As she prepares for her highly anticipated return to cinema, Margot Robbie is candidly reflecting on some of the more jarring moments from her formative years in Hollywood. In a revealing conversation with pop sensation Charli XCX for Complex's latest "GOAT Talk" video interview, the acclaimed actress didn't hesitate when asked about the most regrettable present she's ever received.
A Shocking Early-Career Incident
"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,' and it was essentially a book telling you to eat less," Robbie disclosed. "I was like, 'Whoa—fuck you, dude!'"
She elaborated further, expressing her disbelief at the time. "He essentially gave me a book to tell me I should lose weight. I was like, 'Wow.'" The book in question is Mireille Guiliano's 2004 publication "French Women Don't Get Fat: The Secret of Eating for Pleasure," which, according to the author's official website, "reveals the ingredients for a lifetime of weight control" and "shows how virtually anyone can learn to eat, drink, and move like a French woman."
Moving Forward with Grace and Humor
Robbie, however, demonstrated remarkable poise in recounting the incident. When Charli XCX pressed for details about the identity of the actor, Robbie simply shrugged. "I have no idea where he would even be now," she said. "This is really back in the day." Her remarks on this unfortunate gift occur around the 11:56 mark in the interview.
Promoting a New Cinematic Venture
This revelation comes as Robbie stars alongside Jacob Elordi in Emerald Fennell's fresh adaptation of Emily Brontë's classic novel "Wuthering Heights," which premieres in theaters this Friday. The film features a soundtrack provided by Charli XCX, who is currently riding high on the success of her groundbreaking 2024 album "Brat."
"Wuthering Heights" has seen numerous big-screen adaptations over the decades, most notably in 1939 with Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier, and again in 1992 with Juliette Binoche and Ralph Fiennes. Despite this storied history, Robbie is optimistic that audiences will find something new and surprising in this version. She described it to British Vogue as "a big epic romance" reminiscent of cinematic giants like "The English Patient" and "Titanic."
A Contrast in Co-Star Behavior
In a heartening contrast to her past experience, Robbie's current co-star Jacob Elordi appears to be a considerably more thoughtful gift-giver. Speaking to USA Today recently, Robbie shared that Elordi made efforts to stay in character by filling her dressing room with roses on Valentine's Day during filming. Later, he surprised her with a carefully curated box of snacks from their shared homeland of Australia.
"His dad brought it over from Australia, and the nice thing was that [he] remembered all of my favorite things that I said in passing," Robbie recalled warmly. "I'm a very simple creature. Just give me some food."
Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi's new adaptation of "Wuthering Heights" arrives in theaters on February 13, marking another significant chapter in Robbie's illustrious career.
