When The Wolf of Wall Street hit theaters back in 2013, it didn't just introduce us to the depraved, Quaalude-soaked world of Jordan Belfort. It launched Margot Robbie into a level of superstardom that most actors spend decades chasing. She wasn't just "the blonde" in a Scorsese flick. She was a force. But for years, the conversation has fixated on one specific moment: the Margot Robbie full frontal Wolf of Wall Street scene in the nursery.
People talk about it like it was just some studio requirement or a piece of eye candy meant to sell tickets. Honestly? That couldn't be further from the truth.
If you look at the behind-the-scenes reality, that scene wasn't forced on her by a room full of suits. It was actually her call. Martin Scorsese, being the legendary director he is, actually gave her an out. He told her she could wear a robe. He wanted her to be comfortable. But Robbie, who was only about 22 or 23 at the time, turned him down. She insisted on being completely naked.
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Why? Because she understood the character of Naomi Lapaglia better than anyone else in the room.
The Power Move Behind the Nudity
In the movie, Naomi is a woman who knows exactly what her "currency" is. In a world of aggressive, wealthy men who treat everything like a commodity, her body is her primary weapon. During that specific nursery scene where she’s taunting Jordan (played by Leonardo DiCaprio), Robbie felt that putting on a robe would be "out of character."
"The whole point is that she's going to come out completely naked—that's the card she's playing," Robbie explained in a recent 2024 interview on the Talking Pictures podcast.
She viewed it as a tactical move. Naomi wasn't being exploited; she was doing the exploiting. She was using Belfort's desire to maintain control in a marriage that was already starting to fracture under the weight of his addictions and ego. If she had covered up with a silk robe, the scene would have lost its edge. It would have felt like a "movie" moment rather than a raw, psychological power play between two people who were essentially toxic for each other.
The Audition That Started It All
You can't talk about Robbie’s performance without mentioning the audition. It’s the stuff of Hollywood legend now. She was in a room with DiCaprio and Scorsese, and the script called for her to kiss him.
Instead, she slapped him. Hard.
The room went dead silent. Robbie has admitted she thought she was going to get arrested for assault and battery. She was terrified she’d never work in Hollywood again. But then, Scorsese and DiCaprio burst out laughing. They loved it. That spark—that refusal to play it safe—is exactly what landed her the role. It’s the same energy she brought to the Margot Robbie full frontal Wolf of Wall Street scene. She wasn't there to be pretty; she was there to win.
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The Reality of Filming on a Scorsese Set
Don't let the finished product fool you. Filming these types of scenes is rarely "sexy" or glamorous. Robbie has been very vocal about how awkward the process actually was.
Imagine being in a tiny bedroom. There are about 30 crew members standing around. Most of them are men. You’ve been on set for 17 hours. It's hot, it's cramped, and you're trying to deliver a high-stakes emotional performance while having zero privacy.
- Tequila shots: Robbie has admitted she had to take a few shots of tequila before the "nursery" scene just to settle her nerves.
- The "Body Double" Lie: For a long time, she actually lied to her family about the nudity. She told them there wasn't any. Then the lie evolved into "it's a body double and they CGI'd my head on." Eventually, her mom saw the movie at the premiere, and thankfully, she was supportive, noting it was done tastefully and within the context of the story.
- Brotherly Tension: One of her brothers reportedly didn't speak to her for three months after seeing the film. Not because he was angry, but because he just needed a "minute" to process seeing his sister in that light on a giant screen.
Beyond the Visuals: Naomi’s Complexity
Naomi Lapaglia is often dismissed as a "gold digger," but that's a lazy read. She’s a survivor. Based on the real-life Nadine Macaluso (Belfort's second wife), the character has to navigate a world that is fundamentally hostile to women unless they are ornaments.
Robbie worked with legendary dialect coach Tim Monich to nail that thick Brooklyn accent. She spent time researching the real "Duchess of Bay Ridge." She wanted to make sure Naomi didn't just feel like a victim of Jordan’s insanity, but a participant who eventually realized the cost of the "lavish lifestyle" was too high. The scenes where she’s screaming at him, throwing water, or demanding a divorce are just as iconic as the nudity because they show the breakdown of the American Dream.
Why It Still Matters Today
In 2026, we talk a lot about "agency" and "female gaze" in cinema. Looking back, Robbie’s insistence on the Margot Robbie full frontal Wolf of Wall Street scene was an early example of an actress taking ownership of her sexuality on screen. She wasn't being "shown"; she was choosing to show herself to tell a specific story about power.
Scorsese’s set was apparently a "free-for-all" in the best way. He encouraged the actors to be as crazy as possible. The more "out there" you were, the more screen time he’d give you. This environment allowed Robbie to push boundaries that a more restrictive director might have stifled.
Interestingly, Robbie herself has warned fans about men who idolize The Wolf of Wall Street. She’s joked in interviews that if a man’s favorite movie is this one, you should probably be careful. It’s a movie about the "Patrick Bateman" types of the world—men who see everything as a transaction. By committing to the nudity, Robbie highlighted that Naomi was the only one who could truly get under Jordan's skin by using that same transactional logic against him.
Actionable Insights for Film Enthusiasts
If you're revisiting the film or studying Robbie's career trajectory, keep these points in mind:
- Watch the "Nursery Scene" as a Power Dynamic: Instead of focusing on the nudity, watch Jordan Belfort's face. He is completely powerless in that moment. The nudity isn't the point; his loss of control is.
- Compare to Her Later Work: Look at how Robbie uses her physicality in I, Tonya or Barbie. She has a consistent habit of using her body as a tool for characterization rather than just an aesthetic choice.
- Research the Real Story: Read Jordan Belfort's memoir or look into Nadine Macaluso’s current work as a therapist. It adds a layer of tragic reality to the "glamour" shown on screen.
- Ignore the Tabloids: Much of the "scandal" around the scene was manufactured by the press. In reality, it was a collaborative, professional decision made by an actress who knew her character's worth.
The legacy of the film isn't just about the excess of the 90s; it’s about the arrival of an actress who refused to be put in a box. She took a role that could have been one-dimensional and turned it into a masterclass in screen presence.