Margot Robbie steps out with Tonya Harding who she plays in her new movie I, Tonya

MARGOT Robbie has posed on the red carpet with Tonya Harding, the ice skater she plays in her new movie which is generating Oscar buzz for the Australian actress.

MARGOT Robbie has made an emotional appearance on the red carpet alongside Tonya Harding, the notorious ice skater that she plays in her new movie.

Robbie, 27, was initially joined on the red carpet by her husband, Tom Ackerley. But then the 47-year-old ice skating champion joined The Wolf of Wall Street actress with the pair giggling as they posed for photos.

Julianne Nicholson, Allison Janney and Margot Robbie. Picture: Splash

Tonya Harding and Margot Robbie. Picture: Splash

“Amazing,” she said to her husband after the meet-and-greet.

It is not the first time Robbie has spoken to the woman she portrays in I, Tonya, which has been generating Oscar buzz for her and co-star Allison Janney.

Ice skater Tonya Harding (l) with Nancy Kerrigan avoiding each other during training in Hamar's Olympic Ampitheatre on 17 February 1994. Picture: Supplied

“She was really sweet. We spoke a lot and it’s just nice to hear where she is at in her life now,” Robbie told The Hollywood Reporter of her and Harding’s conversations, which included training tips. Adding, “How much she loves her son; it was comforting to see that she found her happy ending in that way.”

I, Tonya follows the story of Harding and her ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly.

Margot Robbie starring as Tonya Harding. Picture: Supplied

Gillooly and Shawn Eckardt conspired to break the legs of Harding’s rival, Nancy Kerrigan before the 1994 National Figure Skating Championship.

Harding was stripped of her 1994 US Championship title, fined $US160,000 ($212,000) and forced to serve 500 hours of community service.

Jeff Gillooly, former husband of skater Tonya Harding. Picture: Supplied

Shawn Eckardt was convicted of assaulting Nancy Kerrigan. Picture: Supplied

I, Tonya stars Robbie, Allison Janney, Sebastian Stan, Julianne Nicholson and Bobby Cannavale. It will be released in Australia on February 15.

Harding is a mum to her six-year-old son, Gordon, after unsuccessful attempts as a TV presenter and later as a boxer.

Nancy Kerrigan has appeared in a number of reality TV shows, worked as a sports commentator and writteb a book about figure skating.

Originally published as Margot Robbie steps out with Tonya Harding who she plays in her new movie I, Tonya