Margot Robbie is heading back to her home state to receive a prestigious award next month.

On Sunday night, the Australian Academy Cinema Television Arts (AACTA) announced Robbie would be receiving the AACTA Trailblazer Award on February 10.

In the past, the award has been given to notable actors such as Chris Hemsworth, Rose Byrne, Simon Baker and Isla Fisher, to recognise the “achievements of an Australian screen practitioner whose body of work has served as an inspiration to others”.

The recipient is determined by the AFI-AACTA board.

In a statement shared by AACTA, Robbie said she is “truly honoured” to accept the award, especially in her home town.

This year, the awards will be held at HOTA on the Gold Coast, and growing up, Robbie used to live in the rural locality of Currumbin Valley.

“Australia has always been my grounding force, and to receive this recognition here is incredibly special,” Robbie said in the statement.

“I believe in the power of storytelling and the impact it can have on shaping culture and inspiring others. This award is a testament to the incredible talent and dedication of everyone involved in the film community, and I am thrilled to be a part of it.”

Barbie star Margot Robbie will accept the award in her home state of Queensland.

In the press release, AACTA recognised Robbie not only as an actor, but also as a producer.

Robbie’s career started in Australia, when she starred on the iconic TV series, Neighbours.

She gained international recognition when she starred in Martin Scorsese’s 2013 film, Wolf of Wall Street.

She then also starred in and produced the critically acclaimed film, I, Tonya, in which she played American figure skater Tonya Harding.

In 2014, she co-founded her production company LuckyChap, which was involved in other films like Birds of Prey, Promising Young Woman and more recently, Saltburn and Barbie.

“Margot’s influence and impact has been evident with her involvement in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie which has grossed over $1.4 billion worldwide,” AACTA said.

“In her role of both lead actress and producer, Robbie broke away from conventional stereotypes and offered an empowering female narrative.”

Recognition after Oscars snub

The announcement of the award comes after Robbie was essentially snubbed from the Oscars this year, alongside Barbie director Gerwig.

Despite the film being nominated for best picture and it being the highest-grossing film of the year, Robbie was not nominated for best actress and Gerwig was overlooked for best director.

“Though I’m delighted to see Barbie acknowledged in many categories (including for its screenplay and its supporting performances), it’s enraging that the two people principally responsible for its essence – in substance and in style – have been left out of the running,” wrote Richard Brody in The New Yorker.

“This is partly because, as usual, comedy gets no respect … And it pains me to note that the directors’ branch of the Academy, which (like all other branches) picks the nominees in its category, has no sense of style.”

Even Ryan Gosling and America Ferrera, who were nominated for their supporting roles in the film, expressed disappointment with the snubs.

“There is no Barbie movie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, the two people most responsible for this history-making, globally-celebrated film,” Gosling said in a statement.

“To say that I’m disappointed that they are not nominated in their respective categories would be an understatement.”

In addition to the Trailblazer Award, Robbie has also been nominated for the International Award for Best Lead Actress in Film and Gerwig has been nominated for the International Award for Best Direction in Film.

The 2024 AACTA Awards ceremony will be held on Saturday, February 10 and will be broadcast on Channel Ten on the same day, starting at 7pm AEDT.

A director’s cut of the ceremony will be available on BINGE, Foxtel On-Demand and AACTA TV from 7.30pm on Sunday, February 11.