As it's revealed Margot Robbie is expecting her first child with Surrey-born, privately educated Tom Ackerley how Hollywood's most unlikely love story blossomed in a budget house share
- Have YOU got a story? Email [email protected]
As one of the world's most polished stars, one would assume Margot Robbie's love story would be something straight out of a Hollywood romance.
Yet for the Australian actress, her backstory is anything but conventional for an A-lister, with the Queensland-born star finding love with husband Tom Ackerley in a budget house share in south London.
In fact, it was less than 10 years ago that the couple would spend their Friday evenings queuing up for a night out at Clapham's cheesiest nightclub Infernos, famed for its drink deals, sticky carpets and pop tunes.
Now, following reports the couple are preparing to welcome their first child, the pair's late nights will no longer be spent on the dance floor but doing the night feeds.
Having been born on opposite sides of the world, some would say it as fate that brought Margot and Tom together.
As Margot Robbie reveals she's expecting her first child with Tom Ackerley how Hollywood's most unlikely love story blossomed in a budget house share (pictured on Saturday)
In fact, it was less than 10 years ago that the couple would spend their Friday evenings queuing up for a night out at Clapham's cheesiest nightclub Infernos
Indeed, their upbringings couldn't be more different.
For Margot, growing up in rural Aussie farming town Dalby, she acquired a staunch work ethic from her 'amazing' Scottish-born mother, and had worked as a cleaner, a Subway sandwich-maker and a sales assistant in a surf store by the time she was 16.
She landed her first acting job in Neighbours when she was 17, a result of repeatedly cold-calling the casting agent’s office until they allowed her to audition.
In contrast, Tom was born and raised in affluent Woking, Surrey, a student of the £24,000-a-year St George's College, Weybridge.
Yet he too had an interest in the movie world, working as an extra in the first three installments of the Harry Potter film series.
However, he soon realised he was more at home behind the camera, and returned to the industry as a production runner for films such as Gambit (2012) and Rush (2013).
It was on set that the couple found each other.
Margot was playing a supporting role in the World War II movie Suite Francaise in 2013 where Tom was serving as assistant director.
The cast and crew spent eight weeks shooting in Belgium followed by eight days in France where Margot said the crew bonded.
The actress, Tom and five others in the London-based film crew got on so well that they decided to move in together.
Now, following reports the couple are preparing to welcome their first child , the pair's late nights will no longer be spent on the dance floor but doing the night feeds
Infernos, on Clapham High Street in south London, is famed for its drink deals, sticky carpets and pop tunes
Margot, Tom and five others met shooting World War II movie Suite Francaise in 2013 and got on so well that they decided to move in together in a budget house in Clapham
In an interview with Elle in 2018, she admitted that she and Tom had initially decided to keep their romantic relationship to themselves but everyone found out
In 2015, Margot and Tom co-founded their production company LuckyChap Entertainment with former flatmates Josey McNamara and Sophia Kerr
'We were like: "Wouldn't it be funny if we all lived together?" Margot explained, 'Someone said: "But you don't live in London," and I said: "I don't live anywhere. I'll move."'
They signed a lease on a property in Clapham, ramshackle, four-bedroom flat ironically dubbed The Manor, chosen to be affordable to even the lowest paid crew member.
Although already a household name, thanks to her starring role alongside Leonardo Di Caprio in the 2013 Hollywood blockbuster The Wolf Of Wall Street, Margot favoured a 'student life', swilling pints and enjoying picnics on Clapham Common.
'Those were the best days of my life,' she has said. 'For me, where you live and what you do have to be simplistic and comfortable, otherwise how are you possibly going to relax?
'Clapham has always felt unassuming in the sense you're just left alone to get on with who you are, and that's perfect for me.
'Everyone is wasted and so sweaty. Everyone looks a mess,' she explained. 'By the time I make it to Infernos, I look so revolting no one's going to look twice.'
It was on the sticky Infernos dancefloor and while nursing hangovers on Clapham Common, that Tom and Margot's friendship blossomed into something more.
However, Margot admitted that she and Tom had initially decided to keep their romantic relationship to themselves.
'We kept it a secret. Because we weren't really taking it seriously. "Oh, whatever, we're just mates, we're just mates." And then… everyone found out,' she explained.
On her friends finding out, she recalled: 'It was dramatic. I'm not going into the details, but s**t hit the fan. Our house turned into The Jerry Springer Show for a moment there. But then the dust settled, and it was all good.'
