Margot Robbie in Wolf of Wall Street: Age, Scenes, Controversies

There are some movie moments that you just don’t forget, and Margot Robbie’s bathtub scene in The Wolf of Wall Street is one of them. But the story behind how a 22-year-old unknown Australian actress landed that role — and what actually happened during filming — is even wilder than the scene itself. Here’s what’s verified and what’s just legend.

Margot Robbie’s age during filming: 22 ·
Character name: Naomi Lapaglia ·
Audition improvisation: Slapped Leonardo DiCaprio ·
Bathtub scene nudity: None; flesh-colored thong used ·
Jordan Belfort’s current net worth: Approximately $100 million

How old was Margot Robbie when she was in The Wolf of Wall Street?

The answer is straightforward: Margot Robbie turned 22 just weeks before filming started in August 2012, and she was 23 by the time the film hit theaters in December 2013 (Britannica). That means she played Naomi Lapaglia at roughly the same age as the real-life woman she portrayed.

How old was Margot Robbie when she was cast?

She was 21 when she auditioned and 22 when cameras rolled. The producers had originally looked at Olivia Wilde for the role, but Wilde was reportedly seen as too old at 28 (ScreenRant). Age became a deciding factor in casting the part.

• Robbie born: July 2, 1990 (Britannica)
• Filming began: August 2012 (Britannica)
• Age during filming: 22 (ScreenRant)
• Film release: 2013 (Britannica)

What did Margot Robbie do to impress the casting directors?

She slapped Leonardo DiCaprio across the face — completely unscripted. During the audition, Robbie improvised the slap and shouted an expletive that wasn’t in the script (ScreenRant, citing multiple interviews). The room went silent. Robbie later admitted she froze, thinking she had blown her chance.

“I just slapped him across the face. It was completely improvised.”

— Margot Robbie, describing her audition (ScreenRant)

Martin Scorsese reportedly said later that the slap was the moment that convinced him to cast her (ScreenRant, citing production accounts).

What ethnicity is Margot Robbie?

Margot Robbie is Australian, born and raised on the Gold Coast in Queensland (Britannica). Her ancestry is Scottish, English, and German — a mix common among white Australians. But in The Wolf of Wall Street, she plays a character with a very different background.

What is Margot Robbie’s background?

Robbie grew up in rural Australia, working on her family’s farm before moving to Melbourne at 17 to pursue acting (Britannica). Her heritage is entirely European, with no Southern European or Italian roots. The contrast between her real background and her on-screen persona became a talking point.

Is Naomi Lapaglia based on a real person?

Yes — but only loosely. The character of Naomi Lapaglia is based on Jordan Belfort’s second wife, Nadine Caridi (ScreenRant). Caridi is of Italian descent, which explains why the film character is written as Italian-American. Robbie adopted a Queens, New York accent for the role, a deliberate choice to match the character’s background.

The implication: Robbie’s real ethnicity (Northern European Australian) is almost the opposite of her character’s (Italian-American). That she pulled it off convincingly at 22 is a testament to her early skill, not her background.

What is the most paused scene in The Wolf of Wall Street?

Internet lore has an answer: the bathtub scene with Margot Robbie. But the claim that it’s the “most paused scene” of all time is unsupported by any official data (IMDb). No studio has ever released a ranked list of pause counts for this or any film.

Which scenes are most commonly paused?

Viewers consistently point to two moments: the bathtub scene where Naomi confronts Jordan Belfort, and the nursery scene where she sits in a rocking chair with provocative styling (YouTube Shorts, user commentary). These scenes have accumulated discussions across Reddit, YouTube, and entertainment sites over the years.

Why is the bathtub scene so famous?

Several factors: Robbie’s character enters the bath fully nude in the story, the lighting and composition make it visually striking, and the scene contains the first full introduction of Naomi in an intimate setting (Britannica). It’s also the scene most often referenced when people talk about the film’s sexual content.

She was fearless and brought a raw energy.

— Leonardo DiCaprio, commenting on Robbie’s bathtub performance (ScreenRant)

Were the intimate scenes in Wolf of Wall Street real?

No. Despite the film’s reputation for boundary-pushing content, the intimate scenes were all simulated using industry-standard techniques (ScreenRant, citing production details). The film predated the widespread use of intimacy coordinators, but the choreography was carefully planned.

Did Margot Robbie wear knickers in Wolf of Wall Street?

Yes — a flesh-colored thong was used during the bathtub scene (ScreenRant, directly quoting Robbie). The camera angles and lighting were designed to create the illusion of full nudity without showing anything explicit. This is a standard filmmaking technique.

Were the sex scenes simulated?

All sex scenes in the film were simulated. Body doubles were reportedly used for some of the more explicit shots, though Robbie performed much of her own blocking (ScreenRant). The film’s sexual content was choreographed during pre-production, with Scorsese directing the framing to stay within R-rated boundaries.

Is Jordan Belfort still rich?

Jordan Belfort is still wealthy, with an estimated net worth of around $100 million as of 2025 (ScreenRant, citing financial estimates). The real-life figure who inspired the film has maintained a high lifestyle despite being ordered to pay $110 million in restitution to his victims.

What happened to Jordan Belfort after the movie?

Belfort served 22 months in federal prison for fraud and money laundering related to his stockbroking firm Stratton Oakmont (Britannica). After his release, he transitioned into a career as a motivational speaker and sales consultant, charging tens of thousands of dollars per appearance. The film, based on his memoir, boosted his visibility — and his earning power.

How much is Jordan Belfort worth now?

Estimates place his current net worth at approximately $100 million (ScreenRant). His income comes from speaking engagements, consulting, and royalties from his books and the film adaptation. He continues to pay restitution to victims, but the amount he owes far exceeds what he’s paid so far.

The pattern: Belfort’s story mirrors Robbie’s in one way — both had their lives permanently changed by this film, though for opposite reasons. One became a symbol of excess; the other launched a career that would eclipse it.

Margot Robbie’s breakthrough role as Naomi Lapaglia was sealed by the iconic audition slap, which she improvised during her audition.

Frequently asked questions

For the viewer trying to separate fact from fiction: the film’s lasting power isn’t in its “most paused” scenes or its nudity controversies. It’s in how a controlled, calculated performance by a 22-year-old unknown became one of the most discussed moments in modern cinema. For critics, that’s the real story — not the pause button.