LOS ANGELES: In "Bombshell," a 2019 drama about the women who banded together to expose Fox News CEO Roger Ailes for his persistent sexual misconduct, Australian actress Margot Robbie has discussed why she accepted the role.

According to People magazine, the actress, 32, claimed she didn't know what sexual harassment was and accepted the job to assist her learn more about it.

She remarked,  during a BAFTA Life in Pictures address honouring her work, "I realised that I - as a person with an established position in the industry, financially set up and self-sufficient - didn't know the meaning of sexual harassment, and that's frightening."

According to People, Robbie also expressed her "horror" at how little she knew about the subject and how "Bombshell" had taught her that inappropriate behaviour and sexual harassment really "flourish in the grey area." The "Barbie" actress continued, "Roger Ailes or Harvey Weinstein, they take advantage of the region." "There are shades of grey in this issue." When asked about the fact that, by the time of her 20th major film project, she had only ever collaborated with a single female director on a feature film (Mary Queen of Scots director Josie Rourke), Robbie responded that she sees no difference between men and women working behind the camera and "couldn't put it down to gender." 

Robbie, who was quoted by Variety, said "I'd love to say Josie has a particular insight as a woman, which she does, but then on something like "Bombshell" with a male director, (Jay Roach) is the most emotionally intuitive person I know. "It wasn't because he was a man that it worked better, but every single director has a completely distinct technique and style." The actress is drawn to challenging, difficult parts. She previously admitted to being a masochist to the Wall Street Journal magazine. The actress "can always find a fifth gear," she continued, no matter how challenging or taxing a job might be--Tonya Harding in 2017's "I, Tonya" would seem to undoubtedly count.