EXCLUSIVE'They love the UK - I'd be amazed if they didn't spend more time there when the baby is born': After pregnant Margot Robbie and husband Tom Ackerley pop up at Wimbledon, Hollywood couple could settle in Surrey as his tragic family history is revealed
They are fast becoming one of Hollywood's most powerful couples.
Australian Margot Robbie is the world's hottest actress while her British husband Tom Ackerley, who produced Barbie and Saltburn, has at least two movies in production in 2024 and a long queue of execs wanting to work with him.
The couple are happily ensconced in a $6.5million mansion on the Californian coast in Venice Beach.
But with a baby on the way, and spending increasing amounts of time outside the US, will the couple decide to move closer to family when their bundle of joy arrives?
The actress has expressed a desire to raise a family in her native Australia - but it is also known that their time together in Britain is very important to them.
And their appearance at Wimbledon on Friday has set tongues wagging, as it is just a few miles from where Tom grew up and most of his family including his mother and brothers still live, MailOnline can reveal.
One insider with links to London and LA said: 'Tom is clearly very close to his brothers James and Ben and mum Nikki. Margot has also become part of the family - and really loved living in the UK - so I would be amazed if they didn't spend more time in Britain after the baby is born'.
Margot licks her husband Tom's nose at Wimbledon on Friday - an area of London they both know well and where they began courting
Margot Robbie led the stars at Wimbledon on Friday as she made her first public appearance since revealing she is expecting her first child, with her bump on show
As Margot Robbie reveals she's expecting her first child with Tom Ackerley how Hollywood's most unlikely love story blossomed in a budget house share (pictured on Saturday in Italy)
The Ackerley family home in Surrey
Ms Robbie showed off her baby bump with her smiling husband at Wimbledon.
But before they were rich and famous they would sit on the common with Pimms because they couldn't get tickets for the tennis at the All England Club.
Margot has repeatedly said that living in Clapham in south-west London with Tom 'were the best days of my life', swilling pints in their local pub and dancing in sweaty-nightclub Infernos.
The Australian actress admitted she was able to enjoy living a near-normal life in London at the time, even though she had achieved fame - and notoriety - for her role alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in Wolf of Wall Street.
While the couple's days of pubbing and clubbing will reduce with a young baby around, their beloved south-west London could be the place where the Hollywood-based couple could choose to bring up their child.
And just down the road is Tom's large family, including his mother, step-father and two lookalike brothers - who all live in leafy Surrey and will be nearby to help if needed.
Tom Ackerley's bond with his family is strong - and forged, in part, by tragedy.
Born in 1990, Tom is the youngest of three brothers, to Nikki and Francis Ackerley. He also has two step-siblings, Janine and Julian, born to Francis' first wife.
Tom’s mother and father later separated.
But Mr Ackerley’s estate agent father died in April 2016 aged 63.
In December that year, Tom and Margot wed in Australia - sadly, without his father there to see it.
The couple appeared in high spirits as they enjoyed a refreshing non-alcoholic drink together
In 2015 Margot and Tom got into the spirit of Wimbledon with Pimms on the common.. and did not get tickets
Tom's grandfather, Major Hugh Pond, pictured, was a Second World War hero
Margot and Tom, far left, at the the wedding of Tom's brother Ben Ackerley (far right) in August 2016. Tom's brother James is pictured centre right
Tom with his mother Nikki, a property expert and PR guru who runs a website called The Nikki Gritti
Incredibly, Tom's mother Nikki, a property journalist and Surrey businesswoman of the year, also married in 2016 to her partner Ian. The bash happened at a stately home in the October.
The now Mrs Gibbon stood at the centre with her groom surrounded by family including her children and grandchildren - with Margot and Tom smiling broadly at the end.
Tom's family were also hit with tragedy in the year before his birth.
His aunt, a barrister named Tatiana Pond, was killed in the freak accident at Headcorn airfield after jumping out of the aircraft at 8,000ft in 1989.
She was killed after getting caught in the propellers of the plane - as her horrified fiance watched on.
Tatiana was the daughter of a decorated soldier Major Hugh Pond. A war hero who was awarded the Military Cross following the D-Day landings in June 1944.
Major Pond helped take out the famous Merville Battery in Normandy despite having broken ribs after his glider crashed on landing.
