Martin Clunes is earning widespread acclaim for his performance as Mr. Earnshaw in Emerald Fennell’s 2026 adaptation of “Wuthering Heights,” a role Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian suggests “pretty much pinches the whole film.” The actor’s portrayal of the hard-drinking, volatile patriarch has resonated with critics and audiences alike, marking a departure from the more affable characters he’s known for.
Clunes’s turn as the “devout misogynist” Mr. Earnshaw, as he described the character to ITV’s This Morning, is particularly notable given Fennell’s reimagining of Emily Brontë’s classic. The film streamlines the narrative by eliminating the character of Hindley Earnshaw, consolidating his cruelty and vices into Mr. Earnshaw. This shift places Clunes’s performance at the center of the Earnshaw family’s dysfunction and the tragic events that unfold.
The role represents a significant change of pace for Clunes, whose career has spanned decades and encompassed a diverse range of projects. He previously appeared alongside Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, and Judi Dench in 1998’s Shakespeare in Love, a role that held personal significance as his father, Alec Clunes, was a respected Shakespearean actor. Other notable credits include 1992’s Carry On Columbus, the final installment in the long-running Carry On series, and the 1994 film Staggered, which he also directed.
Clunes’s versatility extends beyond film and television. He is also known for his travel documentaries and comedic roles, including appearances on Harry Enfield’s Television Programme, where he gained early recognition, and in the popular sitcom Men Behaving Badly alongside Neil Morrissey. More recently, he has develop into a familiar face as the tetchy Dr. Martin Ellingham in the long-running television series Doc Martin.
His next role may further solidify his transition from “television’s most affable grump” into a more dramatic space. Clunes is set to portray Huw Edwards, the disgraced BBC presenter, in Channel 5’s upcoming drama, The Downfall of Huw Edwards. Promotional images suggest a striking resemblance, though some observers have noted the difficulty in replicating Edwards’s distinctive ears.
Clunes is currently promoting his latest film, Mother’s Pride, a British comedy about a struggling pub that enters the Great British Beer Awards. The film stars James Buckley, known for his role in The Inbetweeners, and Jonno Davies, who portrayed Robbie Williams in the biopic about the singer. He is currently taking questions from the public, with answers to be published on March 13th.
