Jacob Elordi

Jacob Elordi – Life, Career, and Memorable Insights

Jacob Elordi – the Australian actor born June 26, 1997, whose breakout roles in The Kissing Booth and Euphoria have made him a rising Hollywood name. Discover his early life, career evolution, key performances, and life lessons.

Introduction

Jacob Elordi is a young Australian actor who has rapidly become one of Hollywood’s most talked-about talents. Born June 26, 1997, in Brisbane, Australia, he first gained widespread recognition through the Netflix romantic trilogy The Kissing Booth and later earned critical acclaim for his darker, more complex role as Nate Jacobs in HBO’s Euphoria. As he continues to take on daring roles and expand his range, Elordi stands out as a performer with both star potential and dramatic depth.

Early Life and Family

Jacob Nathaniel Elordi was born on June 26, 1997, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. His mother, Melissa, worked at times as a cafeteria employee, and his father, John, was a house painter who had immigrated from the Basque Country (Spain) as a child. He has three older sisters.

Elordi’s paternal heritage has roots in the Basque region. He spent his formative years in Brisbane, attending Catholic secondary schools such as St Kevin’s College and St Joseph’s College, Nudgee.

From a young age, he engaged in school theatre productions. He also played rugby until a back injury in his teens pushed him away from athletics and more toward the performing arts. He has said that reading Waiting for Godot in drama class around age 15 was a turning point in which acting “became [his] church” — a central outlet of meaning.

He also experimented with modeling, but reportedly sample clothing often didn’t match his tall frame.

In his late teens, he moved to Melbourne for further acting training before relocating to the U.S. to pursue film opportunities.

Youth, Education & Early Struggles

Although Elordi showed early interest in performance, his academic journey was uneven. He has admitted that he “barely finished high school.”

While still in Australia, he took acting classes and participated in school musicals (for example, Seussical and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) which helped build his instincts for stage presence.

After some initial training in Melbourne, Elordi made the bold step of moving to Los Angeles around 2017 (when he was about 19 or 20). During that early period, he reportedly couch-surfed, slept in his car, and auditioned under financial pressure, even considering giving up before landing critical roles.

This time of struggle forged both humility and resolve in him — qualities that show in his later choices.

Career and Achievements

Breakout & Early Roles (2017–2019)

Elordi’s first experience on a Hollywood film set was as an extra in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017). His first credited acting appearance in film was in Swinging Safari (2018), an Australian production, where he played the role of “Rooster.”

The major turning point came that same year when he was cast as Noah Flynn in Netflix’s romantic comedy The Kissing Booth. Although The Kissing Booth received mixed critical reviews, it became a huge hit on Netflix and introduced Elordi to a global teenage audience.

He reprised the role in The Kissing Booth 2 (2020) and The Kissing Booth 3 (2021).

In 2019, Elordi auditioned for Euphoria, an HBO teen drama, originally intending it to be his final audition before going back to Australia. He was cast as Nate Jacobs, a high school football player with a deeply dark and troubled personality — a substantial shift from his romantic lead roles. This role earned him critical recognition and showcased his capacity to portray morally gray, complex characters.

During this period, he also acted in the anthology horror film The Mortuary Collection (2019) and the drama 2 Hearts (2020).

Rising Versatility & Critical Acclaim (2022–present)

In 2022, Elordi took on a notable role in Deep Water, an erotic thriller directed by Adrian Lyne, playing “Charlie,” a man entangled in psychological suspense.

His 2023 slate was particularly striking:

He starred as Elvis Presley in Sofia Coppola’s biopic Priscilla, giving him a chance to show his musical and dramatic facets.
He appeared as Felix Catton in Saltburn, a dark, stylish thriller directed by Emerald Fennell. His performance earned him a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

In 2024 and beyond, Elordi has continued to broaden his range:

He hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live, showcasing comedic chops on live TV.
He starred in On Swift Horses (2024), playing Julius, an intensely emotional role in a period LGBTQ romance, earning praise for his vulnerability.
He took the lead role in the miniseries adaptation of The Narrow Road to the Deep North.
He was cast as Frankenstein’s monster in Guillermo del Toro’s Netflix adaptation Frankenstein (2025), undergoing a massive prosthetic transformation (42 prosthetics) to bring the character to life.

