Interview with Jacob Elordi, the captivating star of Wuthering Heights

By Violaine Schütz, 

and Nathan Merchadier.

Published on 5 November 2025. Updated on 10 February 2026.

Jacob Elordi’s breakout role in the series Euphoria

Jacob Elordi, 28, could have been the good-looking guy we find in any romcom… After gaining attention in the Netflix romantic comedy trilogy The Kissing Booth (2018–2021), the star of the film Frankenstein rose to fame thanks to his performance as Nate in the series Euphoria (2019), created by Sam Levinson. Portraying a troubled young man struggling with toxic masculinity and violent mood swings, the athletic Australian actor quickly emerged as a rising star on both the small and big screens. Now, he is the lead in a film adaptation of Wuthering Heights (2026).

Following the success of this cult series, known for its raw depiction of teenage trauma, Jacob Elordi went on to land roles such as in the erotic thriller Deep Water (2022), alongside established actors like Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas. The legend was in the making.

An actor who redefines masculinity

In stark contrast to his role as an angry teenager in the series Euphoria (2019), Jacob Elordi seems to belong to a new generation of men, who intents to redefine the codes of masculinity. In doing so, he follows in the footsteps of other stars like Timothée Chalamet and Harry Styles. Their public appearances on red carpets debunk traditional gender norms with style.

Recently, the Australian actor has made the headlines by incorporating a myriad of handbags into his wardrobe. Strolling the streets of Los Angeles with Bottega Veneta’s Andiamo bag as the brand’s new face, or walking down New York avenues holding Valentino‘s Locò mini bag in his hand… The actor has helped bring the it bag into the masculine realm.

An actor committed to his roles

Whether off or on set, the actor is driven by striking roles. In 2023, Jacob Elordi delivered a compelling performance as rock legend Elvis Presley in Sofia Coppola’s film Priscilla, which explores the darker, possessive and violent sides of the music icon. Following in the footsteps of Austin Butler, who transformed into the King of Rock in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis (2022), Jacob Elordi also threw himself body and soul into that role. To prepare, he even adopted a specific diet.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he revealed that he ate 500 grams of bacon a day to achieve a physique closer to that of Elvis Presley. “You can’t really tell because I’m quite tall, but I’ve never been this big,” he shared.

A mesmerizing appearance in the provocative Saltburn

In addition to his masterful performance in Priscilla, Jacob Elordi also dazzles as a wealthy aristocrat in Saltburn (2023). A generous, seductive, irresistible and sensual character, who invites a student at the University of Oxford from a more modest background into his family estate and its decadent world. Directed by Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman) and available on Prime Video, the film caused a sensation upon its release.

In this story of a student striving to find his place among the ultrarich, Irish actor Barry Keoghan stars alongside the outstanding Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl). Yet, the film’s steamy scenes are what set social media on fire at the time. Especially the audacious sequence in which Jacob Elordi’s bathwater becomes the setting for an erotic, queer moment.

A dark and sensual protagonist in Wuthering Heights

Gradually, the actor who played Noah Flynn in The Kissing Booth saga (2018–2021) has been shedding the stereotypical image of the handsome boyfriend. In several interviews, the Australian actor said he wanted to break away from the rather smooth, polished persona he was associated with. Let’s say that the performers who inspire him are those who embody the bad boy to perfection – James Dean, Marlon Brando, and Gary Oldman.

On several occasions, Jacob Elordi has also spoken about his admiration for Heath Ledger, acclaimed for his role in The Dark Knight (2008). Tastes that have led him to make bold, unconventional cinematic choices, from the homosexual romantic drama, The Road (2024), to the war miniseries, The Narrow Road (2025).

One could notice him as a moving monster with sorrowful gaze and overflowing humanity in Guillermo del Toro’s beautiful gothic feature Frankenstein (2025), a role that earned him an Oscar nomination in 2026. Now, he delivers what is without any doubt one of the finest performances of his career in Wuthering Heights, one of the most highly anticipated films of 2026, scheduled for theatrical release on February 11th.

In what is already being described as a “modern-day Romeo and Juliet story” or the “Titanic of Gen Z”, tha Australian actor reunites with Saltburn director Emerald Fennell. His admiration for the filmmaker’s work is such that he even confesses that he would be ready to say yes to any project she was part of.

