Andrea Arnold has gone to great lengths to keep her upcoming adaptation of Emily Bronte’s “Wuthering Heights” under wraps, and indeed, it’s only after filming has wrapped that we’ve gotten the identity of Heathcliffe, one half of a tormented couple whose love/hate relationship transcends generations and even life and death. Unknown British actor James Howson reluctantly confirms to The Daily Mail that indeed, it was him who landed the coveted and much speculated about role opposite “Skins” star Kaya Scodelario as Cathy. Howson is believed to be the first non-white actor to ever portray the role on screen, though Bronte’s writing describes Heathcliffe as being “dark-skinned gypsy in aspect and a little lascar”.

Also sticking closer to the source material is the age of the actors. Howson is in his early 20s and Scodelario is 18, while previous versions had much older and more established actors in the roles. A set source says, “Previous versions have had people in their mid-30s running up and down the moors and that is not what the novel is about at all. This is all about going back to basics.”

Howson, who has absolutely no presence on the internet at all, only spoke to the media after the film’s wrap party, and still seems hesitant to give anything away. “The filming went really well. Yeah, I’m from Leeds. I don’t really know if I’m ­supposed to be doing this. I should really speak to someone first – not my agent – someone else.”