The Untold Truth Of Jacob Elordi

One of the fastest rising stars of his generation, Jacob Elordi first won over audiences with his role as a dreamboat in "The Kissing Booth." Then, after excelling in the teen TV drama "Euphoria," Elordi rolled into the 2020s, and the actor exploded even more in popularity. Much more than just charming looks, Elordi excelled in a wide range of genres, from romantic comedies to thrillers. For his oeuvre, Elordi received two nominations for the 2024 BAFTA awards as a supporting actor for his role in the movie "Saltburn" and the EE Rising Star award. Famous director Sofia Coppola chose Elordi to portray Elvis Presley in her biopic "Priscilla" because she, too, could instantly recognize his appeal. After first meeting the actor in a restaurant, "There were some girls there and you could just feel them all turn to him. I mean, he's striking — so tall. But he just has a charisma, he has an effect on women that I imagine was similar to Elvis," Coppola told GQ.

Still, Elordi wants to be known as much more than a heartthrob and knows he has much to prove. "I don't think anyone – unless you're a complete psychopath – walks around thinking that you're some kind of something," he told Wonderland. From on-set injuries to achieving sudden success, Elordi has dealt with several obstacles since becoming a big-time actor. Fortunately, he rolls with whatever is thrown his way and continues to delight audiences. This is the untold truth of Jacob Elordi.

Thanks to a former teacher with encouraging words, Jacob Elordi decided to try out to be an actor at his school. Around the age of 12, Elordi began performing in musical theater, participating in shows like "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and playing the part of the Cat in the Hat in his high school's production of "Seussical." Still, Elordi felt he could learn even more about acting. "From there I took drama classes. And then from about 15, there was not much else for me to do," he told W Magazine. Elordi went to an acting school in Melbourne and started auditioning for popular Australian soap operas like "Home and Away" with little success. "I dunno, I wasn't very good. I was pretty bad," he explained to Men's Health. Luckily for future fans, Elordi stuck with his dreams and moved to America to pursue an acting career.

While his biggest roles in Hollywood came in movies and TV, Elordi still has a special place in his heart for performing on a stage. "My goal always has been to be in the theater, so I think that's something that my effort and time is spent on," he explained to Man of Many. The actor added about being forever a thespian, "I don't know what it is, but I started acting in the theater when I was little, and I'd love to get back there, no matter what it is."

Although Jacob Elordi clearly fits the requirements of being tall and handsome, according to the actor, his height has sometimes felt as a hindrance to his career and self-confidence. "I used to be so sensitive about my height because when I first started acting, literally everybody would tell me that I'd never work because they wouldn't be able to like, partner me with people and they wouldn't lift the camera up," he explained to GQ. "So, I basically got told that I was too tall to be an actor," Elordi added, and as a result, "I was super nervous about telling people my height." The actor would sometimes lie and claim to be a few inches shorter than his actual height, which is a towering 6 feet, 5 inches.

Fortunately, Elordi is able to take on roles even if his height difference is significant compared to his costars — he just uses a few tricks to help while the camera is rolling. For example, some of his shortest costars will stand on a box next to Elordi, so they stay in the same frame. Other times, Elordi will get down into a split to be closer to the other actors. One of the biggest differences in height is between Elordi and his on-screen wife in "Priscilla," Cailee Spaeny, who stands at 5 feet, 1 inch tall. "I'm excellent at finding ways to lean. It's a skill I've perfected throughout my career. I'm always leaning," he joked to W Magazine.

Beyond being immersed in movies and TV, Jacob Elordi is also a huge fan of entertainment through literature. According to Elordi, he likes to always have a book by his side because a few times in his life, he has ended up in a hospital waiting room and wished he could have a book to read instead of just his phone while sometimes waiting up to eight hours. As a result, he typically travels with a stack of books, including a traveler's notepad to write down his thoughts and a workbook for notes on characters he plays in films. Elordi's eclectic mix has included a set of plays by Tennessee Williams and usually a piece of fiction. For example, the actor read Evelyn Waugh's "Brideshead Revisited," a story similar to his movie "Saltburn" in 2023. "I hate to be without things because then the ideas and the thoughts just disappear. I don't want to miss anything, I think," he explained to GQ about his need to constantly have books in his life.

Even when working on movies, Elordi still reads his books, like when he read books by Jack Kerouac while filming "The Kissing Booth." His tastes range from newer works from authors like Donna Tartt to classic writing like "The Odyssey" by Homer. Elordi is also a huge fan of the most famous stage writer ever. "I love Shakespeare more than anything, but I'd say that's maybe a given with actors," he told Bustle.

