The Stunning Transformation Of Jacob Elordi

Jacob Elordi has come a long way since entering the spotlight back in 2018, and it seems he is here to stay. After making his first official film debut as bad boy Noah Flynn in the Netflix trilogy "The Kissing Booth," he later took on the role of the intense, toxic villain Nate Jacobs in both seasons of HBO's "Euphoria" in 2019, in addition to many other roles (via IMDb).

The Australian has always known he wanted to be an actor growing up; by the time he was 11 years old, he told Vogue that since seeing the magic trick scene in "The Dark Knight" with his father, acting was always his goal. "I was like, 'That's what I want to do. Whatever that is, that's what I want to do,'" he said.

Although Elordi is still on the rise to fame in his acting career, there is much to know about what he's done to get to where he is today, and what most inspires him to keep pursuing his dream.

He was born and raised in Australia

You would think since Jacob Elordi has done such an excellent job portraying American characters in television shows and movies that he was born in America, but guess again! Elordi was actually born in Brisbane, Australia on June 26, 1997, and was raised there (via Pop Sugar). After "The Kissing Booth" star graduated from St. Joseph's Nudgee College in Boondall, Australia (where, not surprisingly, he studied drama), he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of acting, which has been a successful journey so far.

Elordi's mother initially encouraged him to pursue modeling instead of acting. In an interview with Men's Health in December of 2021, Elordi (who happens to be 6 feet, 5 inches tall) said he is "grateful" that he didn't pursue a career in modeling. "I truly think I would've been miserable if I had to do that," he added.

The Dark Knight inspired him to start acting

Every actor has that one film that introduced them to the world of entertainment and show business. For Jacob Elordi, that was "The Dark Knight" from 2018, which starred the late Heath Ledger. Elordi frequently refers to Ledger's acting credentials as his source of inspiration in his career. 

In an interview with Wonderland Magazine in August 2019, Elordi said that after watching Ledger in "The Dark Knight," he "realized that somebody was actually doing something quite important and special." The film made such a strong impression that it made Elordi want to become an actor himself. In fact, he called out Ledger as his dream co-star in an interview with IMDb in December 2018. "There have been a lot of times in Hollywood where I've wanted to throw in the towel, and I've watched something that he's said or watched his journey, and it's made me feel pretty good," he said.

He learned to perfect his American accent by rapping Eminem songs

As mentioned, Jacob Elordi is from Australia, which means he has a pretty thick Australian accent. If you watched some of his movies without knowing where he was originally from, you would have no clue that he even had an accent at all. Let's just say, it took a lot of practice to get it down right.

In an interview with ET Canada in August of 2018, Elordi explains how he mastered his American accent. "When I was 14, I decided that if I was to go to America, I wasn't gonna have the issue of not being able to do an accent, so I listened to American radio," he said. He continued to explain how most of the media in Australia is American, including films, radio, and television shows, so he was constantly surrounded by it and practiced it daily. 

And let's not forget all the music he listened to every day. "I listened to a lot of Eminem," he claimed. Although he said some of his words would come out a bit more "aggressive" from all the rap music, he's learned to make his accent more "California and universal" over time.

Jacob Elordi was an extra in Pirates of the Caribbean

Back when he was 17 years old, Jacob Elordi was in the film "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales." However, as hard as you may look to find him, you most likely won't be able to. That's because he was an extra in the film and did not portray a specific character. "People are always trying to find me in the movie," Elordi told GQ in July of 2020. "I was in the background of the movie. I wasn't in the movie. I wasn't credited. I wasn't billed. I didn't audition. I was an extra." He pauses to add, tongue-in-cheek, "And it was one of the best things I've done in my entire life." 

Aside from his more popular roles, you can find Elordi in projects such as "The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee," "Deep Water," "Acting for a Cause," and "Swinging Safari."

Netflix's The Kissing Booth trilogy put Elordi on the map, but he struggled with the instant fame

Although Jacob Elordi has been in numerous shows and films throughout his career, what really introduced us to his talent was his role as Noah Flynn in Netflix's "The Kissing Booth" trilogy. He even learned how to ride a motorcycle, which his character used on a regular basis (via Just Jared Jr.). 

However, Elordi struggled with the idea of fame at the beginning of his new life in the spotlight. "At the time, I was super young and got thrown into a world where everyone wanted to talk about my body," he told Men's Health in July 2020. "I don't identify with that whatsoever." He described his emotions when the films first came out, telling IndieWire, "It felt like, all of a sudden, I was a poster. Like I was a billboard. It felt like it was for sale."

The actor doesn't look back on The Kissing Booth movies fondly

Although "The Kissing Booth" movies provided Jacob Elordi with his first real breakthrough in Hollywood, he's not exactly a fan of the trilogy. In his GQ "Men of the Year" cover story, Elordi opened up about his distaste for the very movies that brought him his first break. The actor expressed his dissatisfaction, saying, "Those movies are ridiculous. They're not universal. They're an escape." Elordi's decision to take on the role in "The Kissing Booth" was primarily motivated by the need for employment.

