Hollywood star Margot Robbie was unable to attend Variety’s Power of Women dinner this year due to a lost voice, but her LuckyChap producing partners, Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara, were there to accept the Power of Women producer of the year award on her behalf. And they didn’t just accept the award – they also delivered a speech that Robbie had written herself, revealing her admiration for Dua Lipa and her deep appreciation for her partners.
“Since 2014, LuckyChap has been championing female filmmakers,” Lipa said as she presented the award. “This mission is part of the company’s ethos – celebrating female storytellers and strong female characters, and employing female HODs – but if you speak with Margot [Robbie], Tom [Ackerley] and Josey [McNamara] they’ll tell you – it’s just good business.”
Lipa went on to praise LuckyChap’s “humor, empathy, and heart” and their “global success,” which she credits to their “foresight” in pushing forward on “risky moves” like the billion-dollar blockbuster, “Barbie.”
McNamara and Ackerley then took the stage to accept the award, revealing that they would be speaking for Robbie, who had lost her voice days ago. They then proceeded to read a speech that Robbie had written recently and had never shared with them before.
The first reveal from Robbie’s speech was that her LuckyChap partners often have to speak for her at public events. “You’re right Tom we do,” McNamara said. “And that’s not fair, just because she performs for a living it doesn’t mean that she doesn’t find public speaking just as terrifying as we do.”
Robbie then addressed her crush on Dua Lipa, saying, “I have to say the only thing I love more than seeing women supporting women is seeing men supporting women. I have watched for the last 10 years as these two dudes have dedicated their careers to supporting women in this industry and nothing could make me love them more.”
Robbie concluded her speech by thanking her partners and expressing her gratitude for the award. “I am so incredibly honored to be receiving this award tonight,” she said. “LuckyChap is my passion project, and I am so grateful to have Tom and Josey as my partners. We are committed to telling stories that are important to us, and we are so lucky to have the support of women like Dua Lipa and all of you.”
Robbie’s speech was met with a standing ovation from the crowd, and her message of empowerment and support for women was clear and resounding. Even though she was unable to attend the event herself, her presence was felt through her powerful words, delivered by her trusted partners.