Jacob Elordi’s Secret to Surviving Intense Roles Revealed

Jacob Elordi isn’t your run-of-the-mill heartthrob. The bloke from Euphoria has shown he’s got more than just good looks, with a knack for picking roles that let him work with top-notch directors. Even while filming one of his most talked-about projects, he managed to squeeze in time for a classic film that left a real mark on him.

When Euphoria first hit screens, it was all about Zendaya. But it didn’t take long for Elordi to stand out as one of the most promising young actors around. Instead of cashing in on his fame with a string of rom-coms or jumping into a superhero suit, he’s made choices that echo the careers of British legends like Ralph Fiennes and Gary Oldman. He’s not just chasing blockbusters—he’s after roles with real substance.

From Elvis to Frankenstein: A Career Built on Depth

Not long after Austin Butler made waves as Elvis, Elordi took on a much more vulnerable version of the music icon in Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla. The film flipped the usual story, focusing on Priscilla Presley, played by Cailee Spaeny, and gave Elordi a chance to show a different side of the King. He kept the momentum going with a standout turn in Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn, a sharp look at class and privilege, and later played a young Richard Gere in Paul Schrader’s Oh, Canada—a film that didn’t get heaps of attention but was a real gem for those who caught it.

Despite being known for his looks, Elordi’s most praised performance so far came when he was almost unrecognisable. In Guillermo del Toro’s 2025 take on Frankenstein, he brought a new level of emotion to the creature, earning him major awards buzz and talk of an Oscar nod. It’s a far cry from the usual roles handed to blokes with his profile.

Wuthering Heights and the Power of a Good Cry

Now, Elordi’s gearing up for what could be the biggest gig of his career—teaming up again with Fennell for her adaptation of Wuthering Heights. There’s already been a bit of drama around the project, and playing Heathcliff is no small ask. The pressure’s on, but Elordi found a way to step back from the intensity.

He told W Magazine that he managed to escape the weight of the role by watching Ang Lee’s Sense and Sensibility.

“I just broke down,”

he admitted, saying the film moved him more than any other. It’s a bit of a surprise pick, but the 1995 adaptation is often called one of the best takes on Jane Austen’s work. Lee, a director from China, brought a gentle touch to the English period piece, and the cast—Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Hugh Grant, and a young Kate Winslet—delivered performances that still stand out today.

Classic Films and New Takes

There’s a fresh version of Sense and Sensibility on the way, with Daisy Edgar-Jones and George MacKay set to star, but it’ll have a tough time living up to the original that Elordi holds so dear. As for Wuthering Heights, there’s no single actor who’s completely owned the role of Heathcliff, so Elordi’s got a real shot at making it his own.