As one of the most well-recognized young actors in Hollywood, Jacob Elordi uses his moments in the spotlight to show off an impressive sense of style. He can excel at black tie events in a double-breasted tuxedo, like the one he wore at the Venice International Film Festival. He is also unafraid of bold looks, like when he went to a Tiffany & Co. event in a lilac shirt with an untied neck bow and perhaps even a touch of lipstick. Even at times when most people are dressing purely for comfort, like before a long flight, Elordi is emanating style. He was spotted at the Sydney International Airport in 2023 wearing a classic leather jacket, cargo pants, and baseball hat while browsing for books prior to a flight. The secret to Elordi's taste is actually quite simple. According to the actor, he follows the ethos of the best fashion advice he ever received. "If it makes you smile, wear it," Elordi told W Magazine.

Often, his looks include pierced ears and a Saint Christopher medal or pendant. Both these accessories are inspired by what two of his favorite actors wore, Daniel Day-Lewis with the earring and Steve McQueen with the necklace. It's Elordi's collection of mini designer handbags that might be his most recognizable personal accessory, though he admitted he never personally bought a bag. "People that have all this money aren't spending it. You just get sent stuff," he admitted to GQ.

With every one of his performances, Jacob Elordi appears to grow even more popular. With this comes constant attention, whether he wants it or not. As Elordi recalls, the first time he encountered paparazzi with their cameras in his face, "it felt like, all of a sudden, I was a poster, like I was a billboard," he told GQ. Even worse, once all the pictures ended, Elordi still felt emotionally scarred from the experience and couldn't distinguish between genuine admiration or if people were solely monetizing his photos. "It really skews your view. It creates a very paranoid way of living," he admitted about fame. Another fear for the actor is that life as a celebrity will distort his personality. "Going on a walk in Byron Bay, at my home, maybe one day that won't hold the same value to me, because I've sanded down all my edges. I have no taste anymore," Elordi explained. So, to help navigate superstardom in his twenties, the actor asked his "Deep Water" costar Ben Affleck for advice on being in the spotlight because, as Elordi put it, "I got no idea. I'm 25 years old." As Elordi recalled, Affleck was honest that fame can be demoralizing.

While admittedly, fame initially bothered him, especially strangers knowing his name, Elordi learned to ignore all the chatter. "It literally has nothing to do with me. It just doesn't affect the trajectory of my life," he told Entertainment Tonight.

A friend of Jacob Elordi's had a litter of golden retrievers, and the actor became the dad to the smallest one. His dog, named Layla, is almost always by his side. While interviewing with Men's Health, Elordi brought Layla to a coffee shop to meet the journalist, and an employee asked if she was a service dog. Elordi said Layla was before admitting to the magazine, "She makes me happy, which is a service." In another interview with Vogue, Elordi posed by the pool with Layla by his side.

According to Elordi, Layla is an integral part of his profession as an actor. He revealed that he reads lines with his pet, and as a result, "she speaks about 500 words of English," he joked to GQ. On why he loves Layla so much, the actor explained, "She's a genius. She feels shame. She feels happiness." He called Layla his rock and said, "She's my best friend. She's my confidante." The dog is also well-traveled, as paparazzi have spotted Elordi on both coasts with Layla. The actor took his pet for a walk in Los Angeles in early 2022 while the following year, Elordi was seen walking around New York City together with Layla and his girlfriend Olivia Jade.

Jacob Elordi recalls his acting career was about as low as it could've been when he decided to read for a role in an upcoming HBO drama. "I auditioned — this was at a point where the movies that I'd made hadn't come out," the actor recalled to Wonderland. To make matters even worse, Elordi admitted that he forgot some of his lines during the casting process. "I had no name, I had no backing, you could not find any video of me acting anywhere. I was just a child," he explained about his career status during the "Euphoria" auditions. Still, there was something special about Elordi, and he received a call back on the same day as his audition.

Even with the necessity for Elordi to land the part, or any part, he admitted he enjoyed the entire casting process for the show, especially as an underdog with limited experiences in Hollywood. "I was just trying to be a working actor and just went in. Call back. Call back. And then next thing I know, we were making the show," he told W Magazine. Elordi was also pleased to see the transformation of his character beyond initial impressions. The actor remembered his character Nate in the audition read as "just a macho college a**hole. He was abusive and drinking and yelling at people and throwing his chest around. I had no idea of the scope or the depth that was to come," Elordi explained.