An inpressive physical transformation

During a press conference at Bristol in Paris on February 2nd, 2026, the charismatic actor told Numéro: “In fact, the team was very similar to the one on Saltburn. I felt a bit at home. But the scale and nature of the film were completely different. There were many practical differences, especially in terms of the size of the crew. Creatively, however, the process was even more stimulating than on Saltburn, because we had many more tools at our disposal. And the energy driving the film was truly exhilarating.”

In this romantic, sultry film adaptation of the cult, unsettling novel Wuthering Heights (1847) written by Emily Brontë, the actor plays the brooding Heathcliff. The man is scarred by a brutal childhood and madly in love with the fiery, capricious, yet fascinating Catherine (Margot Robbie). Jacob Elordi underwent a striking physical transformation, notably his long hair at the beginning, to portray this dark and intense character.

A stop at the hospital

“The evolution of Heathcliff’s wardrobe is crucial,” he explains. “His rags at the beginning are restraining and imprisoning him. Then, when he returns (when he comes back to find Catherine after running away, ed.), he wears waistcoats and carries a cane, as well as ankle boots that straighten his posture. Costumes were really important here, even if I wore less and with fewer details than Margot.”

But his commitment unintentionally went even further into method acting – a practice that involves inhabiting one’s character off set. In an interview with Esquire, Jacob Elordi explained: “Siân (Miller), the makeup artist, was drawing the whip scars on Heathcliff’s back. She challenged me, saying: ‘If Daniel Day-Lewis were playing Heathcliff, he would have shown up with scars.’ I replied: ‘Well, I’ll injure myself over the weekend to prove to you that I am Heathcliff!’”

He then returned to where he was staying during the shoot and took a very hot shower. “So I went to wash my feet, leaned back, and my back burned when it touched the steam control. I stood up screaming because it had torn into my back. When I went to work on Monday, I had a second-degree burn,” he recalls. A moment later, he was rushed to hospital…

“For two weeks, we got time to get to know each other with Margot (Robbie).” – Jacob Elordi

But that accident is not what captivates audiences… All the buzz comes from the two lead actors’ close relationship. In the first incendiary images of Wuthering Heights, Jacob Elordi seems to share a striking chemistry with Margot Robbie’s fierce character. The actor reportedly filled the actress’s hotel room with red roses on Valentine’s Day, while she gifted her co-star a ring specifically designed in connection with the film. She also admitted to having been co-dependent on him during the shoot.

The Australian actress was deeply impressed by her partner’s performance. “There’s a scene where I have to remain completely still, with my eyes closed. As for Jacob, he delivered a champion-level performance, and it was honestly very, very, very hard not to react. It was probably the most difficult sequence for me to shoot,” she shared, recalling the experience at the press conference.

A room filled with red roses

Jacob Elordi explained how their torrid on-screen relationship took shape: “We were lucky that Emerald, unlike many others, gave us time to rehearse… You don’t often get the chance to rehearse during a shoot. Usually, you just dive straight in. Emerald [Fennell] allowed the whole team, producers included, two weeks of intensive rehearsals. During those two weeks, we studied the scenes seriously. We were able to explore them, get to know each other, and really think about our work before arriving on set and feeling the pressure. We all benefited a lot from that exceptional preparation.”

“Anxiety and fear are inherent to any action. Doing anything at all is terrifying.” – Jacob Elordi

“After that, it was simply the script written by Emerald, and the very nature of Heathcliff and Cathy, that did the rest. Their relationship was already written down. When you’re handed a script like that, there’s one thing you have to be sure of. You have to believe in Cathy and Heathcliff. That’s the essence of acting,” he added.

Much like the protagonist he portrayed, Jacob Elordi was refreshingly frank and made no attempt to smooth things over during the press conference. When asked whether any scene was particularly difficult, he admitted: “My memory doesn’t really allow me to say, ‘This was the hardest day,’ because everything blends into one huge block of anxiety and fear that paralyzes me. Anxiety and fear are inherent to any action. Doing anything at all is terrifying.”

The actor, who is among the favourites to play the new James Bond, concluded: “What I loved most about this film is that everyone chose Warner Bros and the theatrical experience. I’m completely serious. They turned down a fortune so that the film could be released in cinemas. That’s truly admirable. That’s what I’m mostly proud of in this project.” A statement that, in an era dominated by streaming platforms, sounds almost punk… One that says a lot about the ambitions of this incandescent movie star.

Wuthering Heights by Emerald Fennell, coming out in theatres on February 11th, 2026.