Margot Robbie’s known for her larger-than-life big-screen characters (hello, Harley Quinn and Tonya Harding), but little is known about her offscreen. But for years, she’s been quietly taken by her husband of more than four years, Tom Ackerley. Below, a briefing on their relationship.
He’s also in the film industry.
Although Ackerley hails from the U.K., his professional interests lie firmly within Hollywood. He’s an assistant director and producer who has worked on films including The Brothers Grimsby and 2015’s Macbeth. Before that, he was a crew member for movies including Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Rush, and War Horse. In 2014, he founded the production company LuckyChap Entertainment with Robbie, producing projects including I, Tonya, Hulu’s Dollface, and the upcoming Promising Young Woman. In 2018, he and producing partner Josey McNamara were named in Variety’s 10 Producers to Watch list.
In an interview with Mirror, Robbie spoke about her and Ackerley’s company. “We started our production company [LuckyCap Entertainment] with our best friends, and it continues to be a wonderful group dynamic. We all really work well together. I feel very lucky.”
Margot and Tom met on a movie set.
Coincidentally, the film industry is what initially brought Ackerley and Robbie together. In an interview with Australia’s The Daily Telegraph, she confirmed that they met while working on the 2014 film Suite Française. She also discussed making the early days of their relationship work when she was away filming and he was based in London. “The most helpful thing I’ve learned from other couples in this industry is that you don’t go more than three weeks without seeing each other,” she told the outlet. “Being in a long-distance relationship can be really hard when you don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. It can mess with your head, so the three-week rule is key.” The couple were first photographed together during a New York Rangers game in February 2015.
They rarely talk about their relationship.
Since meeting, Robbie and Ackerley mostly keep their relationship private. In fact, they didn’t walk a red carpet together until fall 2017, nearly a year after their December 2016 wedding. People reported that the couple tied the knot on December 18 in Australia’s Byron Bay. Margot confirmed reports by posting a photo of the two kissing on Instagram, while she held up her newly-adorned ring finger.
In 2018, she gave PORTER a rare quote about her relationship. “I’m a great advocate of doing business with your partner,” she told the outlet. “Being married is actually the most fun ever, life got way more fun somehow. I have a responsibility being someone’s wife, I want to be better.”
They do work together frequently.
When it comes to their relationship, Robbie and Ackerley prefer to let the work speak for itself. Through LuckyChap, the couple worked on several films that Robbie starred in, including I, Tonya, Birds of Prey, and the upcoming live-action Barbie, which has real-life couple Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach attached as writers.
In an interview for The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Robbie said she and Ackerley even delayed their honeymoon to shoot I, Tonya. During the sit-down, she also detailed an embarrassing run-in with DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi, and Barack Obama.
From the looks of his IG, he likes adventure.
When Ackerley isn’t on a film set alongside Robbie, his Instagram feed is filled with photos of him traveling, surfing, and skiing. (Plus, a few cute dog photos.) In September 2018, he posted photos after competing in a triathlon.
Margot credits Tom for helping her cope with her anxiety when preparing for films.
In an August 2021 interview with Mirror, Robbie revealed that she gets overwhelmed with anxiety when she takes on a role—but her husband helps her cope with it.
Robbie discussed being scared as she reprised her role as Harley Quinn in the Suicide Squad sequel. “Even though Harley [Quinn] is a character I have played before, I still got scared before shooting because I’m always nervous to start any job,” she started. But Ackerley encouraged her and made a real difference as she prepared to shoot the film: “I have this complete crisis of faith and think, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m not even good at acting, and I can’t do this.’ Every time I do a movie, I turn to my husband, and I’m like, ‘I don’t think I can do this.’ He says something like, ‘You do this every time. You’ll be fine.’”
She also joked in the interview about her love of British things, including Ackerley, who is from Surrey: “I seem to love a lot of British things,” she told the British publication. “I love Harry Potter, I love my husband and I love Love Island. It’s great.”
Tom visited her on the set of Barbie for her birthday.
Margot Robbie turned 32-years-old on the set of Barbie on July 2, 2022, and her husband Tom Ackerley visited her in between filming scenes. The movie is being directed by Greta Gerwig, and Robbie is playing the titular character. Ryan Gosling is starring across from her as the iconic Ken.
During her break, Robbie was seen smiling and chatting with Ackerley. He was wearing a casual white t-shirt, black and white patterned pants and a pair of black shades. Robbie was wearing a selection from her Barbie wardrobe, a hot pink Western-style top with a white cowboy hat.
The couple were seen on a date in NYC in September 2022.
On Saturday, September 18, Robbie was seen stepping out for dinner with Ackerley in Soho, headed out for a restaurant date together. The actress was wearing a peasant-style dress in a dark red shade patterned in floral print and a high draw string waist. She paired the late summer vintage look with platform suede boots and some simple silver jewelry. She carried a small leather purse and wore a black mask and left her long blonde hair down. Robbie walked hand-in-hand with Ackerley, who was wearing a white t-shirt tucked into a pair of beige pants.
They walked the Governors Awards Party red carpet together in November 2022.
Robbie and Ackerley attended the Paramount Pictures’ Post Governors Awards Party in Los Angeles on Saturday, November 19. The actress is in the midst of promoting her upcoming film Babylon, which focuses on the Roaring 20s and Hollywoods transition away from silent films.
Robbie was wearing a gorgeous emerald green satin column cutout gown by Bottega Veneta at the event hosted by President & CEO, Brian Robbins, at the Sunset Tower Hotel. The look exposed her midriff with a gold tie holding the ruched sides of the bodice and skirt together. Ackerley wore a classic black suit with a black bow tie.
The couple smiled adorably at each other in front of the cameras, looking sweet and in love.
Savannah Walsh is an Editorial Fellow at ELLE.com.