FEATURE:
Suicide Blonde
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images
Margot Robbie and Music
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APART from a little bit of self-indulgence on my part…
IN THIS PHOTO: Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn/PHOTO CREDIT: Warner Bros. Entertainment
there is another reason for writing about Margot Robbie. This is a music blog, though I occasionally go off-course and look at film (there is a long and rich romance between film and music; I have covered everything from film soundtracks to music’s integral importance in film before). This feature’s title is also the name of a song by the Australian band, INXS (it is the first single from their 1990 album, X). Margot Robbie was born in Australia (in Dalby, Queensland), as were INXS (they hailed from Sydney). Also, Robbie appeared in the 2016 film, Suicide Squad, as the electrifying Harley Quinn (she starred in the spin-off, Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), in 2020; this will be followed by the standalone sequel, The Suicide Squad, in August). Apart from some semi-clever wordplay, I have seen many films Margot Robbie has appeared in, and she has this incredible spirit and hugely natural and arresting chameleon-like ability! I am going to come on to the music tastes of Robbie and a planned/rumoured project. I know that she works with dialect and movement coaches for her films. Robbie told Vogue in 2019 that she would particularly love to do a Brooklyn accent for a film – or that it was her favourite dialect. I think that it is only a matter of time before Robbie produces a music-heavy film or plays an artist. She has a production company, LuckyChap Entertainment, that she Tom Ackerley (her husband), Josey McNamara and Sophia Kerr founded in 2014. There will be a lot of exciting projects coming from the company. I wonder whether there are any plans for a film where music plays a very big part?
IN THIS PHOTO: The peerless and iconic Debbie Harry of Blondie in 1978/PHOTO CREDIT: Mick Rock
Through her varied and exceptional career, Robbie has proven herself as one of the most versatile and skilled actors in the business (I especially like her in I, Tonya and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood). She can convey this Punk spirit or something more grounded, nuanced and soulful. One of my big complaints is that there are not that many music films. Whether it is a coming-of-age story or a musical, they are not that overly-common (though there have been a few music biopics as of late). I would love to see a film set during the Punk era in 1970s New York. This would allow Robbie to affect a Brooklyn accent. I actually think that she could perfectly nail Debbie Harry, the legendary lead of Blondie. Though Harry was born in Miami, Florida, Blondie based themselves in New York. Harry turns seventy-six on 1st July, and she is one of the most inspiring and indominable figures in music history. I think that Robbie would be a perfect fit to play Debbie Harry in a film/biopic - either a Blondie film or a wider arc where Debbie Harry is key. Though Robbie is a bit taller than Harry (about an inch-and-a-half if the Internet is to be trusted), it is a not a big thing. Margot Robbie is thirty. At thirty, Blondie recorded their eponymous debut. Showing Robbie as Debbie Harry prior to that album and through the early years of the band would be interesting. Maybe adapting Harry’s memoir, Face It, would make for an intriguing and evocative project. I am just spit-balling - though I can easily see Robbie assuming the mantle of Debbie Harry and delivering an award-winning turn! Debbie Harry was in Margot Robbie’s mind when creating the look for Harley Quinn:
“Everybody has his or her own idea of what certain DC characters should look like, which is why Suicide Squad jarred so many fans. David Ayer took serious liberties with many of the characters, and it ultimately paid off. The movie went in an entirely new visual direction, while maintaining fidelity to the characters' personalities. One such villainess who looked incredibly different from her origins was none other than Harley Quinn, and as it turns out: the filmmakers based much of her look off of legendary rock star Debbie Harry. Margot Robbie elaborated:
I tried on like 100 different variations of the costume but when I saw a picture of - we found this picture of Debbie Harry - and I was like, 'That's it, that is dope.'
During a recent interview with the 2DAY FM's Rove And Sam radio show, Margot Robbie explained the intense search for Harley Quinn's Suicide Squad outfit. She says she tried on at least 100 different versions of the costume, but ultimately decided on one inspired by a photo of rock star Debbie Harry of Blondie. Once she saw that photo, she instantly knew the direction to take the costume -- although she did also reveal that the skimpiness of the costume did make her uncomfortable at times.
