Robert Downey Jr. Applauds Margot Robbie's Overlooked Brilliance In Barbie

In a recent SAG-AFTRA-hosted roundtable, Robert Downey Jr. praised Margot Robbie for her underrated performance in the film Barbie, which, despite numerous nominations in other categories, some believe has been overlooked by the Oscars. The hour-long discussion, which included Sterling K. Brown and Willem Dafoe--both SAG Awards Best Supporting Actor nominees--explored the intricacies of screen acting.

Responding to a question about the subtleties of acting, Downey Jr. highlighted the power of simplicity, stating (via Variety), "It never fails to impress and remind me how little you need to do to be effective." He further praised Robbie, referencing a key scene in Barbie where America Ferrera delivers a powerful speech. Downey Jr. highlighted Robbie's attentive listening during the scene, underscoring her vital role in the film. You can check out the full conversation below.

"Margot Robbie is not getting enough credit, in my opinion," Downey Jr. said. "But it's Robbie who had to trust... and it's hard when someone who has the two-page passage goes, 'Okay, now let's jump in and get Bob,' and you're like, 'I've been listening to this all day and now I have to make it work!'"

In a statement last week, Ryan Gosling, Robbie's co-star in Barbie, said (via Variety), "There is no Ken without Barbie." Gosling, nominated for Best Supporting Actor, spoke out against the Academy's omissions of Robbie for Best Actress and Greta Gerwig for Best Director following the Oscar nominations announcements.

Barbie was named GameSpot's best movie of 2023.