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February 13, 2026
Is Jacob Elordi really what Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights should look like?
Bad boy Heathcliff is described as ethnically ambiguous and ‘dark’ in the novel, yet is played by a pretty straightforward white Australian Elordi
TL;DR
- Emerald Fennell's new film adaptation of Wuthering Heights stars Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff and Margot Robbie as Cathy.
- The film focuses on the illicit romance between Cathy and Heathcliff, omitting much of the book's story.
- Heathcliff is described as ethnically ambiguous and 'dark' in the novel, but Elordi is a white actor.
- Most previous film adaptations have also cast white actors as Heathcliff.
- The 2011 adaptation directed by Andrea Arnold cast James Howson, a Black British actor, as Heathcliff.
- The article discusses the themes of class resentment, prejudice, and othering present in Wuthering Heights.
- The author reflects on personal experiences with interracial relationships and the rarity of such representation in media.
Continue reading the original article