His unit later accidentally wandered into a village packed with Germans – but held them off despite being outnumbered and being bombarded from the air.
Major Pond later broke more ribs because he kept sneezing due to the dust from German artillery fire.
As one of the world's most polished stars, one would assume Margot Robbie's love story would be something straight out of a Hollywood romance.
Yet for the Australian actress, her backstory is anything but conventional for an A-lister, with the Queensland-born star finding love with husband Tom Ackerley in a budget house share in south London.
In fact, it was less than 10 years ago that the couple would spend their Friday evenings queuing up for a night out at Clapham's cheesiest nightclub Infernos, famed for its drink deals, sticky carpets and pop tunes.
Now, following reports the couple are preparing to welcome their first child, the pair's late nights will no longer be spent on the dance floor but doing the night feeds.
Having been born on opposite sides of the world, some would say it as fate that brought Margot and Tom together.
Margot (circled), Tom (bottom left) and five others met shooting World War II movie Suite Francaise in 2013 and got on so well that they decided to move in together in a budget house in Clapham
In fact, it was less than 10 years ago that the couple would spend their Friday evenings queuing up for a night out at Clapham's cheesiest nightclub Infernos, drinking in local pubs or lounging on the common
Indeed, their upbringings couldn't be more different.
For Margot, growing up in rural Aussie farming town Dalby, she acquired a staunch work ethic from her 'amazing' Scottish-born mother, and had worked as a cleaner, a Subway sandwich-maker and a sales assistant in a surf store by the time she was 16.
She landed her first acting job in Neighbours when she was 17, a result of repeatedly cold-calling the casting agent’s office until they allowed her to audition.
In contrast, Tom was born and raised in affluent Woking, Surrey, a student of the £24,000-a-year St George's College, Weybridge.
Yet he too had an interest in the movie world, working as an extra in the first three installments of the Harry Potter film series.
However, he soon realised he was more at home behind the camera, and returned to the industry as a production runner for films such as Gambit (2012) and Rush (2013).
It was on set that the couple found each other.
Margot was playing a supporting role in the World War II movie Suite Francaise in 2013 where Tom was serving as assistant director.
The cast and crew spent eight weeks shooting in Belgium followed by eight days in France where Margot said the crew bonded.
The actress, Tom and five others in the London-based film crew got on so well that they decided to move in together.
Now, following reports the couple are preparing to welcome their first child , the pair's late nights will no longer be spent on the dance floor but doing the night feeds
In an interview with Elle in 2018, Margot (circled) admitted that she and Tom (far left) had initially decided to keep their romantic relationship to themselves but everyone in their friendship group found out
Infernos, on Clapham High Street in south London, is famed for its drink deals, sticky carpets and pop tunes
In 2015, Margot and Tom co-founded their production company LuckyChap Entertainment with former flatmates Josey McNamara and Sophia Kerr
'We were like: "Wouldn't it be funny if we all lived together?" Margot explained, 'Someone said: "But you don't live in London," and I said: "I don't live anywhere. I'll move."'
They signed a lease on a property in Clapham, ramshackle, four-bedroom flat ironically dubbed The Manor, chosen to be affordable to even the lowest paid crew member.
Although already a household name, thanks to her starring role alongside Leonardo Di Caprio in the 2013 Hollywood blockbuster The Wolf Of Wall Street, Margot favoured a 'student life', swilling pints and enjoying picnics on Clapham Common.
'Those were the best days of my life,' she has said. 'For me, where you live and what you do have to be simplistic and comfortable, otherwise how are you possibly going to relax?
'Clapham has always felt unassuming in the sense you're just left alone to get on with who you are, and that's perfect for me.
'Everyone is wasted and so sweaty. Everyone looks a mess,' she explained. 'By the time I make it to Infernos, I look so revolting no one's going to look twice.'
It was on the sticky Infernos dancefloor and while nursing hangovers on Clapham Common, that Tom and Margot's friendship blossomed into something more.
However, Margot admitted that she and Tom had initially decided to keep their romantic relationship to themselves.
'We kept it a secret. Because we weren't really taking it seriously. "Oh, whatever, we're just mates, we're just mates." And then… everyone found out,' she explained.
On her friends finding out, she recalled: 'It was dramatic. I'm not going into the details, but s**t hit the fan. Our house turned into The Jerry Springer Show for a moment there. But then the dust settled, and it was all good.'
