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Lifestyle
Emerald Fennell expressed regret over removing Margot Robbie’s armpit hair in her 2026 adaptation of Wuthering Heights, aiming for greater historical accuracy.
Emerald Fennell has expressed regret about a creative choice in her 2026 adaptation of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, specifically the removal of Margot Robbie’s character Cathy’s armpit hair. The director recently shared that she wished the film had shown a more historically accurate portrayal, including visible body hair on Robbie’s character.
At the Hay Festival in Wales on May 22, Fennell discussed a scene that was filmed but ultimately excluded from the final cut. She emphasized the importance of presenting Cathy in a way that reflected the era’s realities, which meant including natural body hair. Fennell criticized period dramas that impose modern beauty standards on historical women, questioning the plausibility of women in those times appearing so polished without common hair removal methods.
She recalled her frustration with adaptations of Jane Austen’s works, joking about the absence of razors in those historical settings. Fennell’s intent was to challenge unrealistic portrayals by including elements like body hair that would have been typical for women of that period.
Despite filming scenes with visible body hair, those moments were cut from the final version of Wuthering Heights. Fennell acknowledged this omission, noting that the scene showing Cathy’s natural hair did not make it into the released film. This revelation came months after the adaptation sparked debate among viewers, who questioned various aspects including costume design, plot changes, and casting choices.
Fennell has openly addressed such discussions, clarifying earlier in the year that her film was not intended as a strict retelling of Brontë’s novel. Instead, she described it as a personal interpretation based on her teenage memories of the story, stating that it is Wuthering Heights, but not exactly the traditional version.
This approach divided audiences but also contributed to making the film one of the most discussed literary adaptations of the year. Wuthering Heights is currently available for streaming on HBO Max.