Elordi's co-star, Joey King, had a different perspective. In response to Elordi's critique, King told Variety, "I think it's unfortunate anyone would feel that way. I had a great time making those movies no matter what anyone says." This sentiment was echoed by another co-star, Taylor Zakhar Perez, who said, "It's a shame that was his experience on the set."

Elordi's reflection highlighted the impact on his self-perception. The actor's candid remarks shed light on the complexities of navigating Hollywood fame and the toll it can take on an individual's sense of self. As the actor said in an interview with Wonderland Magazine, he "definitely wasn't ready for the pandemonium that was the film when it came out."

Euphoria changed his life

Although starring in "The Kissing Booth" trilogy definitely put Jacob Elordi on the map and catapulted him into viewers' hearts, "Euphoria" was the show that really cemented him as a star. In an interview with Wonderland Magazine in August 2019, Elordi opened up about how he was almost homeless when he first auditioned for the role of Nate Jacobs in the hit HBO show, and how his life changed forever as soon as he found out he got the role. 

"I auditioned — this was at a point where the movies that I'd made hadn't come out. I had no money, I didn't have anything, I was practically homeless in LA — and I went to the casting and I forgot my lines," he said. Later that day, he got the call that would change his career. "I had no name, I had no backing, you could not find any video of me acting anywhere. I was just a child, and they cast me. I was quite lucky." Although we have some issues with Nate Jacobs, we will forever be Team Jacob Elordi.

He was injured in a fight scene while filming the HBO show

If you are a major fan of HBO's "Euphoria," then you know Jacob Elordi's character, Nate Jacobs, isn't the most likable of the bunch — and his character's father Cal, played by Eric Dane, isn't much better. In the first season's finale back in 2019, the episode ended with an intense fight scene between Nate and his dad that left viewers shaken and ready for more in Season 2. 

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Elordi discussed the fight scene and what it's like to play such an intense character. "And Eric and I, we're incredibly close, so I basically said to him, 'Let's rock and roll and make it sort of as real as possible,' because I think it's super important and he was on board as well. So Eric ... smashed me," he said. "I was bleeding. I got a concussion. I ended up throwing up after work. It was gnarly. It was really, really gnarly, but it came at the end of my shooting period. I was just wrapping the show around that time. So it was almost like this massive letting go of everything over the eight months that we filmed. It was incredibly grueling, but it was so worthwhile, and I definitely couldn't have done it without Eric and Sam kind of walking me through it and helping me out."

Jacob Elordi lost a part of himself while filming Euphoria

Although Jacob Elordi was undoubtedly grateful for his role in "Euphoria," the actor admitted that he felt like he'd lost a part of himself during filming.

Back when he was 15 years old, Elordi read "Waiting For Godot," and the play changed his life. "I became an observer. Acting and performance and story became my church. I worked 24 hours a day, devouring everything that I could," he told Variety. After becoming an actor, though, some of that magic dissipated — at least for a time. "For two or three years, I was in a scramble. Even during 'Euphoria,' I was trying to catch it and find it again, because all these rules and ideas start getting put on performance," he said.

Nevertheless, 2023 ended up being a huge year for Elordi as he had leading roles in two films. Working with director Sofia Coppola served as a profound learning experience for Elordi, who described it as "nothing short of magic" to T Australia. In late December, the actor admitted to Variety, "I feel the most free in my career that I ever have."

He found love with co-stars

Jacob Elordi's dating history is filled with plenty of celebrities, including a handful of co-stars from previous movies and television series. After filming "The Kissing Booth" back in spring 2017, sparks started to fly between Elordi and co-star Joey King (via Cosmopolitan). The two met on set and had great chemistry in front of and behind the camera, but unfortunately, the two split up — and then filmed two more "Kissing Booth" movies together afterward.

Between August 2019 and early 2020, rumors started that Elordi and his "Euphoria" co-star Zendaya were dating as they were spotted together a few times, including once in Athens. Then E! News reported that the two were definitely together in February 2020, but by September 2020, things were over between the two stars. Next was Kaia Gerber (Cindy Crawford's daughter). Elordi and the model began dating in September 2020, and things were pretty serious until they split in November 2021 (via Us Weekly). As of this writing, Elordi and beauty influencer Olivia Jade Giannulli, daughter of Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli, have been together since May 2022.

Priscilla was an artistic breakthrough for Jacob Elordi

Taking on the role of Elvis in Sofia Coppola's "Priscilla" was a huge career milestone for Jacob Elordi. When the "Euphoria" star was given the script, he immediately knew that had to take the role — that is, if he was offered the part. Elordi expressed his enthusiasm for the project, citing his deep admiration for the acclaimed director. He told GQ, "I'd do anything for Sofia Coppola," highlighting the immediate allure of working with the visionary filmmaker.

