Margot Robbie to play Tonya Harding in new film

LOS ANGELES, March 22 (UPI) -- Margot Robbie will play Tonya Harding in the forthcoming film I, Tonya.

Entertainment Weekly confirmed the 25-year-old Australian actress will portray the disgraced figure skater after Deadline linked Robbie to the project Monday.

Harding and fellow skater Nancy Kerrigan were to compete at the 1994 U.S. Figure Skating Championships when Kerrigan was attacked during a practice session. Kerrigan withdrew from the competition and Harding ultimately won the event.

The attack was traced to Harding's ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, and bodyguard, Shawn Eckardt, who were prosecuted as Harding and Kerrigan competed in the 1994 Olympic games. Harding herself pleaded guilty to hindering prosecution and was banned from competition for life.

Robbie will co-produce with Bright producer Bryn Unkeless and is reportedly taking it upon herself to find a director for the project. Kate & Leopold writer Steven Rogers wrote the script.

Robbie is known for playing Laura Cameron on Pan Am and Naomi Lapaglia in The Wolf of Wall Street. She will portray Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad and Jane Porter in the live-action movie The Legend of Tarzan.