Brian Cox Criticizes Margot Robbie's Wuthering Heights Casting
Veteran actor Brian Cox, known for his acclaimed performances and brutally honest celebrity critiques, has turned his attention to Margot Robbie's upcoming role in Wuthering Heights. In a candid interview with The Times, the 79-year-old Scottish actor didn't hold back his opinions about the casting decisions for Emerald Fennell's adaptation of the classic novel.
Mocking Robbie's Australian Background
Cox admitted he hasn't actually seen the film yet, but that didn't stop him from offering a scathing assessment. The actor delivered what the publication described as "a cod Australian accent" while mocking a potential dialogue exchange between Robbie's character Cathy and Keith Cliff. "'Keith Cliff! It's me, Cathy!'" Cox impersonated before continuing, "'How ya doing, Keith? Awright?' 'Yeah, I'm awright!'"
The reference to Robbie's Australian background was unmistakable, with Cox specifically mentioning her early career on the Australian soap opera Neighbours. This playful yet pointed imitation highlighted his skepticism about the casting choice from the outset.
"Too Beautiful" for the Role
After laughing at his own impression, Cox elaborated on his criticism of Robbie's casting. "Margot Robbie is far too beautiful for that role," he stated bluntly. The actor suggested that the character of Cathy in Wuthering Heights should possess more distinctive, perhaps unconventional qualities.
"I mean, I think there should be something more of the Gypsy about her," Cox explained, referencing the character's wild, passionate nature in Emily Brontë's original novel. However, he did temper his criticism slightly by acknowledging, "but it's wrong of me to judge. It may be a brilliant film."
Too Old to Care About Opinions
When questioned about his unfiltered approach to celebrity commentary, Cox revealed that his age has liberated him from concerns about public perception. "I'm too old to care about what people think of me," he declared with characteristic bluntness.
The actor shared that even his wife, Nicole Ansari-Cox, frequently cautions him about his outspoken nature. "My wife keeps saying, 'Brian, be careful. Brian, be careful,'" Cox recounted. "I think, 'F--- it. I don't want to be careful anymore! I'll be 80 this year. F--- it! I'm gonna say what I want to say.'"
Previous Celebrity Criticisms
This isn't the first time Cox has made headlines for his candid assessments of fellow actors. He notably turned down a role in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise specifically because he didn't want to work alongside Johnny Depp.
In previous interviews, Cox has described Depp as "so overblown, so overrated," explaining that his decision to reject the governor role (which eventually went to Jonathan Pryce) was directly related to his assessment of Depp's acting style and public persona.
Cox's reputation for unfiltered honesty continues to grow as he approaches his 80th birthday, with the actor showing no signs of softening his approach to celebrity commentary or professional criticism.
