Margot Robbie reveals first reaction to Harley Quinn role ‘I hate her’ and rejected the role

Margot Robbie has revealed that her initial reaction to one of her most recognisable roles, Harley Quinn, was unexpectedly negative before she later reinterpreted the character and made it her own across multiple films in the DC universe.

Robbie, whose career has included a wide range of transformative performances, has often spoken about her preference for character driven roles. Over the years she has portrayed figures ranging from historical icons to fictional anti heroes, consistently emphasising her interest in roles that allow her to explore complex personalities rather than one dimensional characters.

When she first encountered the role of Harley Quinn, Robbie admitted she struggled to connect with the character at all. She described her first impression bluntly, saying, “I hate her,” reflecting how distant the character initially felt from her own instincts as an actor. At that stage, she did not see a clear emotional entry point into the comic book figure, who is traditionally associated with chaotic behaviour and her connection to the Joker.

However, as she continued to examine the role, Robbie began to reassess Harley Quinn’s motivations. She explained that what initially seemed like a character defined through her relationship with a male counterpart gradually revealed a different layer of independence and defiance. The character’s drive, as Robbie later interpreted it, was rooted in asserting agency within a world that often limits female characters to supporting roles.

This shift in perspective ultimately led her to embrace the role in Suicide Squad, where she first brought Harley Quinn to the screen. Her portrayal quickly became one of the most widely discussed elements of the film, drawing attention for its energy, unpredictability and distinct interpretation of the character.

Following that success, Robbie later returned to the role in Birds of Prey, where she also served as a producer. In that project, she helped reshape the character’s narrative away from her association with the Joker and toward a standalone identity. The film focused on Harley Quinn’s independence and evolution, reflecting Robbie’s own interest in expanding the character beyond her original framing.

Robbie has previously stated that she is selective about continuing franchise roles, preferring not to be confined within long running cinematic universes. In the case of Harley Quinn, however, she chose to revisit the character specifically to further develop her independence on screen rather than extend a traditional franchise arc.

Her approach to the role highlights a broader pattern in her career, where she prioritises characters that challenge expectations and allow for reinvention. What began as a role she initially rejected on instinct eventually became one of her most defining performances, shaped by her evolving understanding of the character’s emotional depth and potential for reinvention.

Today, Robbie’s portrayal of Harley Quinn remains one of the most recognisable interpretations of the character in modern cinema, reflecting how an initial rejection can transform into a defining artistic collaboration.