Tom Ackerley may be best known today as the husband of Margot Robbie, but reducing him to that label misses the bigger picture. Long before red carpets and global premieres, Ackerley was quietly building a serious career behind the camera—one rooted in practical filmmaking, long hours on set, and a deep understanding of how movies actually get made.
As a producer, creative partner, and co-founder of one of Hollywood’s most influential production companies, Ackerley has become an essential force in modern cinema, even if he prefers to stay out of the spotlight.
Early Life and Background
Tom Ackerley was born in the United Kingdom in 1990 and grew up far from Hollywood glamour. His early interests leaned toward film and storytelling, but not in a performative sense. Instead, he gravitated toward the technical and organizational side of production—how sets run, how crews function, and how ideas move from script to screen.
He studied film in the UK and began his career the traditional way: at the bottom. Those early years would later shape his reputation as a producer who understands every layer of a production, not just the final product.
Starting Out: Learning Film From the Ground Up
Ackerley’s first professional roles were behind the scenes as a runner and assistant director. According to PEOPLE, he worked on major productions such as Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Pride, gaining firsthand experience on large-scale sets.
These jobs are demanding and often invisible, but they’re where many producers learn the realities of filmmaking. Long days, logistical pressure, and problem-solving on the fly became part of Ackerley’s skill set early on.
Over time, he moved into assistant director roles, working on projects including Macbeth (2015) and The Last Goodbye. By the mid-2010s, he had transitioned fully into producing—a shift that would soon change the trajectory of his career.
How Tom Ackerley Met Margot Robbie
Tom Ackerley met Margot Robbie in 2013 on the set of Suite Française, a World War II drama filmed partly in Europe. At the time, Robbie was rising quickly in Hollywood, while Ackerley was working behind the scenes as an assistant director.
Their relationship didn’t begin as a high-profile romance. In fact, both were part of a close-knit group of friends living together in London. As Robbie later shared in interviews, their bond developed naturally, away from industry pressure and public attention.
That low-key beginning set the tone for how the couple would handle their relationship going forward—privately, deliberately, and largely outside tabloid narratives.
Dating History and Relationship Privacy
Unlike many celebrity couples, Ackerley and Robbie have never made their dating history a public storyline. There are no widely documented past relationships attributed to Ackerley, and he has consistently avoided public discussion of his personal life.
Robbie has explained in past interviews that privacy is a conscious choice for them, not an accident. Their relationship became public only after it was already serious, and even then, details were sparse.
In 2016, the couple married in an intimate ceremony in Byron Bay, Australia. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the wedding was small, personal, and intentionally free of media spectacle.
LuckyChap Entertainment: A Creative Partnership
Professionally, Tom Ackerley and Margot Robbie are partners as well as spouses. Together with friends Josey McNamara and Sophia Kerr, they co-founded LuckyChap Entertainment in 2014.
The company was created with a clear mission: to produce bold, creator-driven projects, often with a focus on female-led stories and underrepresented voices. As a producer, Tom Ackerley plays a central role in development, logistics, and long-term strategy.
LuckyChap’s credits include:
- I, Tonya (2017)
- Promising Young Woman (2020)
- Barbie (2023)
- Saltburn (2023)
- Maid (Netflix series)
Variety has credited LuckyChap with reshaping how star-led production companies operate, balancing commercial success with creative risk. Ackerley’s behind-the-scenes leadership is a major reason the company has maintained both credibility and momentum.
Working With His Wife—By Design, Not Default
While some industry couples avoid working together, Ackerley and Robbie have embraced collaboration—but with boundaries. Robbie has noted in interviews that their working relationship is structured and professional, with clear roles.
Ackerley rarely appears in public alongside Robbie unless it’s tied to a film premiere or industry event. He does not give frequent interviews and has no visible interest in celebrity culture. That restraint has become part of his professional identity.
As Robbie once told PEOPLE
“We work together because we trust each other—but we also know when to switch it off.”
It’s one of the few direct comments either has shared about balancing marriage and business.
Life Away From the Spotligh
Despite their Hollywood success, Ackerley and Robbie split their time between the U.S., the UK, and Australia. Friends have described their lifestyle as grounded, social, and deliberately normal—especially compared to typical celebrity households.
In July 2024, multiple outlets confirmed that the couple were expecting their first child, marking a new chapter in their personal lives. True to form, the announcement was understated, with no staged reveals or media exclusives.
Tom Ackerley’s Role in Modern Hollywood
Tom Ackerley represents a growing class of modern producers: hands-on, development-focused, and less interested in fame than influence. His career path—from assistant director to award-winning producer—gives him credibility across every level of production.
More importantly, his work through LuckyChap has helped redefine which stories get funded and who gets to tell them. That impact may not always make headlines, but it’s felt throughout the industry.
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