The housemates got on so well that in 2015, four of them - Margot, Tom, Sophia Kerr and Josey McNamara - founded production company, Lucky Chap. Now worth an estimated £25 million.
It was playing a supporting role in the World War II movie Suite Francaise that Margot met her future husband, Tom, who was its assistant director, in 2013 (pictured in 2015)
Together, Margot and Tom have produced films including the Academy Award-winning I, Tonya and Promising Young Woman, as well as the 2023 blockbuster Barbie, all under their LuckyChap Entertainment banner.
Yet Margot and Tom left their house share for their own home in West London before moving to Los Angeles in 2017.
In December 2016, Margot and Tom married during a private ceremony in Byron Bay.
There was no engagement announcement and no suggestion they were set to marry at all until Margot was pictured at Gold Coast airport in December 2016 wearing a T-shirt with the slogan 'Say 'I Do' Down Under.'
During the ceremony, she was seen wearing a boho-inspired gown - believed to have been Oscar De La Renta - as she walked through the grounds of the private estate in Coorabell.
Other guests who made up the congregation of around 50 followed through the lush grounds of the property.
Margot had been given away by her mum, physiotherapist Sarie Kessler, and was joined by siblings Lachlan, Cameron and sister Anya.
According to a report from News.com.au, the festivities kicked off at 4pm.
The couple exchanged their vows under a large white teepee-style tent at a luxurious property in Coorabell, in Byron Bay's hinterland.
Following the ceremony, guests danced into the night, with celebrations reportedly lasting until around 11pm.
The wedding location was so top secret, with even guests kept in the dark about where the couple would wed.
Together, Margot and Tom have produced films including the Academy Award-winning I, Tonya and Promising Young Woman (pictured in 2022)
The publication states those lucky enough to score an invite were asked to gather at different locations from Byron Bay to the Gold Coast, so that they could be collected by bus and taken to the under-wraps locale.
There was a social media blackout on the event, with guests asked to hand over mobiles and cameras, and there was a strong security presence at the property.
Margot later took to Instagram to flaunt her diamond ring and rose gold wedding band in a cheeky Instagram snap.
She was seen sticking up her ring finger to the camera while kissing her beau in the background.
Jewellers who spoke to Daily Mail Australia estimated the gold ring to cost between $20,000 to $30,000, with a 1.5 carat pear-shaped diamond at its centre.
The couple skipped a honeymoon to work on I, Tonya: 'There were times we were sitting in a car parked in Atlanta freezing cold, being like: "We should be on a beach — we should be on a honeymoon. What are we doing?! Following our dream."'
While promoting her movie Mary Queen of Scots in 2019 she told The Times: 'I got married, and the first question in almost every interview is "Babies? When are you having one?' I'm so angry that there's this social contract",
'You're married, now have a baby. Don't presume. I'll do what I'm going to do.'
Margot and Tom married in her native Australia in 2016 and instead of settling down to family life right away as she admitted was expected, they spent the first eight years of marriage focused on their careers.
In January, Margot admitted she's 'so lucky' to have a 'normie' husband in film producer Tom who isn't 'fazed' by the spotlight.
The Barbie star said she was grateful to have a spouse who she can work alongside and also insisted her friends would much prefer to talk about non-work stuff when they hang out as it's more 'fun'.
In January 2024, Margot admitted she's 'so lucky' to have a 'normie' husband in film producer Tom who isn't 'fazed' by the spotlight
Margot displayed her blossoming baby bump while boarding a boat in Lake Como in Italy with her husband last week
She told E! News at the Critics Choice Awards at Santa Barbara's Barker Hangar: 'I am so lucky. He likes being behind the camera, he's not fazed by any of this stuff, he's just the best. It's so fun. I love the word "normie".
'Like All my friends, everyone's kind of like, "That's cool what you do." But you know, it's more cool to hang out and talk about other stuff. And you're like, "I know."'
Last week, Margot and Tom revealed they spend '24 hours a day' together in a rare joint interview.
'It's seamless,' the Englishman described to The Sunday Times, 'We don't have a toggle on, toggle off. It's all become one thing.'
The producer said he 'feels like an honorary Aussie' and 'Margot feels like an honorary Brit' despite the inseparable couple arguing over 'whether Tim Tams or Penguins are better.'
