Hollywood star Margot Robbie has confessed that filming romantic scenes with co-star Jacob Elordi for the upcoming Wuthering Heights adaptation left her feeling physically overwhelmed. The 35-year-old actress, set to play Catherine opposite Elordi's Heathcliff, opened up about the experience in a candid interview with British Vogue.
A Swoon-Worthy Moment
Robbie described a particularly intimate scene that resonated deeply with her. She explained how Elordi's Heathcliff lifts Catherine with a single arm before shielding her face from the rain. The Australian actress found the gesture profoundly romantic, admitting it nearly caused her to swoon. "It almost made me weak at the knees," Robbie revealed. She emphasised that it was these subtle, tender details that she and director Emerald Fennell, both women in their thirties, cherished while making the film.
"It was the little things that (Emerald and I) loved as two women in our 30s, and this movie is primarily for people in our demographic," Robbie told the magazine. "These epic romances and period pieces aren’t often made by women." The film, directed by the acclaimed filmmaker behind Saltburn and Promising Young Woman, is scheduled for release in UK cinemas on 13 February 2025.
Romance Over Raunch
Addressing the provocative tone hinted at in the film's first trailer—which sparked considerable online debate—Robbie clarified the movie's core focus. While acknowledging its daring elements, she insisted the adaptation is more about grand romance than sheer provocation. "It goes there. Everyone’s expecting this to be very, very raunchy. I think people will be surprised," she stated in the magazine's January issue.
"Not to say there aren’t sexual elements and that it’s not provocative – it definitely is provocative – but it’s more romantic than provocative," Robbie elaborated. She positioned the film as a return to sweeping, classic love stories, drawing comparisons to beloved films like The Notebook and The English Patient.
Directorial Vision and Fan Reaction
Robbie praised Fennell's unique directorial style, noting her ability to evoke strong physical reactions from audiences. "Whether it’s titillating or repulsion, her superpower is eliciting a physical response," she said. The pair reportedly discussed at length how to portray genuine intimacy on screen, moving beyond clichés. "What reads to us as hot or exciting or sexy? And it’s not just a sex position or someone taking their shirt off," Robbie explained.
The film's modern touches, including original songs by pop icon Charli XCX, have divided fans of the classic 19th-century novel. Social media reaction was swift after the trailer's debut, with some purists expressing outrage. One user on X commented, "The way this didn’t need to be a Wuthering Heights adaptation... No need to terrorise Emily Bronte." Another joked, "Emily Bronte is rising from her grave... why did they turn Wuthering Heights into Fifty Shades of Heathcliff and Cathy."
Despite this criticism, anticipation for the bold new take on the Brontë classic remains high. The combination of Fennell's visionary direction, a star-studded cast led by Robbie and the 28-year-old Elordi, and a promise of epic, heartfelt romance ensures the film will be one of the most talked-about releases in early 2025.
