Let’s be real for a second. If you put two of the most attractive, charismatic people on a giant screen together, the internet is going to do what it does best. It’s going to speculate.
When Will Smith and Margot Robbie first teamed up for the 2015 heist flick Focus, the chemistry wasn't just palpable—it was distracting. People didn't just see two actors doing their jobs; they saw "sparks." Then came the photos. You probably remember them: the grainy photo booth shots where they both looked a little too comfortable for "just coworkers."
Suddenly, the narrative shifted from a slick con-artist movie to a full-blown tabloid obsession. But what actually happened? Looking back from 2026, the story is a weird mix of professional brilliance and a very aggressive PR firestorm that neither of them could quite extinguish for years.
The "Focus" Photos That Started It All
It was 2013. Margot Robbie was the "it girl" fresh off The Wolf of Wall Street, and Will Smith was, well, Will Smith. They were in New Orleans filming Focus. At the wrap party—or what was reported as a "fun day on set"—they took a series of photo booth pictures.
In one shot, Margot is lifting her shirt to show her lingerie, and Will is shirtless behind her.
The internet exploded. Star Magazine ran the photos with headlines that basically screamed "affair." The rumor was that they were so close they skipped the official wrap party just to hang out in Will’s trailer. Honestly, it looked bad if you were looking for drama.
Margot's Immediate Clapback
Margot didn't wait for her publicist to draft a three-week-long response. She took to Twitter (now X) and kept it blunt. She called the rumors "disappointing" and explained that the photos were taken on a "goofing around" set and were completely out of context.
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"Been working non-stop, just catching my breath. It's disappointing that goofing around on set could be taken so out of context," Robbie tweeted at the time.
She was 23. Will was 45. The age gap was a talking point, but the "cheating" narrative was the real fuel. Jada Pinkett Smith was reportedly unfazed, with sources at the time saying she admired Margot’s talent. But as we’ve learned from the Red Table Talk era, the Smith marriage has always been... complex.
Chemistry or Just Good Acting?
People often confuse on-screen heat with off-screen romance. In Focus, their dynamic as Nicky and Jess worked because it was built on a power imbalance that shifted. Nicky (Smith) is the veteran; Jess (Robbie) is the rookie.
Their first meeting in a hotel room—where she tries to con him and he calls her out on it immediately—set the tone. Margot actually got that role by trash-talking Will during her audition. She had just flown in from Croatia, her luggage was lost, and she was wearing damp denim shorts. When Will arrived late and apologized saying he was "coming from Queens," she looked at him and basically said, "Yeah? I just came from an island in Croatia and I'm here on time."
The producers loved it. They wanted someone who wasn't intimidated by the biggest movie star in the world.
The Suicide Squad Reunion
If there was actually a scandalous affair, you'd think they would avoid working together again. Instead, they doubled down. Just a year later, they were cast as Deadshot and Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad.
This is where the rumors got a second life. Fans watched them on the press tour, laughing and leaning into each other, and decided the "vibe" was still there. Even though the movie itself was a critical mess, the consensus was that Deadshot and Harley were the only parts that felt alive.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that there was some "secret" revealed later. There wasn't.
Neither actor has ever admitted to anything beyond a deep professional friendship. In fact, Margot married Tom Ackerley in 2016, and they’ve been one of the most stable couples in Hollywood ever since.
- The Photos Were Commissioned: It’s often forgotten that a source told E! News the photo booth was actually brought in by production. Everyone was taking silly photos. Will and Margot just happened to be the two people the tabloids could sell.
- The "Trailer" Rumor: The story about them hiding in a trailer together was never backed by a single credible witness or photo. It was classic tabloid filler.
- Jada’s Stance: While the Smith marriage has been dissected a million times, Jada has never once hinted that Margot was an "entanglement."
Why We Still Talk About Them
We talk about them because they represent a specific type of Hollywood magic that feels rare now. They have "old school" chemistry. It’s the kind of energy you saw between Bogart and Bacall.
When you watch Focus today—which recently had a huge resurgence on Netflix—it holds up. Not because of the plot (which is a bit loopy), but because you genuinely believe these two people are obsessed with each other. That’s not a scandal; that’s just high-level acting.
Will Smith has since moved through the most turbulent part of his career post-Oscars, and Margot has become a producer powerhouse with Barbie. Their paths haven't crossed on screen in years, which is a shame. Hollywood usually tries to bottle that kind of lightning as many times as possible.
Real Insights for Fans
If you're looking for the "smoking gun," you won't find it. What you will find is a masterclass in how to handle a PR crisis. Margot was direct and then moved on. Will stayed silent and let the work speak.
Next Steps for You:
If you want to see what all the fuss was about, go back and watch the "55" betting scene in Focus. It’s the peak of their screen partnership. Pay attention to the way they use their eyes rather than the dialogue. It explains exactly why the rumors started—and why they were so hard to kill.
Also, keep an eye on Margot's production company, LuckyChap. There have been whispers for years about her wanting to produce a project that brings Will back into a "suave" role, though nothing is on the 2026 slate yet.