintain her melancholy state while listening to the score from the film Titanic in the room adjacent to them. Then, she caught a glimpse of DiCaprio and Winslet strolling by, a sight that seemed unbelievable.

Legacy

Following its release, The Wolf of Wall Street received five Oscar nominations. It is available to stream on Lionsgate Play (OTTplay Premium).

ALSO READ: The Wolf Of Wall Street’s opening scene had a real lion and not CGI - Did you know?

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