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Director Cuts ‘Hairy Armpit’ Scene, Details Fish-in-Aspic Challenge

5/25/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Emerald Fennell cut a scene showing Margot Robbie’s “hairy armpits” from Wuthering Heights because she wanted to reflect late-1700s grooming for Catherine Earnshaw.
She raised the issue at the Hay Festival in Wales on May 22, 2026, lamenting modern beauty standards when she repeated it on May 23, 2026.
Fennell also described a “fish in aspic” sequence that required several prop versions before a real fish was used.

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Story summary

Emerald Fennell cut a scene showing Margot Robbie’s “hairy armpits” from Wuthering Heights because she wanted to reflect late-1700s grooming for Catherine Earnshaw.
She raised the issue at the Hay Festival in Wales on May 22, 2026, lamenting modern beauty standards when she repeated it on May 23, 2026.
Fennell also described a “fish in aspic” sequence that required several prop versions before a real fish was used.