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https://scmp.com/culture/film-tv/article/1936840/shes-mad-about-joker-margot-robbie-playing-harley-quinn-suicide Film & TV
‘She’s mad about the Joker’: Margot Robbie on playing Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad
The Australian actress reveals most of her character’s Batman origin story roots are still in place, and that the colourful villain uses her psychology training to get into people’s heads
Batter up... Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad. Photo: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
One of the most hotly anticipated characters in the DC cinematic universe is Warner Bros.’ adaptation of comic book baddie Harley Quinn. And now Suicide Squad’s Margot Robbie will brandish her giant bat in real life.
Created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm as a cartoon in the beloved Batman The Animated Series, Harley Quinn’s on-again, off-again relationship with Batman villain the Joker (whom she lovingly refers to as Mistah Jay) is probably one of the more complicated and dangerously co-dependent affairs in the DC world. And it sounds like the twisted relationship between the two villains will continue into David Ayer’s Suicide Squad.
The Suicide Squad includes Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn (left), Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang (right) and Will Smith as Deadshot (back row, right). Photo: Clay Enos
In a behind-the-scenes interview at CinemaCon, Robbie confirmed that most of the character’s origin story roots are still in place, and that Harley Quinn uses her past to manipulate the rest of the pack of villains that were all drafted into the Suicide Squad.
“She’s definitely one of the more unpredictable members of the squad,” Robbie says. “She also used to be a psychiatrist so she has an extensive knowledge of mental illnesses and how to manipulate people – I’m sorry, well, she has a lot of knowledge on how to profile people, pick their triggers, and as Harley Quinn she kind of utilises that to just manipulate people and mess with them. And she definitely does that with the squad. She’s always picking someone to be dissecting and playing off and messing with.”
As for her current status with the Joker, played by actor Jared Leto? “It’s an incredibly dysfunctional relationship,” Robbie says. “She’s mad about him – like, literally, mad. She’s crazy. But she loves him. And it’s a really unhealthy, dysfunctional relationship. But an addictive one.”
(From left) Suicide Squad director David Ayer takes to the stage with cast members Will Smith and Margot Robbie during the Warner Bros. presentation at CinemaCon 2016 in Las Vegas on April 12. Photo: AP
But despite the dark nature of the Quinn and Joker romance, the movie is still looking to lighten things up a little. The last Suicide Squad trailer was a collection of pop tunes and villainy mugging for the camera.
Because even though Quinn the character has had her share of truly dark moments, it’s her character’s constant cheer and utter glee at being a bad guy that makes fans fall for her.
Harley Quinn aims her baseball bat like a rifle in a scene from Suicide Squad while partner in crime Killer Croc, played by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, looks on. Photo: Clay Enos
She is still one of the most constantly cosplayed characters at comic book conventions across the globe. And it looks like Robbie is aware of future costumed appearances herself.
“I did take the jacket,” Robbie admits. “And I did take the bat. I have it next to my bed, so if anyone breaks in I’ll be like, ‘nuh-uh!’”
Los Angeles Times
Suicide Squad opens on August 4