‘Legend of Tarzan’ Cast, News: Margot Robbie Breaks Stereotypes as Jane, Talks Humble Career Beginnings to Hollywood Stardom

‘Legend of Tarzan’ actress Margot Robbie revealed that Jane breaks female character stereotypes by being fiercely independent in the new film. She also talked about her humble career beginnings in Australia and gaining international stardom in Hollywood.

According to News.com.au, Robbie explained how her character Jane is different from typical damsel-in-distress stereotype often seen in films. She said, “There is no ‘me Tarzan, you Jane’ situation…” She described Jane in the new film as “fiercely independent and incredibly capable.”

She said, “It was a massive role reversal that doesn’t normally happen… Even in the jungle, Jane is fully dressed in boots, a skirt and a blouse, which deteriorates throughout the film as we are jumping off things, in monsoons and stampedes.”

Robbie admitted that she signed on for the role of Jane since it was different from any other character she had done in the past. She added, “It’s like the Indiana Jones or Pirates of the Caribbean films, an epic action-adventure, a crazy, beautiful world and the characters are real and raw… Tarzan and Jane are a team… She wants him, but doesn’t need him. Jane can take care of herself and is constantly getting out of danger on her own.”

The 24-year old Australian actress began her showbiz career appearing in independent films. She was then cast in the Australian soap opera ‘Neighbours’. She moved to the United States and landed a role as a stewardess on ABC’s drama series ‘Pan Am’.

Robbie went on to appear in 2009’s ‘I.C.U.’ and 2013’s ‘About Time’. She finally gained international fame in Martin Scorsese’s critically-acclaimed biographical black comedy ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, where she won an Empire Award for Best Female Newcomer and a nomination for an MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance.

Numerous big screen projects streamed in from there including ‘Z for Zachariah’, ‘Focus’, ‘Suite Francaise’, ‘The Big Short’, and ‘Whiskey Tango Foxtrot’. She is set to play one of the main protagonists in David Ayer’s upcoming superhero film ‘Suicide Squad’ as the iconic DC comic book villainess Harley Quinn.

Robbie said that despite the fact that people referred to her as an “overnight sensation”, she had been in the industry as a professional actress for a decade. She revealed that she came from a family with no showbiz connections and that she was a “normal” girl growing up in the Gold Coast and was raised by her single mother. She acknowledged, “There is so much hard work involved. Acting means investing time; whatever money I made early on, I spent on acting courses and dialect coaches.”

She also admitted although her newfound popularity was discomforting at times, she had no complaints. “Nothing can prepare you for fame, no matter how many times you say, ‘Brace yourself, things might get weird’… Look, it’s all part and parcel of the job, and there are downsides to everything.”

Co-star Alexander Skarsgard, who plays Tarzan, also expressed his fondness for Robbie. According to The Daily Mail, he said, “What makes Margot so beautiful is not only that she’s a stunningly gorgeous woman, but that she is not vain… Margot is so down to earth and fun and that makes it even more attractive.”

‘Legend of Tarzan’ is an upcoming action-adventure film directed by David Yates. It is based on the character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs and scheduled for release on July 1, 2016 in the United States. It is produced by Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures in cooperation with Dark Horse Entertainment and Jerry Weintraub Productions.