Margot Robbie reveals she wasn’t meant to be the lead in Wuthering Heights as she opens up about being forced to have dialect coaching for her ‘awful’ accent
Margot Robbie has revealed she wasn’t meant to be the lead in Wuthering Heights as she opened up about being forced to have dialect coaching for her ‘awful’ accent.
The Australian actress, 35, stars alongside Jacob Elordi in Emerald Fennell’s film adaptation of the classic Emily Bronte novel.
She joined Graham Norton on his chat show this week to discuss the highly-anticipated film – but confessed she wasn’t originally meant to be at the helm.
Asked about starring in the film, Margot said: ‘I wasn’t always going to be in it. I was thrilled to be the producer but at some point, we were talking about Cathy, and I decided to throw my hat into the ring.
‘I’ve always wanted to be one of Emerald’s actors and fortunately, she felt the same way. It worked out wonderfully.’
Elsewhere in the chat, Margot opened up about how when she first started acting on TV she was forced to have a dialect coach as her Queensland accent was ‘too Australian for Neighbours’.
Margot Robbie has revealed she wasn’t meant to be the lead in Wuthering Heights as she opened up about being forced to have dialect coaching for her ‘awful’ accent
The Australian actress, 35, stars alongside Jacob Elordi in Emerald Fennell’s film adaptation of the classic Emily Bronte novel
Amanda Seyfried was asked about her Manchester accent for The Testament of Ann Lee, to which she said: ‘Boy it was tough.’
Margot then interjected: ‘When I started on TV I had to have a dialect coach because I come from Queensland and I was thought too Australian for Neighbours!
‘I couldn’t hear I had a bad accent, but they said, “You are just awful to listen to!”‘
Margot was joined on the sofa by her Wuthering Heights co-star Jacob, who previously worked with Emerald on Saltburn.
Asked if she had ever wanted to star in an Australian soap like Margot had, fellow Aussie Jacob said: ‘I tried so hard. I auditioned for Neighbours twice and for Home and Away maybe three times, but they just didn’t cast me.’
Explaining the premise of their new movie, Margot said: ‘Emerald loves the book and she really focused on the feeling it gave her when she first read it at 14.
‘She channels that raw emotional experience so it’s an interpretation rather than an adaptation. In my opinion it is one of the greatest love stories of all time and it has a great cast and incredible actors. It’s a great film.’
Margot also reminisced about the success of Barbie and when asked if she always knew it would be a hit, she said: ‘We sounded insane in pitch meetings when we said it would take a billion dollars and be a global moment.
She joined Graham Norton on his chat show this week to discuss the highly-anticipated film – but confessed she wasn’t originally meant to be at the helm
Elsewhere in the chat, Margot opened up about how when she first started acting on TV she was forced to have a dialect coach as her Queensland accent was ‘too Australian for Neighbours’
Margot was joined on the sofa by her Wuthering Heights co-star Jacob, who previously worked with Emerald on Saltburn
‘Thank God it did as everyone thought it was risky.’
Jacob was then congratulated on his Oscar nomination for Frankenstein before being asked if he really said he thought the role was ‘written in the stars’.
He replied: ‘I kind of regret saying that now, but when I made my first film The Kissing Booth, someone said, “This plank of wood is so boring he could only play Frankenstein’s monster”.
‘I actually thought it was a great idea and behold, six or seven years pass, and Guillermo del Toro cast me.’
The duo were joined on the sofa by Amanda, who was asked about the long rumoured Mamma Mia 3.
She replied: ‘If I don’t get it, I will be pissed. I really want to be in it, but I don’t know much else about it.’
Strictly Come Dancing star Johannes Radebe also made an appearance as he talked about the new production of the musical Kinky Boots, as he said: ‘I feel like it was meant to be. I secretly told people for a long time that I would love to do it.
‘The way it came was by luck and magic, but I turned it down the first time. But then I thought “give yourself this opportunity” so, I got a singing and acting coach two years before I auditioned.’
Jacob was then congratulated on his Oscar nomination for Frankenstein before being asked if he really said he thought the role was ‘written in the stars’
The duo were joined on the sofa by Amanda, who was asked about the long rumoured Mamma Mia 3
Strictly Come Dancing star Johannes Radebe also made an appearance as he talked about the new production of the musical Kinky Boots
Johannes also revealed in 2024 that his memoir JoJo: Finally Home is being turned into a movie.
Talking about the film version of his life, he said: ‘It is in development stage, and I just read my first script which is lovely, but it takes such a long time. I am hoping not to play myself, but I might make a cameo appearance.’
The dancer has also been the subject of swirling rumours that he is set to leave his beloved role in the BBC show – but insisted he is not.
Asked if he is returning to Strictly, he said: ‘I will do that show for as long as they will have me. It’s a magical sparkling world. I love it.’
The Graham Norton Show BBC One and iPlayer Friday 6th February 10.40pm
