Everyone remembers the nursery scene. It is 2013, and a 22-year-old Australian actress who most people only knew from a short-lived show called Pan Am is standing in a doorway. She's Naomi LaPaglia. She is also, in that moment, completely naked.
When people search for margot robbie full nude wolf of wall street, they usually expect a story about a young actress being pushed into something by a legendary director. The "starlet-gets-exploited" trope is a classic Hollywood narrative. But the reality of what happened on Martin Scorsese's set is the exact opposite.
The Robe That Never Was
Here’s the thing. Scorsese actually didn't want her to do it.
During production, the legendary director—knowing how sensitive these scenes can be—offered Margot a compromise. He told her she could wear a silk robe. He wanted her to feel comfortable. He was ready to block the scene around her being covered up.
But Robbie said no.
"That's not what she would do in that scene," Robbie explained in a 2024 interview on the Talking Pictures podcast. She argued that for Naomi, her body was her "only form of currency." To come out in a robe would have been a character inconsistency. In her mind, the character was playing a high-stakes card. You don't play a card like that while wearing a bathrobe.
She insisted on being fully nude.
Why the Nudity Wasn't Just "Sizzle"
In today’s film world, we talk a lot about "gratuitous" content. Honestly, The Wolf of Wall Street is the definition of gratuitous. It’s a movie about excess. It’s about drugs, money, and power.
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But for Robbie, the nudity was a power move.
The Psychology of the Scene
- Dominance: In the nursery scene, Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) thinks he’s the king of the world. Naomi uses her sexuality to remind him that he is actually under her thumb.
- Vulnerability as a Weapon: By being completely exposed, she isn't the victim; she’s the one in control of the room.
- Authenticity: Robbie has stated that she finds it "disgusting" when a movie features a scene where someone would naturally be naked, but they "conveniently leave their bra on." She hates the "choreographed cover-up."
It’s a bold stance for a newcomer. She was working with the biggest director and the biggest actor in the world. Most people would just do what they’re told. She did what she felt was right for the craft.
The Tequila Shots and the "Paper Cut" Incident
Don't think for a second she wasn't terrified. She was.
Before filming that specific scene, she reportedly knocked back three shots of tequila. She needed the liquid courage. It wasn't just the nudity that was stressful, either. The entire production was a chaotic, high-energy sprint.
Take the sex scene on the pile of cash. Sounds glamorous, right? Wrong.
Robbie later revealed that she ended up with a million tiny paper cuts on her back from the fake money. The crew was horrified when she stood up because it looked like she had been "whipped." Apparently, real money is softer than the prop stuff. Who knew?
The Audition That Changed Everything
The grit she showed regarding the margot robbie full nude wolf of wall street scene didn't come out of nowhere. It was there from day one.
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In her final audition with Leonardo DiCaprio, they were supposed to do a scene where they argued. The script suggested they end with a kiss. Robbie had a split-second thought: "I could kiss Leo, or I could do something else."
She "walloped" him.
She slapped Leonardo DiCaprio right across the face and screamed, "F**k you!"
The room went dead silent. Robbie was convinced she was going to be arrested for assault. She thought her career was over before it started. Instead, Scorsese and DiCaprio burst out laughing. They loved it. That was the moment she got the part.
The Fallout Back Home
While the world saw a star being born, Robbie’s family had a harder time.
One of her brothers didn't speak to her for three months after seeing the movie. It wasn't because he was "mad" in a moral sense; he just needed a minute to process seeing his sister in that context.
She actually lied to her family initially. She told them that the nudity was "CGI" or that she used a body double. Eventually, the truth came out. It was a rough transition from being a girl from Dalby to being the most talked-about woman in Hollywood.
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What This Means for Film Fans Today
Looking back at the margot robbie full nude wolf of wall street moment in 2026, it serves as a masterclass in creative agency.
Robbie didn't just "get lucky." She made choices. She chose to be bold in her audition. She chose to be fully nude because the character demanded it. She chose to prioritize the story over her own comfort.
If you're looking for actionable takeaways from this bit of Hollywood history, consider these:
- Understand Your Value: Robbie knew Naomi’s power was in her physicality, and she used it to elevate her performance.
- Challenge the Status Quo: Even when a legend like Scorsese offers a "safe" path (the robe), trust your gut if the "unsafe" path is more authentic.
- Preparation is Everything: Whether it's tequila for nerves or listening to the Titanic soundtrack (which she actually did to get in the zone for her divorce scene), find what works for you to reach the necessary emotional state.
The nudity in The Wolf of Wall Street wasn't a scandal. It was a career-defining decision made by an actress who knew exactly what she was doing.
Next Steps for You
Check out Margot Robbie's 2024 interview on the Talking Pictures podcast for more on her collaboration with Scorsese. If you're interested in the technical side of these scenes, look up the role of Intimacy Coordinators, a job that barely existed when this movie was made but is now a standard on every major set.