Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi have been receiving a barrage of criticism for Emerald Fennell's upcoming adaptation of Wuthering Heights, and the former is now speaking out in defense of both her own casting as Catherine Earnshaw and Elordi's role as Heathcliff. The Oscar nominee urges audiences to hold their judgments until they've seen the film, asserting that both she and Elordi embody their respective characters in a way that will resonate with viewers.
Robbie acknowledges the criticism surrounding her casting as a blonde 35-year-old playing an aged-up version of Catherine Earnshaw, who is written as a brunette teenager in the original novel. She says, "I get it," adding that until people see the movie, there's nothing else to go off.
Elordi's casting has faced even more backlash due to the fact that Heathcliff is described in the book as "dark-skinned." However, Robbie insists that Elordi embodies the character in a way that will resonate once viewers see his performance. "I saw him play Heathcliff. And he is Heathcliff," she declares. "Just wait. Trust me, you'll be happy." She also praises him as an actor, stating, "He's incredible, and I believe in him so much. I honestly think he's our generation's Daniel Day-Lewis."
Fennell herself explains why Robbie was the right choice for Cathy. "Cathy is a star," she says. "She's willful, mean, a recreational sadist, a provocateur... It was about finding someone who you would forgive in spite of yourself. It's difficult to find that supersized star power. Margot comes with big d*ck energy. That's what Cathy needs."
Some of the criticism has also focused on the film's bold marketing, including a first-look shot of a finger in Robbie's mouth. Robbie reassures fans that while the film has provocative elements, its core is emotional. "Everyone's expecting this to be very, very raunchy," she says. "I think people will be surprised. It's more romantic than provocative... It's that feeling when your chest swells or it's like someone's punched you in the guts."
