Overview of the Discussion

Director Emerald Fennell has revisited a creative decision made during her adaptation of Wuthering Heights, revealing that she now regrets removing a scene that would have shown a more historically accurate detail about one of the characters.

The adaptation of Wuthering Heights was released in cinemas in February 2026 and is based on the classic 1847 novel by Emily Brontë.

Director’s Statement and Creative Choice

Speaking at the Hay Festival in Wales, Fennell explained that she originally included a moment featuring the character Cathy, portrayed by Margot Robbie, where her natural body hair would have been visible.

She later decided to remove the scene, but now believes it would have added historical realism to the film.

Fennell expressed frustration with how many period dramas present women with completely hairless bodies, arguing that such portrayals often reflect modern beauty expectations rather than historical reality.

Views on Historical Accuracy in Film

The director questioned the logic of modern grooming portrayals in historical settings, asking why characters in older-era stories are often shown without body hair.

She pointed out that many beauty practices associated with hair removal were either not widely available or not commonly used by most women during the time period in which the story is set.

According to historical references, widespread use of razors and modern hair removal practices became more common in the early 20th century, long after the period in which Brontë’s novel was written.

Fennell stated that representing natural body hair was an important part of her intention to reflect authenticity, even if the final cut of the film did not include it.

Changes and Criticism of the Adaptation

Fennell’s version of Wuthering Heights has faced criticism for creative liberties taken with the original material, including:

• Differences in character styling and costumes
• Alterations to the story structure
• Casting and interpretation choices

Some viewers and critics argued that these changes significantly deviated from the original gothic novel by Emily Brontë.

Director’s Explanation of Her Vision

Fennell has previously clarified that her adaptation was not intended to be a strict retelling of the novel.

Instead, she described it as a personal interpretation of the story as she remembered experiencing it when she first read it as a teenager.

She explained that the film reflects her emotional and imaginative response to the book rather than a literal adaptation.

Release Information

Wuthering Heights is currently available for streaming on HBO Max.