Margot Robbie is sharing insights into her experience filming "Wuthering Heights," a gothic, erotic, psychological drama slated for release on February 13, 2026. In a recent interview with British Vogue, the actress opened up about the unique challenges she faced returning to set just three months after giving birth to her first child with husband Tom Ackerley in October 2024.
Robbie, 35, admitted that she was in "a very different headspace" as filming commenced. She confessed that her usual meticulous routine went by the wayside. "I was three months postpartum when we started shooting. So I was in a very different headspace. I didn't do my usual routine. It was more haphazard," Robbie explained. She expressed her anxieties to writer-director Emerald Fennell, questioning her preparedness for the role of Catherine Earnshaw.
Fennell, who also directed "Saltburn" and "Promising Young Woman," reassured Robbie, saying, "I don't want you to prepare. I just need you to be in the moment". Robbie found Fennell's approach relieved her anxiety, allowing her to focus on being present in her body rather than overthinking the role. Robbie stated that Fennell's response "was a lovely way of relieving my anxiety. It was about being in my body as opposed to my head".
The actress also addressed the physicality of the role, particularly a scene with co-star Jacob Elordi, who plays Heathcliff. She described a moment where Elordi lifted her "with only one arm!" while shielding her from the rain, admitting it "almost made me weak at the knees". Robbie highlighted that these nuanced, emotional moments are what she and Fennell, as women in their 30s, wanted to bring to the screen, aiming to create a romance primarily for their demographic.
Robbie also defended the film against those expecting a raunchy adaptation in line with Fennell's previous work, "Saltburn". "Everyone's expecting this to be very, very raunchy. I think people will be surprised," she stated. She clarified that while the film is provocative and contains sexual elements, it leans more towards being a grand, epic romance in the vein of "The Notebook" or "The English Patient". "It's that feeling when your chest swells or it's like someone's punched you in the guts and the air leaves your body," Robbie said, describing the emotional impact they are aiming for.
The casting of Elordi as Heathcliff has faced some criticism due to the character's description as "dark-skinned" in Emily Brontë's novel. Robbie defended Elordi, asserting, "I saw him play Heathcliff. And he is Heathcliff. I'd say, just wait. Trust me, you'll be happy". She likened Elordi to past acclaimed portrayers of the role and went on to say, "He's incredible, and I believe in him so much. I honestly think he's our generation's Daniel Day-Lewis".
"Wuthering Heights" also stars Hong Chau, Alison Oliver, Shazad Latif, Martin Clunes, and Ewan Mitchell. The film, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, is a loose adaptation of Brontë’s classic novel, exploring the tumultuous romance between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw, and the destructive cycle of revenge that haunts their families.
