Margot Robbie’s New Role: What Has She Got Up Her Sleeve This Time?

In a world where cinema and fashion have long been intertwined, Margot Robbie’s latest role doesn’t involve a dramatic script or a red carpet appearance. Instead, it comes wrapped in a bottle—Chanel N°5, to be exact. The Australian actress has become the new face of the world’s most iconic fragrance, and in doing so, steps into a lineage that reads like a who’s who of cinematic elegance. It’s as if the perfume itself has its own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, with names like Nicole Kidman, Audrey Tautou, and Marion Cotillard illuminating its legacy. Now, it’s Robbie’s turn to embody the essence of Chanel N°5, a role that feels more like a coronation than a mere brand partnership.

The campaign, titled See You at Five, directed by Luca Guadagnino of Call Me By Your Name fame, does more than just sell perfume. It’s a masterclass in how to merge high fashion, cinema, and personal freedom into one glorious, 30-second narrative. But let’s be honest—this is not just about a scent wafting through a screen. This is Chanel we’re talking about, and when you’re Chanel, you don’t simply sell a fragrance. You sell an entire world.

Image Courtesy: chanelofficial/Instagram

The advert itself is, unsurprisingly, meticulously crafted. After all, we’re in the hands of Guadagnino, a director who doesn’t so much create films as he does sensory experiences. Here, the story follows a playful, almost whimsically romantic miscommunication between Robbie and Saltburn star Jacob Elordi. The two are lovers, yes, but it’s their imperfect connection that brings the narrative its charm. Robbie texts Elordi with a message—“See you at five”—that sets the plot in motion. Elordi, ever the eager romantic, hops onto his motorcycle and rides off to meet her. Robbie, in her convertible, is cruising along the California coast, embodying a spirit of laid-back glamour that feels both aspirational and utterly out of reach. The only hitch? They end up arriving at each other’s homes.

But in a world crafted by Chanel, missed connections aren’t problems—they’re plot points. The twist doesn’t unravel into frustration; it spirals into liberation. And as the ad progresses, so too does Robbie’s embodiment of what the Chanel woman has always stood for: a blend of elegance, independence, and undeniable charisma. It’s no coincidence that the campaign ends with Robbie, dressed in an homage to the 1986 Chanel N°5 advert (yes, the Ridley Scott one starring Carole Bouquet), diving into the ocean. Here, freedom is the ultimate allure—not the boy, not the chase, but the ability to immerse yourself in your own world, on your own terms.

For a fragrance as storied as Chanel N°5, this campaign is more than just a new chapter; it’s a continuation of an ongoing dialogue between the brand and its muses. From Marilyn Monroe's whispered confession that all she wore to bed was “five drops of Chanel No. 5,” to Marion Cotillard’s moonlit dance in 2020’s campaign, this perfume has always symbolized the very idea of timeless femininity. But femininity in the Chanel universe is never one-dimensional. It’s a kaleidoscope of qualities: sensual yet sophisticated, grounded yet daring, traditional yet modern. Margot Robbie, with her unique blend of charisma and wit, steps into this role seamlessly.

Chanel themselves put it rather perfectly when they said, “an ambassador of the house since 2018, the Australian actress and producer is part of the lineage of great women who have embodied the essence of this iconic fragrance." If Chanel N°5 could speak, it would likely have said, “finally.” Robbie’s appointment feels inevitable, like a match waiting for its spark. Her versatility—think of her Harley Quinn as much as her portrayal of Barbie—reflects the duality of Chanel N°5 itself: both classic and surprising. She’s the kind of woman who can pull off a red tweed Chanel mini-skirt with the same ease she brings to an indie role. It’s this unique ability to navigate between roles, between worlds, that makes her the perfect embodiment of a scent that has, for decades, remained as relevant as it is revered.

Speaking of her new role, Robbie expressed her excitement, “Chanel N°5 is one of the most iconic fragrances in the world, it’s incredible to be a part of it. There’s such an impressive lineage of women associated with the fragrance, and I’m honoured to join this incredible list of talents.” And rightly so—joining the Chanel N°5 family isn’t just about perfume. It’s about entering an exclusive club of women who understand that true allure isn’t something you wear; it’s something you are.

Yet, beneath the glitz, there’s a deeper message at play in this campaign. As Robbie speeds down the coastal highway, wind in her hair, she is as much Chanel’s muse as she is its metaphor. The brand has always been about more than just beauty or even fashion—it’s about the freedom to redefine both. So, as Robbie plunges into the ocean, free from the trappings of expectation or routine, it feels less like a cinematic flourish and more like an invitation. Chanel N°5, with its storied past and luminous future, isn’t just a fragrance. It’s an experience, one that says you don’t need to arrive at five—you’ll get there when you get there, and you’ll smell incredible along the way.