Legend of Tarzan Cast: Full List of Actors and Characters

Release date: July 1, 2016 ·
Director: David Yates ·
Starring: Alexander Skarsgård, Margot Robbie, Samuel L. Jackson ·
Budget: $180 million ·
Box office: $356.7 million

The six key facts below give a quick overview of the film’s production specs and reception.

Who played Tarzan’s wife in The Legend of Tarzan?

Margot Robbie as Jane Porter

Margot Robbie portrayed Jane Clayton (née Porter) in the 2016 film, taking on a role that had been played by actresses ranging from Maureen O’Sullivan in the 1930s to Andie MacDowell in the 1984 version. Robbie’s Jane is a determined, modern woman who navigates the political intrigues of colonial Africa alongside her husband. According to Wikipedia (film encyclopedia), Robbie is credited as the female lead opposite Skarsgård. Her performance was noted for bringing a contemporary edge to the character, moving Jane beyond the traditional damsel-in-distress archetype.

Other actresses who played Jane in Tarzan films

Jane Porter has been portrayed by many actresses across different eras. Maureen O’Sullivan played her in the Johnny Weissmuller films of the 1930s and 1940s. Bo Derek took the role in the 1981 film Tarzan, the Ape Man. Andie MacDowell voiced Jane in the 1999 Disney animated film, and more recently, Margot Robbie brought her to life in 2016. Each actress has brought a different interpretation, from the helpless romantic to the capable adventurer. The character’s evolution mirrors changing attitudes about women in adventure cinema.

The pattern across these portrayals: as society’s expectations shifted, Jane became less a passive love interest and more an active participant in the story.

Who played the most recent Tarzan?

Alexander Skarsgård as Tarzan

Alexander Skarsgård played John Clayton III, also known as Tarzan, in the 2016 film. The Swedish actor, who had previously earned acclaim for his role in HBO’s Big Little Lies, underwent an intense physical transformation for the part. According to Moviefone (movie database), Skarsgård is the most recent live-action actor to portray Tarzan in a major theatrical release. He reportedly consumed a diet of up to 8,000 calories a day to build the muscular physique required for the role. Skarsgård has said in interviews that he “ate vicariously through Margot Robbie for Tarzan,” joking about the contrast between his bulking diet and her normal eating habits.

Previous notable Tarzan actors

The role of Tarzan has a long history in cinema. Johnny Weissmuller, an Olympic swimmer, played Tarzan in 12 films between 1932 and 1948, and his version remains the most iconic. Other actors who have taken on the role include Gordon Scott in the 1950s, Jock Mahoney in the 1960s, Ron Ely in the 1960s television series, and Christopher Lambert in the 1984 film Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes. Each actor brought a different physicality and interpretation to the character. Skarsgård’s 2016 version is distinct for its emphasis on Tarzan as a man caught between two worlds — the jungle and British aristocracy.

The implication: Skarsgård’s casting signaled a shift toward a more nuanced portrayal of Tarzan.

Where was Legend of Tarzan filmed?

Filming locations in England and Gabon

The production of The Legend of Tarzan took place in two primary locations. Interior scenes and soundstage work were shot at Leavesden Studios in Hertfordshire, England, the same facility used for the Harry Potter films. Exterior jungle scenes were filmed on location in Gabon, a country in Central Africa that provided the lush, dense rainforest needed to authentically recreate the African setting. According to Wikipedia (film encyclopedia), the production involved extensive location work in both countries.

Challenges of jungle filming

Filming in Gabon’s rainforest presented logistical challenges. The production team had to navigate remote terrain, manage equipment in humid conditions, and coordinate with local authorities. The sets recreated Victorian-era Africa, including colonial buildings and jungle villages. The film’s visual effects team later augmented the natural environments with digital elements to create the sweeping landscapes seen in the final cut. The blend of practical location shooting and CGI allowed the filmmakers to achieve a balance between realism and spectacle.

The catch: while the Gabon locations gave the film authentic visual texture, the on-location shooting added significant cost and complexity to an already $180 million budget.

How old was Margot Robbie in The Legend of Tarzan?

Margot Robbie’s age at the time of filming

Margot Robbie was born on July 2, 1990, in Dalby, Queensland, Australia. Principal photography for The Legend of Tarzan began in 2014, which means she was approximately 24 years old when filming started. The film was released on July 1, 2016, just a day before her 26th birthday. During the press tour, she was 25–26 years old. This placed her in the same age range as many of the actresses who have previously played Jane, including Maureen O’Sullivan, who was 21 when she first played the role in 1932.

Comparison to other actresses who played Jane

Looking at the ages of actresses who have played Jane across different Tarzan films reveals a consistent pattern: most were in their twenties or early thirties. Maureen O’Sullivan was 21–22 during the early Weissmuller films. Bo Derek was 24 when she played Jane in 1981. Andie MacDowell was 41 when she voiced the character in the 1999 animated film, though voice acting age ranges are less constrained. Robbie’s age at 25–26 fits comfortably within the historical range for the role.

What this means: the casting of Robbie at 25 aligned with the traditional age profile for Jane, which reinforces the character’s portrayal as a young, energetic woman in her prime.

What ethnicity is Margot Robbie?

Margot Robbie’s background and heritage

Margot Robbie is an Australian actress. She was born in Dalby, Queensland, and grew up on the Gold Coast. Her ethnic background is of Scottish, English, and Irish descent. According to biographical sources, her ancestors include Scottish and Irish immigrants who settled in Australia. Robbie has spoken in interviews about her Australian identity and how it shaped her approach to acting. While her character in The Legend of Tarzan is British, Robbie’s Australian background didn’t present a barrier — she adopted an English accent for the role.

Representation in the film

The casting of Robbie as Jane, alongside a predominantly British and American supporting cast, reflects the film’s setting in colonial Africa. The character of Jane is written as a British woman living in the Congo, and the casting choices followed that historical context. The film also included African actors in supporting roles, such as Djimon Hounsou (who played Chief Mbonga) and several actors from African countries in smaller parts. According to Wikipedia (film encyclopedia), the supporting cast included Osy Ikhile as Kwete and Mens-Sana Tamakloe as Kolo, among others.

The trade-off: the film’s casting was historically accurate for its setting, but some critics noted that the African characters remained largely in supporting roles while the leads were white.

Quotes from the cast

“I ate vicariously through Margot Robbie for Tarzan.”

— Alexander Skarsgård, on his intense diet during filming

“The Legend of Tarzan is not a origin story. It’s a story about a man who has already become Tarzan and is now dealing with the consequences of that.”

— David Yates, director, on the film’s narrative approach

These two perspectives — one from the actor playing the title role, one from the director — highlight the film’s dual focus: physical transformation on one side, and narrative maturity on the other. Skarsgård’s commitment to the role’s physical demands was matched by Yates’s intention to tell a story about a man rather than just a jungle hero.

Frequently asked questions

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For the cast of The Legend of Tarzan, the choices were deliberate: Skarsgård’s physical transformation, Robbie’s modernized Jane, and a supporting roster of seasoned actors like Waltz, Jackson, and Hounsou. The result is a film that relies on its performers to carry a story that audiences already think they know. Skarsgård’s casting as Tarzan proves that the right actor can bring a century-old character to life for a new generation.