The housemates got on so well that in 2015, four of them - Margot, Tom, Sophia Kerr and Josey McNamara - founded production company, Lucky Chap. Now worth an estimated £25 million.
It was playing a supporting role in the World War II movie Suite Francaise that Margot met her future husband, Tom, who was its assistant director, in 2013 (pictured in 2015)
Together, Margot and Tom have produced films including the Academy Award-winning I, Tonya and Promising Young Woman, as well as the 2023 blockbuster Barbie, all under their LuckyChap Entertainment banner.
Yet Margot and Tom left their house share for their own home in West London before moving to Los Angeles in 2017.
In December 2016, Margot and Tom married during a private ceremony in Byron Bay.
There was no engagement announcement and no suggestion they were set to marry at all until Margot was pictured at Gold Coast airport in December 2016 wearing a T-shirt with the slogan 'Say 'I Do' Down Under.'
During the ceremony, she was seen wearing a boho-inspired gown - believed to have been Oscar De La Renta - as she walked through the grounds of the private estate in Coorabell.
Other guests who made up the congregation of around 50 followed through the lush grounds of the property.
Margot had been given away by her mum, physiotherapist Sarie Kessler, and was joined by siblings Lachlan, Cameron and sister Anya.
According to a report from News.com.au, the festivities kicked off at 4pm.
The couple exchanged their vows under a large white teepee-style tent at a luxurious property in Coorabell, in Byron Bay's hinterland.
Following the ceremony, guests danced into the night, with celebrations reportedly lasting until around 11pm.
The wedding location was so top secret, with even guests kept in the dark about where the couple would wed.
Together, Margot and Tom have produced films including the Academy Award-winning I, Tonya and Promising Young Woman (pictured in 2022)
The publication states those lucky enough to score an invite were asked to gather at different locations from Byron Bay to the Gold Coast, so that they could be collected by bus and taken to the under-wraps locale.
There was a social media blackout on the event, with guests asked to hand over mobiles and cameras, and there was a strong security presence at the property.
Margot later took to Instagram to flaunt her diamond ring and rose gold wedding band in a cheeky Instagram snap.
She was seen sticking up her ring finger to the camera while kissing her beau in the background.
Jewellers who spoke to Daily Mail Australia estimated the gold ring to cost between $20,000 to $30,000, with a 1.5 carat pear-shaped diamond at its centre.
The couple skipped a honeymoon to work on I, Tonya: 'There were times we were sitting in a car parked in Atlanta freezing cold, being like: "We should be on a beach — we should be on a honeymoon. What are we doing?! Following our dream."'
While promoting her movie Mary Queen of Scots in 2019 she told The Times: 'I got married, and the first question in almost every interview is "Babies? When are you having one?' I'm so angry that there's this social contract",
'You're married, now have a baby. Don't presume. I'll do what I'm going to do.'
Margot and Tom married in her native Australia in 2016 and instead of settling down to family life right away as she admitted was expected, they spent the first eight years of marriage focused on their careers.
In January, Margot admitted she's 'so lucky' to have a 'normie' husband in film producer Tom who isn't 'fazed' by the spotlight.
The Barbie star said she was grateful to have a spouse who she can work alongside and also insisted her friends would much prefer to talk about non-work stuff when they hang out as it's more 'fun'.
In January 2024, Margot admitted she's 'so lucky' to have a 'normie' husband in film producer Tom who isn't 'fazed' by the spotlight
Margot displayed her blossoming baby bump while boarding a boat in Lake Como in Italy with her husband last week
She told E! News at the Critics Choice Awards at Santa Barbara's Barker Hangar: 'I am so lucky. He likes being behind the camera, he's not fazed by any of this stuff, he's just the best. It's so fun. I love the word "normie".
'Like All my friends, everyone's kind of like, "That's cool what you do." But you know, it's more cool to hang out and talk about other stuff. And you're like, "I know."'
Last week, Margot and Tom revealed they spend '24 hours a day' together in a rare joint interview.
'It's seamless,' the Englishman described to The Sunday Times, 'We don't have a toggle on, toggle off. It's all become one thing.'
The producer said he 'feels like an honorary Aussie' and 'Margot feels like an honorary Brit' despite the inseparable couple arguing over 'whether Tim Tams or Penguins are better.'
