Margot Robbie has an emotional trick up her sleeve when it comes to crying on cue in movies: Titanic. The actress recently revealed her go-to technique for triggering tears, and it involves the ultimate tearjerker of the ’90s.
In an upcoming episode of Talking Pictures: A Movie Memories Podcast, set to premiere on November 26, Robbie shared her secret. When asked how she manages to cry during intense scenes, she explained that all she needs is a little help from Titanic’s iconic soundtrack. “I can even just hear the theme music of Titanic, and I’ll be bawling,” she confessed. “That’s what I do on set if I need to cry in a scene.”
During filming for The Wolf of Wall Street, this technique led to an unforgettable moment. Robbie was preparing for an emotional scene in which her character demands a divorce, and she used the familiar Titanic score to stay in a sad, tearful mindset. But as she was listening, something surreal happened: Kate Winslet, the star of Titanic, appeared on set to visit her co-star Leonardo DiCaprio.
“I was in the room next to them, listening to the Titanic soundtrack, trying to stay in sad, teary mode,” Robbie recalled. “And then I saw Kate Winslet and Leo walk past. It was very surreal.” Seeing Winslet and DiCaprio together while hearing Titanic’s music added an unexpected and emotional layer to her performance.
James Cameron’s 1997 blockbuster won 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Original Song for “My Heart Will Go On,” sung by Celine Dion. For Robbie, the emotional impact of the film—and that unforgettable soundtrack—continues to be a powerful tool on set.