Taking inspiration from Debbie Harry makes sense in the long run. Much like Margot Robbie's own take on Harley Quinn, Harry had (and still has) a very punk rock aura, while still maintaining certain, distinct qualities of feminine beauty. They're both tough, but they're both also incredibly magnetic individuals”
So far, Robbie has not really appeared in a music film/biopic. I hope that it is something she is going to realise in years to come. Not only is she a great actor who one could see in a New York-set biopic/music film or a British music film set during the 1980s, say; she has a great music knowledge and really knows her onions!
In 2020, as NME reported, Robbie’s mettle was tested when she was asked about here admiration of Metal by Jimmy Fallon:
“Margot Robbie has once again shown off her love for all things metal – this time on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
The Suicide Squad and Birds of Prey star took part in the show’s ‘Know It All’ quiz section alongside Fallon. Divided into different knowledge categories, Robbie’s love of metal shone as she referenced bands including Aerosmith, KISS, Slipknot, Metallica and more.
At one point, Robbie missed the opportunity to mention AC/DC. “Oh, I should have got that one,” she joked with Fallon”.
In 2018, as another NME article outlines, Robbie said she would like to produce a music video for the innovative and extrardinary OK Go:
“Margot Robbie has revealed that she’d love to produce a music video for OK Go. Watch our video interview with Robbie above.
Speaking to NME about producing her latest film ‘Terminal’, the Oscar nominee discussed the music that she loved.
When asked which band she’d be keen to work with, Robbie replied: “Who’s the band, they always do rad video clips and they did the zero gravity plane one?” referring to OK Go’s video for ‘Upside Down’.
“I feel like they always do fun video clips that involve some sort of extreme sports or something or really bizarre, that’d be really fun!”
They are a band who create such interesting and memorable videos. I hope that collaboration takes place at some point. I can see Robbie getting more involved with the music world in some capacity. Between her love of Metal and the fact that she is no stranger to a tattoo gun (I have been on the receiving end of one a few times), I can envisage something akin to a Debbie Harry biopic or, like I said, Robbie in Brooklyn - where she gets to utilise her range and indulge in her love of music. I am not sure what Robbie’s singing voice is like. I suspect that she has the ability to adapt and take on a great singing voice very quick. If not, perhaps playing a free spirit in the U.S. during the 1960s or 1970s would be best - and there are many musi-based ideas that spring to my mind. Not to play a ‘virtual agent’, but I feel there is plenty of ammunition in the theory of a Margot Robbie-music biopic/film.
As I try to get my own music documentary about Kate Bush off of the ground (a lot of brick walls being put in the way!), I have been thinking about bringing music to film and, for several reasons, Margot Robbie came to mind. There were plans, as this 2019 article explains, for Robbie and her production company to bring a musical to the screen:
“The Hollywood Reporter has reported that Margot Robbie has signed on to produce a gay, comedy musical titled Big Gay Jamboree. She will be producing the film under her LuckyChap Entertainment company.
This won’t be Margot’s first time producing, as she has previously produced Terminal, and the Oscar-winning film I, Tonya. However, it looks like Margot’s role will only be behind the cameras, and she isn’t likely to act in the film.
Alethea Jones, who has directed award-winning films like When the Wind Changes and Lemonade Stand, is set to direct the film. Marla Mindelle and Jonathan Parks-Ramage, who both wrote The Devil’s Bitch, are linked to the project as writers.
Big Gay Jamboree will follow a woman who one day awakens on the set of a 1940s musical. She will begin to make friends while attempting to find her way back to her actual time.
The film is said to be a mixture of both The Book of Mormon and Oklahoma!, at least in tone”.
I am not sure whether that is still happening or has been held back for now. From Debbie Harry to, maybe Stevie Nicks during Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours era (a film that explores the turbulent recording of that genius album and the strained relationship between Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham (and everyone else in the band) would be ace. I do not think one has made it to the big or small screen yet) to a host of fascinating characters in the music world, I hope that – when she gets a moment to breathe! – there is something in the back of Margot Robbie’s mind that has a musical connotation. LuckyChap Entertainment have a lot of irons in the fire and things brewing, so seeing Robbie produce a project of appear in a music film might be a way off! Not only would it be fascinating for me (as a big fan of hers and knowing she is a massive music-head); so many other people around the world…
WOULD love to see it come to fruition.