Quentin Tarantino Rejects Claim Margot Robbie Wasn't Given Enough Dialogue in 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood'

Quentin Tarantino had a harsh response for a reporter who challenged him about Margot Robbie's limited role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Robbie plays a young Sharon Tate in the film, which premiered during the 2019 Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday.

A New York Times reporter questioned why Robbie wasn't given more dialogue in the movie during a press conference on Wednesday. Tarantino, who Variety reported appeared to be visibly upset by the question, replied: "I reject your hypothesis."

Robbie defended the role and said scenes she was given were "a moment to honor Sharon."

"I think the tragedy was the loss of innocence. To show the wonderful sides of her could be done without speaking," Robbie said. "I did feel like I got a lot of time to explore the character without dialogue, which is an interesting thing. Rarely do I get an opportunity to spend so much time on my own as a character."

Robbie appears in the film alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, who plays the role of struggling TV actor Rick Dalton during the 1960s. Brad Pitt plays Dalton's stunt double, Cliff Booth.

Actress and model Tate was murdered by members of Charles Manson's family in 1969. Tarantino did comment on the film's inclusion of Tate and noted society's current obsession with serial killers of the past. "I think we're fascinated by it because at the end of the day, it seems unfathomable," Tarantino said.

"I've done a lot of research on it. How he was able to get these girls and young boys to cement to him seems unfathomable. The more you learn about it, the more information you get, it doesn't make it any clearer. It makes it more obscure," he continued.

Tarantino has been accused of ignoring women on movie sets before. Although not in the same context as character lines, the award-winning director has a contentious relationship with the star of Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill, Uma Thurman, because of his alleged negligence toward women.

In a 2018 interview revealing her sexual assault by disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein, Thurman said she told Tarantino—who she formerly dated—about the attack. However, after demanding Weinstein apologize to Thurman, Tarantino continued working with him, despite being fully aware of Weinstein's inappropriate treatment of women.

After Weinstein's history of sexual harassment and assault of women became public knowledge in 2017 following a series of interviews of with his alleged victims, Tarantino acknowledged he was aware of Weinstein's behavior and did nothing to stop it.

In addition to suggesting Tarantino enabled on-set abuse, Thurman also blamed the director for his involvement in a horrific car crash she endured while filming Kill Bill in 2001. Thurman said she wasn't comfortable with the car and requested a stuntman drive during the scene instead, but Tarantino ignored her request and assured her the vehicle was safe.

"The steering wheel was at my belly and my legs were jammed under me," Thurman told The New York Times. "I felt this searing pain and thought, 'Oh my God, I'm never going to walk again.'"

She noted Tarantino was "deeply regretful and remains remorseful" about the incident, which resulted in the actor suffering a concussionm as well as neck and knee injuries. However, she couldn't deny the accident occurred due to Tarantino's carelessness about her concerns.

"The circumstances of this event were negligent to the point of criminality. I do not believe though with malicious intent," she said.