British and Irish Talent Steal the Show in Wuthering Heights Adaptation
In the highly anticipated release of Wuthering Heights, the spotlight has largely focused on Hollywood heavyweights Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, who portray the iconic roles of Cathy and Heathcliff. However, behind these A-list stars lies a creative ensemble bursting with British and Irish talent, poised to surprise audiences with their compelling performances, despite being largely overlooked in the film's promotional campaigns.
Martin Clunes' Award-Worthy Turn as Mr. Earnshaw
Notably, Martin Clunes delivers an award-worthy performance as Cathy's cruel and alcoholic father, Mr. Earnshaw. This role marks a significant departure from his famed characters, such as the eccentric GP in Doc Martin and the hapless Gary Strang in Men Behaving Badly. While Clunes is a household name in the UK, his involvement in this Hollywood blockbuster could propel him to international stardom.
During a recent appearance on This Morning, Clunes shared his experiences adjusting to glitzy premieres and rubbing shoulders with A-listers, confessing, 'It's weird! It's not the norm at all, it's exciting and scary.' He humorously added about his wife's reaction, 'We're both a bit like, "Wooo!" We live a quiet little life down in the country. You know, it's quite a change for us.'
Clunes also highlighted the differences between working on a big-budget film and his typical TV dramas, musing, 'It's a Hollywood movie, there's the money and the time for everyone to flourish. In telly you're racing across the clock every single day.'
Owen Cooper's Transition from Small to Silver Screen
Another standout is British actor Owen Cooper, who plays the young Heathcliff. The 16-year-old achieved overnight fame last year with his role in the Netflix hit Adolescence, earning him an Emmy and a Golden Globe among numerous accolades. Despite his success, Cooper is relatively new to the industry and admitted to challenges in adapting to multiple takes, unlike the continuous filming style of Adolescence.
He told Jimmy Kimmel, 'In Adolescence, we’d do one take and then you’re done. But in Wuthering Heights, you’re crying your eyes out, smashing stuff off the wall – oh, sorry, spoiler… – and then Emerald goes, "can we do it again?" And I’m like, "no…"' In a chat with Dazed magazine, he added, 'The set and the costume and make-up was so weird to me, because I’d never done that before.'
Cooper's talent even intimidated his co-star Jacob Elordi, who said in an interview, 'He's a rock star. He's brilliant and he's intimidating. I think the first time I met him I asked "Are you nervous mate" and he went "No" and I thought cool... cool me neither. But no he is a tremendous actor.'
Charlotte Mellington's Debut Screen Role
Playing opposite Cooper is Charlotte Mellington as young Cathy, in her debut screen role. The 14-year-old previously starred as Lavender in Matilda the Musical on the West End in 2023. She made her red carpet debut at the London premiere, where she was surprised by school friends, telling Teen Vogue, 'I was so happy to see them, especially because I think I needed a little confidence boost.'
Reflecting on filming, she shared with Dazed, 'It was such an amazing atmosphere with the cast on the moors in Yorkshire, a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing. Emerald made the workplace atmosphere so relaxing and funny. I had so much fun with Owen and Vy, on and off set, and obviously Margot and Jacob are such incredible people. I loved the entire cast.' She added, 'Acting is a different world. It's incredible. I love all the characters and auditions that come up. I love being able to play different characters who have [dissimilar] thought processes. I find the contrast between all the roles really exciting.'
Shazad Latif's Hollywood Dream Realised
Shazad Latif, 37, another British star in the ensemble, takes on the role of Edgar Linton, who steals Cathy away from Heathcliff. Known for roles in BBC's Spooks, Sky's Penny Dreadful, and Paramount Plus' Star Trek: Discovery, this marks his Hollywood film debut. He told GQ, 'I grew up wanting to be in something like this, a Warner Bros movie shot on film.'
In a full-circle moment, Latif revealed he had watched Emerald Fennell's previous film Saltburn in the cinema, thinking, 'why can’t I be in movies like that?' He mused on playing the third wheel to Robbie and Elordi, 'Weaving my way into that was a tough one because they’re two of the sexiest people on the planet. But hopefully some of it rubbed off and I can get a bit of mojo from it.'
Alison Oliver's Seamless Transition
Irish actress Alison Oliver, 28, who had previously worked with Fennell on Saltburn, was offered the role of Isabel Linton early via text after impressing the director. Fennell praised her, saying, 'She is the most remarkable actor. We saw so many people for Saltburn, and Alison came in and was just so unbelievably real. Even the way she breathes is different.'
Oliver, relatively new to the industry with roles in Conversations with Friends and Best Interests, brings depth to the ensemble. The film, set for release on February 13, showcases how these British and Irish talents are not just supporting players but integral to the film's success, stealing scenes and adding rich layers to this classic adaptation.
