Quentin Tarantino snaps at journalist after criticism over Margot Robbie's limited role in new film

Quentin Tarantino responded angrily to a question about Margot Robbie’s limited lines in new film Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood at a Cannes press conference.

The director, whose latest project premiered to critical acclaim at the French film festival earlier this week, was asked why we “don’t hear” Robbie, who plays actress Sharon Tate, “speaking very much” in the film.

“Quentin, you have put Margot Robbie, a very talented actress, actor, in your film,” the reporter said.

“She was with Leonardo in Wolf of Wall Street, I, Tonya, a person with a great deal of acting talent - and yet you haven’t really given her many lines in the movie.

“I guess that was a deliberate choice on your part and I just wanted to know why that was that we don’t hear her actually speaking very much.”

Tarantino looked visibly angry, answering the question with: “Well I just reject your hypothesis.”

Robbie explained that she felt she had been able to “honour Sharon” and her “lightness,” and said that the film was not “intended to delve deeper.”

“I think think the tragedy was ultimately the loss of innocence and to really show those wonderful sides of her, I think could be adequately done without speaking,” she said, before adding that it had been “interesting” to “spend so much time on [her] own as a character, going through a day-to-day existence.”

The film is set in late-60s Hollywood and follows a has-been actor played by Leonardo DiCaprio and his stunt double sidekick (Brad Pitt) as they grapple with the industry’s changing mores.

Their fictionalised story merges with real life events, including the shocking murder of Tate (who was married to director Roman Polanski, played by Rafal Zawierucha) by the Manson Family.

During the conference, Tarantino refused to discuss violence against women in the film, responding to a question with “I can’t really address that,” but said he had “no” hesitation over depicting real people in the film.

He also revealed that he had not consulted with Polanski before making the film.

Tarantino’s presentation of female characters in previous features has proved divisive with critics and audiences.

Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood is released in the UK on August 15