Margot Robbie is one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, and her Australian fans have a different pronunciation of her name than those in North America.
While Margot Robbie is a Hollywood A-lister whose name is uttered daily, Australian fans’ pronunciation of her name is very distinctive. An Australian herself, Robbie was born in Dalby, Queensland, and her journey to stardom began with her role as Donna Freedman in the Australian soap opera Neighbors. This not only marked her entry into the acting world but also laid the foundation for her international career. Her big break came with the 2013 movie The Wolf of Wall Street, where she starred alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, earning widespread acclaim for her performance. Since then, Robbie has become a household name.
Robbie’s career is marked by a series of remarkable performances, and she earned her first Oscar nomination for playing Tonya Harding in I, Tonya. Her foray into producing films like Promising Young Woman and Barbie, where she also plays the titular role, demonstrates her multifaceted talent. Other notable roles include Harley Quinn in the DC Extended Universe and Sharon Tate in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Her ability to inhabit different characters seamlessly, whether it’s a real-life person or a superhero, has made her one of the most sought-after actresses in the industry.
Margot Robbie Feels At Home When She Hears Australians Pronounce Her Name
Margot Robbie has a unique connection to her Australian roots, particularly evident in how she cherishes the Australian pronunciation of her name (via Daily Mail). Unlike the American pronunciation, which emphasizes the ‘r’ sound in “Margot” as “Marr-go,” the Australian version drops the ‘r’ sound, resulting in “Ma-go.” This subtle difference makes a world of difference to Robbie, who feels a sense of home and familiarity when she hears her name said in the Australian manner. Below is Robbie’s full comment on the pronunciation of her name when discussing the Babylon premiere in Australia:
‘You know, you have the premiere and people scream out your name. I just love hearing my name with an Aussie accent too because in America everyone hits the R. They got “Marr-go” not “Ma-go”.
Robbie’s connection to her Australian identity is further highlighted by Diego Calva, her co-star in the Babylon cast, who mentioned that Mexican fans pronounce Robbie’s name phonetically, emphasizing both the ‘r’ and the ‘t’ in Margot (phonetically: “Marr-got”). This attention to the nuances of her name from fans worldwide underscores the global reach of her fame and the cultural differences in name pronunciation. For Robbie, hearing her name in the Australian accent at public events is more than just a matter of pronunciation; it’s a reminder of her roots and the journey she has undertaken from Queensland to Hollywood.
Robbie’s Barbie Co-Star Has Dealt With Name Pronunciation Issues
Pronunciation of names can be a significant aspect of an actor’s identity, as seen in the experiences of Margot Robbie’s Barbie co-star, Simu Liu. Known for his role in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Liu, who also plays a version of Ken in the Barbie cast, spoke candidly about the struggles with his name.
In a 2021 interview with USA Today, Liu expressed his initial desire to have a more Anglicized name, highlighting the challenges he faced with his name being frequently mispronounced. He shared his routine of spelling out his name, especially at places like Starbucks, to avoid mispronunciation. Below is Liu’s full comment:
I would’ve given anything to change my name to something a little bit more Anglicized. I gave my parents a lot of crap and asked, ‘Why didn’t you just name me ‘Steve’ or ‘Tommy?’ It requires a degree of patience when introducing oneself. I never say my Starbucks order without spelling it out: I’ll always say, ‘Simu. S-I-M-U.’
Liu’s name was also mispronounced at an LA Clippers basketball game when he was in attendance. When the announcer pointed him out, the pronunciation drew the attention of Twitter users. Liu can even be seen in the clip saying, “close enough,” regarding the announcer’s pronunciation. Liu’s experience reflects the broader conversation about cultural identity and the importance of correct name pronunciation. As the industry becomes more global and inclusive, the correct pronunciation of Margot Robbie, Simu Liu, and others’ names becomes a small yet powerful way to honor each individual’s heritage and identity.
