Before ‘Euphoria’: The Making of Jacob Elordi’s Hollywood Dream

Jacob Elordi is an Australian actor who rose to prominence with his roles in Euphoria (as Nate Jacobs) and The Kissing Booth film series (as Noah Flynn). He has since expanded his repertoire with critically acclaimed performances, portraying Elvis Presley in Priscilla (2023) and appearing in Saltburn (2023). Known for his ability to bring intense, complex characters to life, Elordi has cemented his place as one of Hollywood’s most compelling young talents.

Beyond acting, he has also made a name for himself in the fashion world, frequently attending high-profile events like the Met Gala and collaborating with luxury brands such as BOSS and Bvlgari. With his striking looks and effortless style, he has become a sought-after figure in modeling and brand endorsements.

However, Elordi’s journey to success didn’t happen overnight. Before landing major roles, he started in a small town in Australia, navigating auditions and smaller projects as he worked his way up. His rise to fame is a story of persistence, steady growth, and an unwavering dedication to his craft. Here’s a closer look at how he got his start and built his career.

Born for the Stage: A Theatrical Beginning

Jacob Elordi was born on June 26, 1997, in Brisbane, Australia, into a close-knit family with Basque heritage. He grew up in a physically active household with three sisters and a brother, influenced by his mother, Melissa, a personal trainer, and his father, John, a housepainter who spent over a decade building their family home. His parents’ strong work ethic and dedication to their respective fields instilled in him values of perseverance, discipline, and resilience.

From an early age, Elordi was drawn to acting, performing in school plays and developing a deep love for the stage. During a 2024 appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, he reflected:

“All I ever did was plays when I was younger. So I sort of grew up on a stage and around it.”

Exposure to English and American media helped him refine his ear for different accents, a skill that would later prove invaluable in his career.

He attended private all-boys Catholic schools, including St. Kevin’s College in Melbourne and St. Joseph’s College in Brisbane, where he often felt like an outsider. While the schools placed a strong emphasis on athletics and competition, he found solace in theater and dedicated years to honing his craft. Though comedy was never his strength—he admitted he was never considered “the funny guy”—his adaptability and commitment to refining his performance styles contributed to his versatility as an actor.

Elordi’s childhood was also shaped by simple, comforting traditions. His mother worked at his school’s tuck shop, providing a familiar presence during his school days. He fondly remembers enjoying fairy bread at birthday parties, sipping chocolate milk from the tuck shop, and cooling off with Super Duper icy poles on hot summer days. These experiences created a strong cultural grounding that remains with him even as his career takes him around the world.

Hollywood Dreams Sparked in Childhood

Jacob Elordi’s fascination with Hollywood began at just eight years old during a visit to Los Angeles. In a March 2022 interview with Vogue, he recalled a moment that left a lasting impression—stumbling upon a postcard of James Dean and being struck by how often his face appeared.

“I remember my first real memory of Hollywood. I was about eight, walking along the boulevard where all the stars are, and I saw this postcard of James Dean. I turned to my mom and asked, ‘Who is this guy? His face is everywhere.’ That moment stuck with me. I remember slowly turning around and seeing this massive white sign in the distance… it felt almost magical.”

That brief encounter with Hollywood’s legendary figures, especially James Dean, sparked a deep sense of wonder in Elordi. It was a moment that stayed with him, planting the first seeds of a passion that would one day lead him to pursue a career in acting.

Balancing Sports, Stage, and Stardom

In high school, Jacob juggled two vastly different passions—rugby and acting. While he excelled on the field, his heart was always with the stage. His love for theater sometimes drew teasing from peers, but he remained undeterred, drawing inspiration from acting legends like Marlon Brando, Laurence Olivier, Heath Ledger, and Christian Bale. Determined to master his craft, he spent hours watching their films, reading their biographies, and studying their performances.

His admiration for method actors extended beyond study—he embraced their habits. Inspired by Daniel Day-Lewis, he pierced his ears, and like Steve McQueen, he wore a Saint Christopher medal. He also carried a worn leather binder that once belonged to Gary Oldman, a gift from Oldman’s son, Charlie, a close friend.

Though rugby was a major part of his life, acting remained his true passion. At first, he felt pressure to prioritize sports, but a back injury became a turning point. Reflecting on the experience in a December 2021 interview with Men’s Health, he shared that the injury gave him the opportunity to step away from rugby and fully immerse himself in acting. This shift allowed him to embrace his creative side without the constraints of athletic expectations, solidifying his commitment to a career in performance.

