That Time Margot Robbie Thought She Was Going To Get Cut Out Of The Wolf Of Wall Street: ‘I’m Not Saying This To Try To Be Humble’

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In Hollywood, a single role can quickly turn an unknown actor into a major star. Margot Robbie’s performance in *The Wolf of Wall Street* is a perfect example of this. The film instantly made her one of the most sought-after actresses in the industry, which is even more remarkable considering she initially didn’t think she’d land the part.

It’s impossible now to imagine a version of The Wolf of Wall Street that doesn’t even have Margot Robbie in it, but speaking with IMDb, the actress revealed that she thought that so much happened in the film that her character might simply get lost in the edit. She explained…

I didn’t see the movie until the night before it came out. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I’d even be noticeable in it. I’m not trying to be modest, but while we were filming, I really didn’t expect anyone to pay attention to me. There’s so much going on in the movie – so many wild things happen – that I figured I’d just be a quick, fleeting presence, appearing and disappearing throughout.

It’s easy to see why Robbie felt that way. *The Wolf of Wall Street* is a pretty over-the-top movie with a lot going on, and she’s right to point that out. The film focuses more on the overall story than on the details of Jordan Belfort’s personal life, so it made sense to her that her role might be reduced during editing.

Okay, let’s talk about the runtime of *The Wolf of Wall Street*. At three hours, it definitely invites the question of whether it could have been tighter. Scorsese’s known for his longer films, and usually gets a pretty free hand from the studio, but there *was* a possibility they might have asked for cuts. It’s easy to imagine scenes, maybe even involving Robbie, ending up on the cutting room floor just to keep the length manageable.

I’ve read that editing *The Wolf of Wall Street* was a really drawn-out process, overseen by the amazing Thelma Schoonmaker, who works with Scorsese all the time. Apparently, they explored a lot of different versions of the movie, and Robbie was actually worried about how much of her performance would even make it into the final cut. It’s incredible to think about all the possibilities that were considered, and she herself wondered what the final result would be… She went on to explain more about it, which is fascinating.

It went through so many edits that I didn’t see the final version until very late in the process. I actually worried I’d been completely cut out, hoping at least a few of my scenes were still included. I figured no one would even notice I was in it, but then things unexpectedly changed.

Honestly, I never bought the rumors about Margot Robbie being on the chopping block. Scorsese is a smart director, and it’s clear he knew what he had with her. She absolutely *kills* it in *The Wolf of Wall Street*, commanding your attention in every single scene – and it’s not even about her! The movie just wouldn’t be as great without her, plain and simple. She elevates everything.

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2025-09-25 01:08