THE PAIN OF PLAYING TONYA

THE AUSSIE ACTRESS OPENS UP ABOUT HER LATEST ROLE AS DISGRACED FIGURE SKATER TONYA HARDING IN I, TONYA

It was the crime that had everyone talking. During a practice session in 1994, Tonya’s fellow figure skater and rival Nancy Kerrigan was attacked by a man who was later identified as an associate of Tonya’s ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly.

The extent of Tonya’s involvement became a media frenzy. She denied knowing anything about the attack, but later pleaded guilty to hindering the prosecution.

Now, Margot Robbie is bringing the story back into the spotlight in her latest film I, Tonya. This indie film directed by Craig Gillespie is a unique look into the infamous life of Tonya.

The film begins with her nightmare of a stage mother, Lavona Harding (Allison Janney), pushing her onto the ice at four years of age. It then follows Tonya’s abusive childhood, her rise to the top of the figure skating world, and her devastating downfall.

Aged only four at the time of the attack on Nancy, Margot had never heard of Tonya.

‘When I read the script, I though it was fiction. I didn’t realise these people were real-life people and that it all happened,’ she told Awards Chatter.

But there was no doubt in her mind, she had to make the film.

‘It was one of the best scripts I ever read. I remember thinking: “I have to do this, it’s so good,”’ she spilled.

I, Tonya means a lot to Margot, who not only stars in it as Tonya, but also produced the movie with her husband Tom Ackerley.

‘I have never been so nervous for people to see a movie in my entire life,’ Margot told Stellar. ‘We go all out in this movie.’

And the dark comedy is doing better than Margot ever expected. It was nominated for three Golden Globe Awards – with Allison taking home Best Supporting Actress – and there is already plenty of Oscar buzz surrounding the film.

It’s no surprise given Margot’s top performance as the disgraced figure skater. To convincingly play Tonya at all stages of her life, from 15 to 44, Margot had to undergo several physical transformations. Most notably, the actress underwent four intense months of ice skating training.

‘I was doing a lot of skating, which was both painful and incredibly fun. I loved it!’ Margot shared with Awards Chatter. ‘I did a lot of training and we had two incredible stunt doubles for the jumps, because even if I had 10 years to practise, I couldn’t do those jumps.’

What’s more, Margot studied hours of Tonya’s skating routines and behind-the-scenes interviews to completely transform herself into the ’90s figure skater.

‘I watched for about six months every single thing – every bit of skating, every bit of interview, every documentary, I played it on my ipod at night... I had her face, like, painted on the inside of my eyelids and her voice just constantly in my head,’ Margot revealed to Rolling Stone.

However, she didn’t meet Tonya in person until they began filming.

‘I don’t want meeting her to inform the character I play,’ Margot told Awards Chatter.

‘She wasn’t involved and we were then able to tell an unbiased telling of this story.’ So, what does Tonya think? ‘She said she laughed and she cried,’ Margot revealed to ET.

‘And I get the sense that she feels somewhat vindicated that her side of the story was finally told.’

,I TONYA PUTS THE STORY OF TONY A HARDING AND NANCY KERRIGAN BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT