The 2013 film The Wolf of Wall Street remains one of the most talked-about and controversial movies of the last decade, primarily serving as the global launching pad for Australian actress Margot Robbie. As of December 2025, discussions around her fearless and transformative portrayal of Naomi Lapaglia continue to surface, especially regarding the infamous intimate scenes that defined the character’s defiance and power.
The role catapulted Robbie from Australian soap operas to Hollywood A-list status, but the journey was not without its challenges. New details and retrospective interviews have revealed the surprising autonomy Robbie had over the scene, the grueling nature of the shoot, and the stark contrast between her pivotal role and her initial compensation. Her insistence on the scene’s raw nature was a deliberate acting choice, fundamentally shaping the character of Jordan Belfort's "Duchess of Bay Ridge."
Margot Robbie: A Brief Biography and Career Trajectory
Margot Elise Robbie was born on July 2, 1990, in Dalby, Queensland, Australia. She spent her formative years growing up on the Gold Coast, where she was raised by her single mother. Interestingly, before pursuing acting full-time, Robbie trained as a trapeze artist, a skill she acquired after her mother encouraged her to enroll in circus school.
Her early career began on the Australian soap opera Neighbours, where she played Donna Freedman from 2008 to 2011. This role provided her with a steady foundation before she made the ambitious move to the United States.
The pivotal moment came in 2013 with her casting in Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street. Her audition for the role of Naomi Lapaglia is legendary—she famously ad-libbed a slap across the face of Leonardo DiCaprio, a bold move that immediately clinched her the part.
Following her breakthrough, Robbie diversified her career, taking on roles in films like Focus (2015) and later achieving worldwide recognition as Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad (2016). In 2014, she co-founded the production company, LuckyChap Entertainment, alongside her husband, Tom Ackerley, and business partners Josey McNamara and Sophia Kerr. The company’s focus on female-driven stories led to the production of critically acclaimed films like I, Tonya and the global phenomenon, Barbie.
The Shocking Decisions Behind the Iconic Nude Scene
The sequence where Naomi Lapaglia attempts to seduce Jordan Belfort in their daughter’s nursery—culminating in her appearing completely naked to taunt him—is central to the film's narrative. It showcases Naomi’s manipulative power and her ability to use her sexuality as a weapon against the volatile Jordan.
Years after the film's release, Robbie has been candid about the creative process, revealing five key truths that challenge the public’s perception of the scene.
1. Margot Robbie Insisted on Full Nudity Against Scorsese’s Suggestion
One of the most surprising revelations is that the decision for full nudity was entirely Robbie’s own, not a demand from the script or director Martin Scorsese.
Robbie explained that Scorsese, sensitive to her comfort, offered her the option to wear a robe during the scene.
However, Robbie refused, arguing that for the character of Naomi Lapaglia, the robe would undermine the entire point of the confrontation.
"The whole point is that she's going to come out completely naked—that's how defiant she is," Robbie stated in a recent interview.
She felt that Naomi needed to be fully exposed to show her absolute control and power over Jordan Belfort in that moment, turning her body into a tool of spite and temptation.
2. The Infamous Phone Scene Took 17 Hours to Film
Beyond the final nude moment, the preceding scene where Naomi is on the phone, lying in the nursery crib and suggestively using her foot, was technically challenging and exhausting.
Robbie revealed that the scene, which required her to "pretend to touch herself," took an arduous 17 hours to shoot.
The duration and specific movements required for the scene highlight the physical and mental demands of portraying the character’s uninhibited sexuality and the precision required by a director like Scorsese.
3. She Used Tequila to Calm Her Nerves for "That Scene"
Despite her professional insistence on the full nudity for creative reasons, the reality of filming such an intimate scene was nerve-wracking for the then-22-year-old actress.
Robbie admitted during a Q&A that she had a couple of shots of tequila before filming the pivotal nude sequence.
This candid admission humanizes the otherwise powerful and calculated performance, showing the personal courage required to commit fully to the demanding role.
The Career and Financial Impact of 'The Wolf of Wall Street'
The Wolf of Wall Street was a massive commercial success, grossing $407 million worldwide, making it Martin Scorsese's highest-grossing film to date.
The film, which received five Oscar nominations, cemented the status of Leonardo DiCaprio and Scorsese, but it fundamentally changed Robbie's career trajectory.
4. Her Initial Salary Was Surprisingly Low
Despite the film's massive success and Robbie's career-defining performance, her initial compensation for the role of Naomi Lapaglia was modest by Hollywood standards.
Reports indicate that Margot Robbie’s base salary for The Wolf of Wall Street was approximately $350,000.
While a significant amount, this figure pales in comparison to the massive paychecks of her co-stars and highlights the financial disparity for a breakout actor at the time.
However, this role was the catalyst for her future financial success, with her salary nearly doubling for her next major film, Focus, and eventually leading to her becoming one of Hollywood's highest-paid actresses for roles like *Barbie*.
5. The Role Was Her Power Play into Producing
The experience of playing Naomi Lapaglia and navigating the industry as a young actress in a highly sexualized role directly influenced her next major career move: founding LuckyChap Entertainment.
Robbie realized that to control her career and the narratives of female characters, she needed to be in the producer's chair.
LuckyChap's mission is to tell female stories and champion female filmmakers, a direct response to the kind of roles and industry dynamics she experienced early on. This production company has been instrumental in her later successes, including *I, Tonya* and the record-breaking *Barbie* movie, proving that her initial "Wolf of Wall Street" risk was a calculated step toward ultimate creative control and power.
Detail Author:
- Name : Alaina Russel
- Username : rusty11
- Email : madisen75@tromp.org
- Birthdate : 2003-08-18
- Address : 944 Rosalinda Crest West Kayleighside, IN 62076
- Phone : +1.959.946.5296
- Company : Douglas PLC
- Job : Automotive Technician
- Bio : Nihil autem consequatur qui sint. Necessitatibus quidem tempore quidem tempora earum. Soluta suscipit magni esse quia ab necessitatibus esse.
Socials
twitter:
- url : https://twitter.com/camren9090
- username : camren9090
- bio : Nemo quia eum nostrum. Quae alias sit ipsam atque. Voluptates repudiandae et corporis rem consectetur.
- followers : 4813
- following : 1221
facebook:
- url : https://facebook.com/camren_dev
- username : camren_dev
- bio : Voluptatem blanditiis vel ut aliquid.
- followers : 4399
- following : 1471
tiktok:
- url : https://tiktok.com/@cheidenreich
- username : cheidenreich
- bio : Aspernatur omnis dolor sed numquam.
- followers : 2303
- following : 2410
instagram:
- url : https://instagram.com/camren_real
- username : camren_real
- bio : Veniam magnam voluptas esse et. Sapiente velit hic non incidunt animi.
- followers : 4437
- following : 1277