Approaching their roles with a mix of seriousness and lightheartedness, the cast had a great time on set. Elordi's co-star Cailee Spaeny shared amusing anecdotes, telling GQ, "It was always really hilarious watching Jacob in his full Elvis gear with all of his gold and his coiffed hair, playing pickleball in between these really intense scenes." 

Reflecting on his preparation for the role, which came just a year after Austin Butler's Oscar-nominated portrayal of The King, Elordi spoke about the "deep spiritual element" of embodying Elvis. He aimed to portray the man only Priscilla knew, telling Variety, "It was my job to not play into his fame but play him as a victim of it — to play him as a man who was suffering." In the end, playing Elvlis was a transformative experience. With his new breakthrough into the world of cinema, Jacob Elordi's passion for artistic projects has led some fans to call the actor "pretentious," which perplexes the actor. "How is caring about your output pretentious?" Elordi mused to GQ.

Elordi barely knew anything about Elvis before Priscilla

Before taking the role of Elvis in Sofia Coppola's "Priscilla," Jacob Elordi admittedly didn't know much about the rockstar. "The most I knew of Elvis was in 'Lilo & Stitch,'" he told Jimmy Fallon in an interview on "The Tonight Show." Given the opportunity to audition for a Sofia Coppola-directed project, Elordi initially considered it a long shot. "I kind of just was like, 'there's just no chance that this is happening,” Elordi told Fallon. Elordi described how he watched some clips of Elvis speaking upon his return from Germany, where he was stationed in the army. Elordi also read the lines a few times, shot his audition tape, and sent it in. Whatever he did worked because Coppola loved him. Coppola, impressed by Elordi's charisma and towering presence, observed the impact he had on those around him.

Discussing why Elordi was the right actor for the role, the director told GQ, "I really wanted these archetypes of her being very female and him being very male. That an actor today has that kind of super-masculine actor quality, I don't know if there's that many of them." Elordi explained his approach, telling Fallon he went for "a straight-up relationship drama, without 'Elvis and Priscilla,' for Sofia Coppola. That was the goal."

The real Priscilla Presley, a producer and advisor on the movie, praised Elordi's portrayal of Elvis' voice, which, according to Elordi, "was a great relief" (via Vanity Fair).

He and Barry Keoghan's have an epic bromance

Jacob Elordi and Barry Keoghan's captivating bromance has become an internet sensation. The stars both feature in Emerald Fennell's thrilling film, "Saltburn." The duo's undeniable chemistry both on and off screen has sparked intrigue among viewers, and their camaraderie has extended beyond the set. In an interview with Collider, Elordi couldn't help but praise Keoghan's acting prowess, saying "Barry is like pure electricity when he acts." Elordi mentioned that Emerald Fennell initially told him that she wanted Timothee Chalamet for Keoghan's part, but Elordi wasn't so sure. "I said, 'Have you thought about Barry Keoghan?'" he said with a giggle to Vogue.

In the joint interview, Elordi playfully complimented Keoghan. "You're a really talented, handsome guy," the actor said. "I think you're a really talented, supremely handsome guy," he added. The friendly banter continued off-screen, as evidenced by their antics on the red carpet during the Los Angeles premiere of "Saltburn." Elordi caught Keoghan looking at him and cheekily leaned in for a kiss, both stars pulling away at the last moment. The moment quickly went viral.

In a thriller that is so centered on "carnal desire," as director Emerald Fennell put it to Vanity Fair, it makes sense that some of that chemistry transfers to the real world. The director told Pink News, "This is a film entirely about desire, and that desire takes every conceivable manifestation, and it's so important."

Jacob Elordi's fashion sense has made him an internet sensation

Jacob Elordi has become an internet sensation not just for his on-screen charisma but also for his distinctive fashion sense, setting him apart as one of Hollywood's most stylish men. One notable element of his fashion repertoire is his frequent incorporation of handbags — a choice that has sparked conversations and admiration alike. "I've never bought a bag," Elordi told GQ, emphasizing that one of the perks of being an actor is receiving such accessories for free. "You just get sent stuff. It blows my mind," he said. He challenges conventional fashion norms, expressing the belief that individuals should wear what makes them happy because, as he told GQ Australia, "Life is too short to wear s*** clothes."

Elordi's fashion-forward approach extends on and off the red carpet, where he fearlessly blurs the lines between masculine and feminine aesthetics. Notably, he appeared in VMan Magazine in 2020 wearing high-heeled boots, showcasing his commitment to pushing sartorial boundaries. Elordi injects a sense of fun and uniqueness — like glitter and sparkles — into his wardrobe choices. Mastering the art of elevated basics, Elordi's street style has garnered as much attention as his formal looks. Constantly accessorizing with items like purses, tote bags, fanny packs, cameras, watches, keychains, hats, sunglasses, bracelets, and chains, he transforms even the simplest outfits into visually captivating ensembles.