Robbie, 27, is at the Toronto International Film Festival promoting the film, which stars her as the skater whose ex-husband tried to sabotage her rival Nancy Kerrigan leading up to the 1994 Winter Olympics.
For her red carpet appearance, the Australian star opted for a long sleeved blue gown with embroidered flowers. Her “canny, live-wire, deeply sympathetic performance” proves she’s a “major actress,” Variety‘s critic wrote in a rave review for the movie.
The film follows Harding’s childhood struggles with abuse and poverty, her battle for supremacy on the ice and then her very public fall from grace after rival Kerrigan was attacked.
The incident made headlines for its brutality and captivating tale of rival ice princesses. Kerrigan was attacked by a hitman after an Olympics practice session, with the intent to break her leg and sideline her for the Winter Games.
Hired by Harding’s ex-husband Jeff Gillooly (played by Sebastian Stan) and her bodyguard, the hitman struck while cameras were rolling, making the attack wildly publicised and known for the grueling moment captured on camera in which Kerrigan sits on the floor crying while repeatedly asking, “Why?”
Robbie wore a body suit and face prosthetics to look more like Harding for the role.
I, Tonya is expected to arrive in theatres in 2018.
This article originally appeared on PEOPLE
