Margot Robbie, Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore lead A-listers at annual Deadline Contenders event… as actors get back in promo mode after strike’s end

By Carly Johnson For Dailymail.com

Published: 02:53 GMT, 19 November 2023 | Updated: 03:38 GMT, 19 November 2023

Margot Robbie was joined by Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore at the star-studded Deadline Contenders event in Los Angeles this weekend.

The Hollywood heavyweights descended upon the DGA Theater to help highlight 28 movies, with panels allowing cast and creatives to tell candid stories of the productions.

With the actor’s strike now ended, it appeared Tinseltown’s best and brightest were ready to dish, with the three actresses leading the way. 

Academy Award nominee Robbie, 33, hit the red carpet first before heading a panel discussing her blockbuster film Barbie alongside director Greta Gerwig.

She looked casually chic in a floral print white oxford tied at the waist, which she paired with chic denim and matching red accessories. 

Big deal: The Hollywood heavyweights descended upon the DGA Theater to help highlight 28 movies, with panels allowing cast and creatives to tell candid stories of the productions

Strike over: With the actor’s strike now ended, it appeared Tinseltown’s best and brightest were ready to dish, with the three actresses leading the way

‘I definitely didn’t want to try and make a puff piece Barbie. I wanted us to run at the scary things as much as we celebrated the wonderful things,’ Robbie said during a panel. ‘That’s exactly why I went after Greta [Gerwig], because I was like, “She would do that.”‘

Robbie acquired the rights to the legendary doll through her production company, LuckyChap, prior to approaching Gerwig and her collaborator Noah Baumbach to write the script.

The pair then took Barbie and made it biggest opening of 2023, the biggest opening by a female director, and the highest opening for the film’s stars Robbie and Ryan Gosling.

The movie is the highest-grossing movie in Warner Bros. history, as well as the highest-grossing movie ever directed by a woman.

‘She has literally changed the game,’ Robbie said of Gerwig. ‘From now on, it’s different because of what she’s done. It’s massive. 

‘And someone is going to come forward with another original idea that requires a big budget, and there’s going to be a female lead, and they’re going to point to Barbie and say, “But that made money.’” Everyone’s gonna go, “Oh, right we’re gonna have to green light this. And that’s amazing’.

Gerwig downplayed her part in Barbie’s success, however, and chalked it up to a team effort. 

‘There’s no way we could be on stage and have done what we got to do if those women hadn’t done it,’ she explained. ‘So don’t feel alone in this place. I feel like there’s lots of them who’ve come before and will come after.’

Stunner: Academy Award nominee Robbie, 33, hit the red carpet first before heading a panel discussing her blockbuster film Barbie alongside director Greta Gerwig

Daring suo: Portman and Moore wowed in dueling red looks as they discussed their thriller May December

Oscar style: The Oscar winner looked incredible for the red carpet

Meanwhile, Portman and Moore wowed in dueling red looks as they discussed their thriller May December inspired by the real-life story of sex offender teacher Mary Kay Letourneau. 

:
Margot Robbie, Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore lead A-listers at annual Deadline Contenders event… as actors get back in promo mode after strike’s end

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk