Jacob Elordi burst onto the Hollywood scene in 2018 when he starred in Netflix’s “The Kissing Booth.” The following year, he picked up a role on HBO’s “Euphoria.” In a conversation with Esquire and director Emerald Fennell, Elordi reflected on these early moments in his career.
“’Euphoria‘ for me felt like acting for my life. ‘The Kissing Booth’ felt like acting for my life,” said the Australian actor.
GettyElordi’s Early Career
Elordi explained that “Euphoria” and “The Kissing Booth” were his first acting jobs. When the projects were presented to him, he sat at home thinking, “You cannot miss one second of this opportunity.”
“That enthusiasm came from the desire to be an actor,” he continued.
During his time in the “The Kissing Booth” franchise, Elordi played Noah, the love interest of Joey King’s Elle. The series helped develop Elordi’s reputation as a bonafide heartthrob. On “Euphoria,” he flips the script, playing the antagonistic Nate Jacobs, a high school football player with an abusive streak. He will reprise the role in the show’s upcoming third season.
Elordi began his foray into acting as a teenager after reading Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot.” The play taught him that “a text could mirror your experience,” leading him to read more plays and later developed an interest in film and filmmaking. He realized that movies could “articulate” feelings that he had.
“Then I just wanted to be a part of it,” he said.
Elordi’s Recent and Upcoming Projects
After “Euphoria” and “The Kissing Booth,” Elordi portrayed Elvis in “Priscilla,” directed by Sofia Coppola. He took on a supporting role opposite Barry Keoghan’s trickster character, Oliver, in “Saltburn.” He earned a BAFTA Best Supporting actor nomination for the performance.
Elordi continued to work with the director of “Saltburn,” Emerald Fennell. He plays Heathcliff in Fennell’s upcoming adaptation of Emily Brontë’s novel “Wuthering Heights.” Margot Robbie stars as the film’s protagonist, Catherine Earnshaw.
Elordi also earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as the Creature in Guillermo del Toro’s 2025 adaptation of “Frankenstein.”
Reflecting on his career, Elordi admitted that he had a moment where he was “out of energy creatively or something and needed a break.”
However, he was re-energized by “Wuthering Heights” and “Frankenstein,” explaining the rewarding aspect of seeing his labors come to life.
He described his recent experience watching “Wuthering Heights” with his mother.
“We wanted to stop weeping but couldn’t because it’s relentlessly sad and sensitive and very personal from you,” he said to Fennell.
