Margot Robbie did actually slap Leonardo DiCaprio during her audition for The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), but it wasn't as dramatic as it may sound. The slap was part of a scripted scene in the film, and it happened during her audition with DiCaprio, who was already attached to the film.
The Context of the Slap
The scene in question was a key moment from the film in which Margot Robbie's character, Naomi Lapaglia, slaps Leonardo DiCaprio's character, Jordan Belfort, in a heated argument. During her audition, Robbie and DiCaprio performed this scene together, and to make the audition as authentic as possible, Robbie was instructed to slap DiCaprio for real. The slap, however, was not meant to be too hard—Robbie was simply asked to do it as part of the scene's dynamic, ensuring the audition felt genuine.
Why It Happened
Robbie has mentioned in interviews that she was a little nervous when she was told to slap DiCaprio during the audition, but he was extremely professional and supportive. DiCaprio didn’t mind the slap, and in fact, he appreciated Robbie’s commitment to delivering a raw and believable performance. According to Robbie, she had to build up some courage to deliver the slap, but once she did it, it felt like an important part of the audition.
The Result
The audition turned out to be a success for Robbie, who was cast as the female lead in the film. Her performance as Naomi Lapaglia was widely praised, and the movie itself became one of her breakout roles in Hollywood.