Margot Robbie has faced sharp criticism for her posh accent in the new film adaptation of the Yorkshire classic, Wuthering Heights. The Australian actress’s portrayal of Catherine Earnshaw, with a refined English accent, sparked backlash soon after the first clip from the movie was released online.
Many viewers expressed disappointment that Robbie sounded too polished, rather than adopting the expected rough Yorkshire dialect typically associated with characters from the region. This criticism is notable as the film’s setting and story revolve around the distinct class and regional accents of northern England.
Audience Reactions Highlight Discontent with the Accent Choice
Fans on social media quickly condemned Robbie’s accent, complaining it sounded more like Queen Elizabeth II than a Yorkshire native. One user on X sarcastically wrote,
“Didn’t realise it was set in the Home f***ing Hoe Counties.”
Others called her attempt “atrocious,” especially given that she is Australian and the accent should have been easier to replicate. Another comment bluntly stated,
“Her English accent is so bad,”
while yet another asked,
“Why is she talking like Queen Elizabeth II?”
Despite this backlash, some defended her delivery, arguing it aligned with how the character Catherine Earnshaw might have spoken, considering the character’s background and social status within the story.
Depiction of Heathcliff’s Accent in Contrast
Jacob Elordi, playing Heathcliff, Catherine’s ill-fated lover, adopts a broad Yorkshire accent in the same movie clip. This ties to the source material, where Heathcliff’s speech evolves from an unintelligible dialect in his youth to a more polished form of English as he matures. This linguistic growth contrasts with other characters like the servant Joseph, who is portrayed with an authentic, heavy Yorkshire tone.
Behind the Scenes: On-Set Chemistry Between Leads
Beyond the controversy over accents, the film’s co-stars have revealed a warm dynamic during filming. Jacob Elordi admitted that Margot Robbie left him “weak at the knees” after seeing her in a striking black corset on set. He also shared that he filled Robbie’s dressing room with roses on Valentine’s Day, a gesture she described as touching, especially since she had only recently given birth to her first son with husband Tom Ackerley.
“You made my day and, as Heathcliff, filled my room with roses. It was so cute.”
—Margot Robbie
“You did a lot of very thoughtful things – it wasn’t just the gesture of the roses.”
—Margot Robbie
Elordi, fresh off his first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for Frankenstein, also expressed how difficult it was to be apart from Robbie during the shoot. He described her costume choices as “breathtaking” and “devastating,” contributing to the intense atmosphere of the production.
Significance of Accent Choices and Anticipated Audience Response
The heated discussions over Margot Robbie’s posh accent highlight the challenges actors face when adapting beloved literary works with strong regional identities. Given Wuthering Heights’s status as a Gothic classic deeply rooted in Yorkshire culture, expectations for authentic accents remain high. How audiences ultimately receive her portrayal may influence future casting and direction decisions in adaptations of regional or period dramas.
As the film draws attention for both its performances and stylistic choices, critics and fans alike will be watching closely to see how the accents contribute to the story’s emotional weight and authenticity. Margot Robbie’s performance, combined with Jacob Elordi’s, promises a fresh interpretation of the doomed lovers’ tale, even amid the mixed reactions over speech style.
