Margot Robbie Sets the Record Straight on Jacob Elordi Relationship
Australian actress Margot Robbie has directly addressed recent speculation about her relationship with co-star Jacob Elordi, following what she describes as misinterpreted comments about their working dynamic. The 35-year-old Oscar nominee found herself at the center of controversy after discussing her "co-dependent" approach to film collaborations during promotional interviews for their upcoming adaptation of Emily Brontë's classic novel Wuthering Heights.
The Controversial Comments
During an interview with entertainment outlet Fandango, Robbie openly discussed her emotional investment in professional relationships, stating: "I'm so codependent with people I work with, and I love everyone so much, and I'm always that person who's so devastated when a job's over and I never want it to end." She specifically mentioned developing this dynamic quickly with Elordi, who plays Heathcliff to her Catherine Earnshaw in the 2026 period drama.
The actress elaborated on their on-set relationship, revealing that the 28-year-old Saltburn actor was "always in the corner watching" during early filming days. Robbie admitted to feeling "quite lost" when she would turn around and he wasn't present, comparing the sensation to "a kid without their blanket or something."
Internet Speculation and Response
These candid remarks quickly ignited online discussion, with some social media users suggesting the co-stars were becoming excessively close, while others accused them of deliberately fueling affair rumors to generate publicity for their film. The speculation gained additional traction when audiences learned that Robbie's husband, Tom Ackerley, served as a producer on the project.
Robbie has since clarified her statements in an interview with Glamour magazine, emphasizing that her comments have been "really taken out of context and blown way up." The actress, who has been married to Ackerley since 2016 and shares a son with him, explained: "What I was saying was we had a really fun time, all of us working on this film, and I really love making movies, and when I get to make them with really cool people that you become friends with, it's really sad when the job ends."
Elordi's Perspective and Mutual Praise
Jacob Elordi offered his own perspective during the film's press tour, describing their working relationship as a "mutual obsession." He defended his tendency to observe Robbie closely on set, stating: "If you have the opportunity to share a film set with Margot Robbie, you're going to make sure you're within five to 10 meters at all times, watching how she drinks tea, how she eats her food..."
Director Emerald Fennell confirmed she hadn't instructed Elordi to remain nearby during Robbie's scenes, with the actor simply praising his co-star as "an elite actor." Robbie herself reflected on their on-screen dynamic, noting that dysfunctional relationships in scripts "make for great traumas," specifically referencing how Cathy and Heathcliff's unrequited love "mutates into something destructive" in Brontë's narrative.
Historical Context of Hollywood "Showmances"
This situation echoes recent Hollywood history, where co-stars have been accused of amplifying romantic speculation for promotional purposes. Most notably, Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell faced similar accusations during their promotional campaign for Anyone But You in 2023-2024. Neither explicitly denied affair rumors during their press tour, with Powell later describing their dynamic as a "showmance" that helped "sell the rom-com."
Powell told the New York Times: "That's people wanting what's on the screen off the screen, and sometimes you just have to lean into it a bit — and it worked wonderfully." The strategy proved commercially successful, with Anyone But You eventually grossing $220 million worldwide despite initial modest expectations.
Critical Reception of Wuthering Heights Adaptation
The Wuthering Heights adaptation, which also features performances from Hong Chau, Shazad Latif, Alison Oliver, and Owen Cooper, has received mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film currently holds a 65% approval rating from professional reviewers.
Sarah Manvel of Movies We Texted About praised the production as a "sensation" and "stupefyingly hot," while Metro's film expert Tori Brazier awarded it four out of five stars, calling it "devastatingly emotional" and "for the female gaze." Brazier noted the film's "risqué" elements including swearing, BDSM themes, and more explicit sexual content than traditional period dramas, describing it as a "welcome daring, looser interpretation" of Brontë's original work.
Conversely, Yasser Medina of Cinefilia criticized the adaptation as "bland," while Kate Sánchez from But Why Tho? A Geek Community found it "abysmally dull." Despite the divided critical opinion, the controversy surrounding Robbie and Elordi's relationship has undoubtedly generated significant public interest in the film's release.