Through these roles, Elordi has shown a willingness to leave comfort zones and embrace bold, challenging characters.

Awards & Recognition

He was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Saltburn.
He has also received nominations from AACTA (Australian awards) for his work, including Euphoria.
He’s also been recognized in cultural and fashion circles, such as being named a brand ambassador for Hugo Boss’s Boss the Scent fragrance and later for TAG Heuer watches.

Historical & Cultural Context

Jacob Elordi’s rise reflects how streaming platforms like Netflix have accelerated global stardom for relatively unknown actors, bypassing traditional gatekeepers.
His trajectory also mirrors the trend of “heartthrob turned serious actor” — starting in teen romance and transitioning to gritty, socially complex projects.
His work in Euphoria came at a cultural moment when television was increasingly exploring teenage trauma, mental health, identity, and intersectional issues.
His casting as Frankenstein’s monster in a modern adaptation demonstrates the blending of classical literary icons with contemporary performance and visual effects.

Personality, Acting Style & Strengths

Jacob Elordi is often described as introspective, ambitious, and quietly intense. While he's been dubbed a “Gen Z heartthrob” in the media, he seems to resist being boxed in by looks alone.

Key attributes:

Bravery in role choice: He doesn’t shy away from morally complex or unconventional characters.
Transformation ability: Physical transformations (e.g. prosthetics for Frankenstein) and emotional depth are becoming hallmarks.
Emotional nuance: Even in his darker roles, he often reveals cracks of vulnerability rather than flat villainy.
Low-key public persona: While his relationships and style sometimes draw attention, he tends to stay reserved about personal life.

He cites inspirations like Heath Ledger (especially for The Dark Knight) among others when discussing his influences.

Memorable Lines & Reflections

Unlike authors or speakers known for quotable aphorisms, actors like Jacob Elordi don’t always have a long record of public quotes. Still, interviews and press statements yield insights:

“I’ve always believed that the next thing is the thing you should be trying to do.” — reflecting his drive to keep evolving.

On Euphoria audition: he mentioned that role was his “last audition before giving up,” which underscores the stakes he felt.

Regarding The Kissing Booth: he has described doing those films as a means to an end early in his career—even calling them “ridiculous” later—but acknowledging they opened doors.

On his method for Frankenstein: he clarified his approach “wasn’t like this idea everyone has of being method, which is tortured and suffering.”

These show his thoughtful approach to acting and self-awareness about his choices.

Lessons from Jacob Elordi’s Journey

Start where opportunity lies
Elordi didn’t dismiss the appeal or limitations of The Kissing Booth; he used it strategically to gain visibility and resources for riskier roles.
Be willing to evolve
He moved from romantic lead to troubled anti-hero to literary monster. Growth demands stepping beyond comfort.
Don’t fear failure or distraction
His early years in L.A. were fraught; he faced instability but persisted until a breakthrough.
Balance ambition with self-reflection
He often reflects publicly on his choices, how he got roles, or what they cost him—suggesting maturity in ambition.
Take transformative roles seriously
Whether it’s prosthetics, period settings, or emotional extremes, he seems ready to commit deeply.

Conclusion

Jacob Elordi’s path—beginning in Brisbane school plays, through Netflix stardom, to critically lauded dramatic performances—offers a compelling model of a modern actor's ascent. He proves that young talent can combine commercial appeal with artistic risk. As he moves into heavyweight roles like Frankenstein, his evolution seems far from over. For fans or students of film, his career underscores that early success isn’t a destination but a launchpad: continue pushing boundaries, learning, and choosing roles that stretch your craft.