She's channelling 1960s glamour on one of the most glamorous coastlines in the world — and the results are nothing short of spectacular. Margot Robbie has been setting the French Riviera ablaze this week as cameras rolled on the hotly anticipated Ocean's Eleven prequel, with the 36-year-old actress emerging from the Mediterranean in a retro indigo high-waisted bikini that looked ripped straight from the film's 1962 setting.
On-set photographs from 14th September showed Robbie — platinum blonde hair slicked back, berry lip perfectly intact despite her dip — stepping out of the surf looking every inch the 1960s pin-up her character demands. The denim-inspired two-piece featured a plunging lace-up top and high-waisted cheeky shorts, completing the vintage bombshell look with effortless precision.
A Heist at the Monaco Grand Prix
The untitled prequel is shaping up to be one of Hollywood's most ambitious productions in years. Set against the backdrop of the 1962 Monaco Grand Prix, the film will follow the parents of Danny and Debbie Ocean — the iconic con artists played by George Clooney and Sandra Bullock in the original films — with Robbie and Bradley Cooper stepping into those roles.
"Before Danny Ocean ever stepped foot in Vegas, two masterminds taught him everything he knows — his parents. You'll see them in their prime, and in our new movie, pulling off an epic heist at the 1962 Monaco Grand Prix."
Robbie herself offered that tantalising tease of the plot, and if the on-location footage is anything to go by, the film is already delivering on the promise of old-school glamour and high-stakes intrigue.
Cooper Behind the Camera Too
What makes this project particularly remarkable is that Bradley Cooper isn't merely starring opposite Robbie — he's also directing and writing the script. The film marks his fourth time in the director's chair, following A Star Is Born, Maestro, and Is This Thing On?. A shirtless Cooper was spotted on set in red-and-black patterned swimming trunks and a large blue woven straw hat, soaking up the Mediterranean sun between takes.
The pair were also spotted filming a balcony scene together in the seaside resort town of Villefranche-sur-Mer in the days prior, suggesting the production is making full and glorious use of the South of France's iconic architecture and coastline.
The Old Guard Returns
Robbie and Cooper are far from alone on this shoot. George Clooney, 64, is returning to the franchise he helped define, and has brought back much of the original 2001 ensemble for the occasion — including Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, and Don Cheadle. Clooney has said he was inspired to revisit the world of Ocean's by the 1979 comedy drama Going In Style, about a group of ageing criminals.
The franchise — which ran from Ocean's Eleven through to Ocean's Twelve in 2004 and Ocean's Thirteen in 2007, before the all-female spin-off Ocean's Eight in 2018 — left the door tantalizingly open for Clooney's return. Danny Ocean was implied to have died in Ocean's Eight, though the film also hinted his death may have been faked. Consider that particular mystery now very much resolved.
Fit for the Riviera
For those wondering how Robbie looks so effortlessly camera-ready, her personal trainer David Higgins has shed some light. Speaking to Women's Health, he described her regime as a combination of strength training and reformer Pilates.
"She's always had a very healthy approach to exercise. For her, it's about nothing more than being strong and healthy, physically and mentally."
Robbie herself has been rather more candid about her dietary habits, having previously admitted: "I don't have a very good diet. I love beers, fries, burgers — but if I have to get in a bikini, then I'll eat carrot sticks for three days." Judging by the French Riviera results, those carrot sticks are doing their job.
Filming began in late July in Paris before moving south to the Riviera, and the production is expected to continue shooting across the region. With this cast, this director, and this backdrop — anticipation could hardly be higher.
