Alert – Margot Robbie, Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore lead A-listers at annual Deadline Contenders event… as actors get back in promo mode after strike’s end – News Alerts

Margot Robbie was joined by Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore at the star-studded Deadline Contenders event in Los Angeles this weekend.

The Hollywood heavyweights descended upon the DGA Theater to help highlight 28 standout movies from this year, with panels allowing cast and creatives to tell candid stories of the productions.

With the actor’s strike now ended, it appeared Tinseltown’s best and brightest were ready to dish, with the three actresses leading the way.

Academy Award nominee Robbie, 33, hit the red carpet first before heading a panel discussing her blockbuster film Barbie alongside director Greta Gerwig.

She looked casually chic in a floral print white oxford tied at the waist, which she paired with chic denim and matching red accessories.

A-list beauties: Margot Robbie was joined by Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore at the star-studded Deadline Contenders event in Los Angeles this weekend

Big deal: The Hollywood heavyweights descended upon the DGA Theater to help highlight 28 movies, with panels allowing cast and creatives to tell candid stories of the productions

Strike over: With the actor’s strike now ended, it appeared Tinseltown’s best and brightest were ready to dish, with the three actresses leading the way

‘I definitely didn’t want to try and make a puff piece Barbie. I wanted us to run at the scary things as much as we celebrated the wonderful things,’ Robbie said during a panel. ‘That’s exactly why I went after Greta [Gerwig], because I was like, “She would do that.”‘

Robbie acquired the rights to the legendary doll through her production company, LuckyChap, prior to approaching Gerwig and her collaborator Noah Baumbach to write the script.

The pair then took Barbie and made it biggest opening of 2023, the biggest opening by a female director, and the highest opening for the film’s stars Robbie and Ryan Gosling.

The movie is the highest-grossing movie in Warner Bros. history, as well as the highest-grossing movie ever directed by a woman.

‘She has literally changed the game,’ Robbie said of Gerwig. ‘From now on, it’s different because of what she’s done. It’s massive.

‘And someone is going to come forward with another original idea that requires a big budget, and there’s going to be a female lead, and they’re going to point to Barbie and say, “But that made money.’” Everyone’s gonna go, “Oh, right we’re gonna have to green light this. And that’s amazing’.

Gerwig downplayed her part in Barbie’s success, however, and chalked it up to a team effort.

‘There’s no way we could be on stage and have done what we got to do if those women hadn’t done it,’ she explained. ‘So don’t feel alone in this place. I feel like there’s lots of them who’ve come before and will come after.’

Stunner: Academy Award nominee Robbie, 33, hit the red carpet first before heading a panel discussing her blockbuster film Barbie alongside director Greta Gerwig

Daring suo: Portman and Moore wowed in dueling red looks as they discussed their thriller May December

Oscar style: The Oscar winner looked incredible for the red carpet

Cast: ‘May December’ centers on a married couple who, two decades ago, became entangled in a scandalous love affair when the wife (Moore) was a teacher and the husband (Charles Melton) was an underage student

Meanwhile, Portman and Moore wowed in dueling red looks as they discussed their thriller May December directed by Todd Haynes and inspired by the real-life story of sex offender teacher Mary Kay Letourneau.

‘I called up Todd and said, “I can’t do this. This is too hard!”‘ Moore admitted. ‘I was really struggling. I’m like, ‘”Who is this woman?’”‘

The movie centers on a married couple who, two decades ago, became entangled in a scandalous love affair when the wife (Moore) was a teacher and the husband (Charles Melton) was an underage student.

No puff piece: ‘I definitely didn’t want to try and make a puff piece Barbie. I wanted us to run at the scary things as much as we celebrated the wonderful things,’ Robbie said during a panel

Smart move: Robbie acquired the rights to the legendary doll through her production company, LuckyChap, prior to approaching Gerwig and her collaborator Noah Baumbach to write the script

Stage fright: ‘I called up Todd and said, “I can’t do this. This is too hard!”‘ Moore admitted. ‘I was really struggling. I’m like, ‘”Who is this woman?’”‘

Life imitating art: Portman plays an actress getting ready to portray Moore’s character in a movie

Despite facing intense scrutiny for their choices, they have stayed together over the years.

Portman plays an actress getting ready to portray Moore’s character in a movie.

‘We’re trying to get into people’s hearts and minds, and sometimes you play people who commit crimes,’ Portman said.

Star-studded: Carey Muligan looked chic in a suit ensemble

Chic star: Annette Benning looked absolutely fabulous in her cream suit

Matinee idols: Cillian Murphy and Charles Melton kept it casual for the red carpet

Terrific trio: Matt Bomer, Carey and Bradley Cooper were all smiles

‘That doesn’t mean that you believe that those crimes should be committed. [It’s] just, we as artists are curious about the internal workings of the human heart.’

Other talent in the lineup included director Chloe Domont & actor Alden Ehrenreich from Fair Play; Coleman Domingo for Rustin; and Lily Gladstone from Killers of the Flower Moon.

Eve Hewson & Joseph Gordon-Levitt from Flora and Son also attended, while ; director Michael Mann appeared with actors Adam Driver, Penélope Cruz & Shailene Woodley from Ferrari.