Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi's Transformations in 'Wuthering Heights'
Spoiler Alert: This story contains spoilers for the movie 'Wuthering Heights', now playing in theaters.
In the film adaptation of Emily Brontë's classic novel, 'Wuthering Heights', director Emerald Fennell and her hair and makeup department head, Sian Miller, crafted a visually stunning and emotionally charged narrative through their meticulous attention to detail. The vision board, featuring imagery from architecture, landscape, fashion, film, photography, food, and kids with grass-stained knees, set the tone for the film's aesthetic.
Fennell cast Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, a character who undergoes a significant transformation throughout the film. Miller explains that when Heathcliff is brought to Wuthering Heights as a boy, he is scruffy and dirty, and as he grows older, his appearance reflects his inner turmoil. Miller describes the process of creating Elordi's look, including rubbing him in dirt and adding fake blood to make him appear bedraggled. The actor's long hair and beard were carefully crafted to convey Heathcliff's wild and untamed nature.
Margot Robbie plays Cathy, a character who also undergoes a notable transformation. When Cathy breaks her ankle and stays at Thrushcross Grange, she embraces the luxurious life and decides to marry Edgar Linton. Miller explains that Robbie had over 35 hairstyles for Cathy alone, including the iconic 'vagina braids' and 'Jesus Elordi' look, which were named after the director's style. The film's hair and makeup told a story of jealousy, vengeance, and lust, with Robbie's hair reflecting her changing emotions and circumstances.
One of the most striking transformations is Cathy's 'horns' look, which Miller describes as victory rolls inspired by Vivien Leigh's 'Gone with the Wind' character. This look symbolizes Cathy's taunting of Heathcliff in their cat-and-mouse game. The film also features subtle details like freckles, which Miller adds to both young Cathy and the older Cathy, reflecting their exposure to the elements and their emotional journeys.
The film's attention to detail extends to Cathy's death scene, where Miller explains that the character's skin is made to look like wet concrete, and her hair is left unwashed to contrast with Heathcliff's livid and desperate face. The film's hair and makeup team worked closely with the director to create a visually stunning and emotionally charged narrative, with each transformation reflecting the characters' inner turmoil and external circumstances.