Despite his dedication, breaking into the industry wasn’t easy. He auditioned multiple times for Australian soap operas like Home and Away and Neighbours but never landed a role. Looking back, he admitted, “I wasn’t very good at the time.” However, rather than being discouraged, he used these early rejections as motivation to sharpen his skills, setting the foundation for his future success.

Cinematic Inspirations & Career Aspirations

Jacob Elordi’s passion for acting was ignited by a defining moment in his childhood. At the age of 11, while watching The Dark Knight with his father in Coffs Harbour, he was mesmerized by Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker. One scene, in particular, left an indelible mark on him—the chilling “magic trick” moment, where the Joker slams a man’s head into a pencil. Reflecting on that experience, Elordi recalled:

“I think that was the first time I remember watching Heath Ledger… when he’s like, ‘How about a magic trick?’ and he slammed that guy’s head into the pencil, and the pencil disappeared. I was like, ‘That’s what I want to do. Whatever that is, that’s what I want to do.’”

This early inspiration evolved into a deep appreciation for cinema, extending beyond modern films to the rich storytelling of classic Hollywood. His fascination with film noir and the work of Orson Welles further shaped his artistic sensibilities. While preparing to portray Welles in a project, he immersed himself in the filmmaker’s world, starting with his radio plays before delving into his cinematic masterpieces.

“I really got into film noir when I was supposed to play Orson Welles in this movie… I started with his radio plays and then got into his pictures after Citizen Kane… I wish we could make an original, hardcore film noir picture. That’s a dream of mine for sure.”

This deep connection to storytelling and character complexity continues to influence Elordi’s creative choices, cementing his path as a versatile actor drawn to bold and dynamic roles.

From Struggles to Breakthrough: The Road to Hollywood

Determined to turn his passion into a career, he enrolled in acting school for six months while auditioning for roles. But breaking into the industry was far from easy. Rejections came often, with casting directors giving conflicting feedback:

“You’re too this, you’re too that. You’re not this, you’re not that. You’re a terrible actor.”

Despite the discouragement, he refused to give up.

Instead of following the traditional university path, Elordi chose a different kind of education—one built on acting and literature. He immersed himself in books and plays, seeing them as the foundation of his craft. As he shared in an August 2022 interview with GQ:

“I didn’t finish university, I barely finished high school. All I know is from the books I’ve read, and the plays that I’ve read.”

At 19, he took a leap of faith and moved to Los Angeles with little money, hoping to find his big break. The journey was rough—at one point, he lived out of his car, relying on the kindness of friends to get by. During this time, cinema became his escape. Looking back, he recalled:

“When I first moved to LA, it was like I didn’t know anybody, and the cinema was just this communal space where I could go… the people in the movies were like my friends.”

Just as he was reaching a breaking point, everything changed. He landed the role of Nate Jacobs in Euphoria—a career-defining moment that propelled him into the spotlight and cemented his place as one of Hollywood’s rising stars.

Rising Star: The Role That Changed Everything

Jacob Elordi’s breakthrough came with Netflix’s The Kissing Booth, a role that catapulted him to fame and earned him millions of social media followers overnight. However, rather than settling into the teen heartthrob image, he set his sights on more serious acting roles.

Over the years, he has taken on a diverse range of projects, including Deep Water, Saltburn, On Swift Horses, and Priscilla. Despite his growing recognition, he remained committed to his craft, drawing inspiration from actors like Philip Seymour Hoffman and the greats of classic cinema.

Elordi’s deep appreciation for film noir and timeless storytelling continues to shape his artistic choices. His striking features—particularly his strong brow and expressive eyes—have led some to compare him to classic Hollywood actors. Some have even likened him to a taller version of Jeremy Irons in the 1980s adaptation of Brideshead Revisited.

From performing in school plays in Brisbane to making a name for himself in Hollywood, Jacob Elordi’s journey is a testament to resilience, passion, and an unwavering dedication to his craft.

References:

https://youtu.be/iXTrzXftRcM https://youtu.be/futIzImamM8 https://youtu.be/xBR1aAx0qck https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/jacob-elordi-interview-2022 https://www.vogue.co.uk/video/watch/in-conversation-in-conversation-jacob-elordi-and-barry-keoghan https://www.gq.com.au/culture/entertainment/jacob-elordi-tag-heuer-interview/image-gallery/8fc11f1db024a65ba54ab707000e901a