If you’re a fan of cinema, chances are you also have a love for other art forms, particularly music. A powerful song can evoke feelings just as vividly as a compelling film, leaving a lasting mark on our lives. The interplay between music and film is essential; a well-chosen soundtrack can elevate a movie, heightening emotions and deepening the narrative.
Margot Robbie, one of today’s most prominent actresses, has had significant roles in acclaimed films, from Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street to Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster hit Barbie. Music often plays a crucial role in her preparation for performances. When a song resonates deeply, it can be an effective way to access the emotions needed for a particular scene. For Robbie, there’s one song she turns to whenever she needs to connect with feelings of sadness.
In a conversation with Cillian Murphy for Variety‘s ‘Actors on Actors’ series, Robbie shared a song that resonated with her, featured in the final episode of Peaky Blinders. It’s a track she includes on her “cry playlist”—that special collection of songs we all have, designed to unleash tears during tough moments or when we feel low.
The song is “All the Tired Horses” by Lisa O’Neill, a cover of Bob Dylan’s 1970 track from Self Portrait. Interestingly, O’Neill’s version features a female choir rather than Dylan’s voice, and Robbie admits, “I love that song so much—it’s on my cry playlist. If I need to cry on set, it’s perfect.” Having a go-to song for emotional scenes saves actors from resorting to more extreme measures, such as using menthol sticks near their eyes to provoke tears.
Crying on cue is undoubtedly challenging, especially when you find yourself in a good mood and suddenly need to channel sadness that coincides with personal experiences. A classic example of an actor facing the emotional demands of a role is Shelley Duvall in The Shining. Director Stanley Kubrick’s relentless requests for her to cry led to emotional distress, highlighting the toll such pressures can take on performers.
For Robbie, using emotional songs is likely the safest approach to evoke feelings, though actors have different methods for getting into character. Ultimately, music is a powerful catalyst for deep emotions, and for Margot Robbie, it’s the poignant allure of “All the Tired Horses” that helps her connect with her craft.
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