Who played Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad?

When David Ayer announced in 2014 that Harley Quinn would appear in Suicide Squad, the debate immediately ignited the DC community. Which actress could embody this extraordinary character – a psychiatrist turned criminal, the Joker's toxic lover, a pop culture figure as much as a comic book character? Ten years later, the choice of Margot Robbie remains one of the most decisive in the entire DCEU. This article explores the reasons for this casting, the performance delivered, and the cultural impact that resulted.

To place this moment in the expanded mythology of Gotham, a detour to the complete file on Harleen Quinzel and her criminal alter ego is essential – without knowing the comic book origins, it's hard to understand why Margot Robbie's casting mattered so much.

Who is Harley Quinn? The character before the actress

Harley Quinn is a late creation of the Batman universe. First appearing in Batman: The Animated Series in 1992, she was born from the imagination of Paul Dini and Bruce Timm. Her biography is fascinating: Harleen Quinzel is a brilliant young psychiatrist, hired at Arkham Asylum to treat Gotham's most dangerous criminals. Over the course of her sessions with the Joker, she gradually slips to the other side of the looking glass, becoming a criminal herself, serving the Clown Prince of Crime. To learn more on this topic, see also Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy: the story of Gotham's most iconic duo. To learn more on this topic, see also Harley Quinn's Weapons: Mallet, Bat, and the Anti-heroine's Arsenal. To learn more on this topic, see also Does Harley Quinn Have Powers? The Anti-heroine's True Abilities.

This psychiatric transformation is one of the most disturbing arcs in all of DC mythology. Harleen wasn't manipulated by chance — she gradually accepted it, due to narcissistic fragility and a need for validation. This psychological dimension makes her an infinitely more complex character than a mere criminal sidekick. To delve into her trajectory in its entirety, a detour to the Batfamily and the figures of Gotham is enlightening — Harley occupies a unique position, neither truly an enemy nor truly an ally.

Visually, Harley also underwent a major transformation. The black and red diamond-patterned costume and clown makeup from the 90s comics gave way to a more modern aesthetic in recent arcs — torn T-shirt, denim shorts, baseball bat. This modernization preceded and prepared the 2016 film adaptation.

Margot Robbie's choice: a strategic casting

When David Ayer was looking for his Harley for Suicide Squad, several actresses were initially considered. According to rumors at the time, Amanda Seyfried, Emma Stone, Rebecca Hall, Jennifer Lawrence, and Kristen Wiig were all mentioned. But it was Margot Robbie, then known primarily for The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), who landed the role.

Several factors explain this choice. Firstly, her particular charisma — a mix of apparent fragility and underlying menace, perfect for the character. Secondly, her ability to switch between comedic and dramatic registers. Thirdly, her versatile physique which can embody both Harleen the psychiatrist and Harley the criminal. Fourthly, and this is probably the decisive factor, her willingness to commit to the role long-term.

This last point is crucial. Margot Robbie didn't sign on for just one film — she agreed to portray Harley across several DCEU productions. This long-term commitment transformed the casting from a simple choice of actress into a franchise investment. To gauge the scale of this strategy, a detour to which Batman was most loved by the public offers a comparative framework — DC attempted the same strategy with its Batmen, with less success than with Harley.

Margot Robbie's performance: between chaos and precision

When Suicide Squad was released in August 2016, critics were sharply divided — but one thing was unanimous: Margot Robbie's performance. The actress delivered a Harley that exceeded expectations. She perfectly captured the blend of psychiatric vulnerability and criminal madness. Every scene she appeared in instantly became memorable.

Several scenes are particularly striking. Her arrival at the bar, where she orders a drink in a sugary-cold tone. The flashback scene in Arkham, showing Harleen before the transformation. The final battle where she delivers her iconic lines, alternating laughter and threats. This virtuosity in acting made her one of the few universally praised aspects of the film.

This performance immediately transformed Margot Robbie into the undeniable face of the character. To compare this phenomenon to other iconic roles in Batman mythology, a detour to Joker 2019 with Joaquin Phoenix is enlightening — Phoenix and Robbie share this ability to merge with their characters to the point where they can no longer be imagined played by anyone else.

Harley Quinn's impact on pop culture

Before Suicide Squad, Harley Quinn was a character known to DC fans but not widely recognized by the general public. Afterwards, she became a cultural phenomenon in her own right. Several indicators attest to this.

Firstly, costume sales. Halloween 2016 saw an explosion in demand for Harley costumes — becoming the best-selling female costume of the year in the United States. This popularity continued in subsequent years, with variations depending on Margot Robbie's cinematic appearances. Secondly, stylistic influence. The Harley look (pink and blue streaked hair, torn t-shirt, denim shorts, sneakers, baseball bat) became referenced in street fashion and haute couture shows. Thirdly, the explosion of merchandise. Figurines, posters, clothing, accessories: Harley became one of DC's most commercially profitable characters.

The other cultural dimension is the ambivalent feminist dimension. Harley is interpreted by some fans as a figure of emancipation (she eventually leaves the Joker in Birds of Prey 2020). By others as a problematic character (she remains glamorized despite her violence). This debate is an integral part of the character's richness. To delve into this ambiguity, a detour to Two-Face, the tragic enemy between justice and madness is interesting — like Harvey Dent, Harley is a character who oscillates between victim and tormentor.

Beyond Suicide Squad: Margot Robbie's trajectory as Harley

Suicide Squad is not Robbie's last encounter with Harley. The actress reprises the role in Birds of Prey (2020), a film centered on the character post-breakup with the Joker. This sequel, more feminist and stylized, divided audiences but solidified Robbie's performance. Then came James Gunn's The Suicide Squad (2021), where Harley is on a different team under a different artistic direction.

Each of these appearances explores a different facet of the character. Ayer's Suicide Squad presents Harley as a toxic lover. Birds of Prey presents her as an emancipated survivor. The Suicide Squad presents her as an independent criminal. This plurality of incarnations by a single actress is rare in cinema — Robbie has become the canonical Harley of the modern era, just as Heath Ledger became the canonical Joker of his time.

As for future rumors, several projects hint at Robbie's return under James Gunn's new DCU. Nothing is confirmed, but the actress's emotional investment in the character is such that a definitive retirement seems unlikely.

Conclusion: a casting that redefined a character

The choice of Margot Robbie for Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad is probably one of the most decisive castings of the entire 2010-2020 decade. Not just because the performance was excellent — other performances have been. But because it transformed a secondary comic book character into a global cultural icon.

To further explore, several essential avenues exist. Firstly, read the original comics that created Harley — particularly Paul Dini's Mad Love (1994). Then, watch Birds of Prey (2020), which continues the character's story. Finally, follow upcoming DC projects where Margot Robbie might reprise the role. To turn this passion into a collection, the Batman figurine collection and the poster collection now include several references to the character.

One thing is certain: as long as DC produces films, Harley will remain a central figure. And for many fans, she will long be embodied by Margot Robbie — the actress who transformed a fallen psychiatrist into one of the most beloved pop culture heroines of the 21st century.

🃏 To go further: locate this character within Gotham's complete criminal ecosystem by consulting the overview of mythical villains by tier, which gathers 36 villains classified by level of narrative importance.