Trailblazer Margot Robbie wins swag of gongs at AACTA Awards

Liz Hobday
Feb 10, 2024, updated Feb 10, 2024

Margot Robbie and Barbie were big winners at the AACTA Awards Photo: AAP

Margot Robbie and her international hit movie Barbie have taken home half a dozen gongs at Australia’s screen industry awards night.

Barbie smashed box office records to become the biggest film of 2023 but was overlooked in Oscar nominations for best director and best actress.

Yet the homegrown talent and the film she produced have now won a swag of academy accolades at the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards night on the Gold Coast.

Barbie was recognised in the international film category with the best film and best international actress prizes going to Robbie, and best supporting actor to Ryan Gosling.

A 2024 trailblazer award also recognised Robbie’s success both in front of the camera and behind it through her production company LuckyChap.

Rebel Wilson hosted the star-studded night at HOTA (Home of the Arts) on Saturday with Cate Blanchett, Simon Baker and Ron Howard walking the red carpet.

Cate Blanchett awas one of the big names to attend this year’s awards. Photo: AAP

Talk to Me, The Newsreader, Deadloch and The New Boy were the big winners among locally made shows, with Talk to Me taking out best film and best direction in film.

Sophie Wilde won best lead actress in film for her performance in Talk to Me, and another young talent, Aswan Reid, won best lead actor in film for his role in The New Boy.

On the small screen, The Newsreader and Deadloch each won five awards, with The Newsreader again winning best drama series and Deadloch comedy duo Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan winning best television screenplay.

Anna Torv won best lead actress in a drama for a second time as Helen Norville in The Newsreader, while Hugo Weaving won two awards for his performances in Love Me and The Rooster.

The late Cal Wilson was honoured with an AACTA Award for best comedy performer.

A record 300,000 people voted in the audience choice categories, with The Matildas winning Australia’s favourite sporting moment for their performance at the 2023 Women’s Football World Cup.