Jacob Elordi, the actor who shot to international fame with Netflix’s teen rom-com ‘The Kissing Booth,’ recently revealed the immense pressure of overnight success almost made him quit acting entirely. However, a physically and emotionally demanding role as the Creature in Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming ‘Frankenstein’ movie has offered him an unexpected and transformative artistic liberation.
For many fans, the name Jacob Elordi conjures images of the charismatic high school heartthrob Noah Flynn from ‘The Kissing Booth.’ The 2018 Netflix film turned the then-unknown Australian actor into an overnight sensation, catapulting him into a world of intense public scrutiny that he was far from prepared for.
Elordi recently opened up to GQ about this whirlwind experience, revealing that the sudden attention and relentless focus on his personal life nearly drove him to abandon his acting dreams. “I hated being a character to the public. I felt so far from myself,” the ‘Euphoria’ star confessed, detailing how the transition felt “drastic.”
The Unforeseen Burden of Overnight Stardom
Before his breakout role, Elordi faced the common struggles of a burgeoning actor, sometimes even sleeping in his car. He shared with GQ that he had only “$400 or $800 left in my bank account” before securing roles in ‘The Kissing Booth’ and later, ‘Euphoria.’ The rapid ascent to fame after ‘The Kissing Booth’ debuted on Netflix in 2018 was overwhelming, forcing him to delete personal high school pictures from his suddenly massive Instagram following.
The spotlight intensified, particularly concerning his relationships with co-stars like Joey King and later, Kaia Gerber. He described being a target of the paparazzi, feeling as though he was a “poster” or “billboard” that was “for sale.” This level of public interest created a “paranoid way of living” and caused him to question his own authenticity, a sentiment he discussed with his ‘Deep Water’ co-star, Ben Affleck, who understood the pressures of media attention.
Finding Freedom in ‘Frankenstein’s’ Creature
In the midst of his emotional struggle and desire to “hide,” an unexpected opportunity arose: the role of the Creature in Guillermo del Toro’s highly anticipated adaptation of ‘Frankenstein.’ This project, a long-time passion for del Toro, provided Elordi with the escape and transformation he yearned for.
As Elordi told The Los Angeles Times, “I really wanted to go away for a while. I was desperate to find some kind of normalcy and rebuild the way that I acted and how I approached making movies.” He realized then that the Creature was “where I was supposed to go away to. I was supposed to go into that mask of freedom.”
The role, which required Elordi to spend “10 hours” in makeup every day, was physically demanding. However, he credited del Toro for creating an incredibly supportive and “safe space” on set, diverging from the “tortured” method acting stereotype. This environment allowed for creative liberation, enabling him to fully immerse himself in the character.
The intense physical experience of filming Prime Video’s miniseries ‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North,’ where he lost a substantial amount of weight and experienced “great anguish” and body pain, ironically prepared him for the demanding portrayal of the Creature. This prior grueling experience became a foundation for his transformative performance.
An Anticipated Release with a Star-Studded Cast
Del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ is set to explore the classic Mary Shelley novel from the perspectives of both the Creature and his creator, Victor Frankenstein. Joining Elordi in this ambitious project is a stellar cast, including:
- Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein
- Mia Goth as Elizabeth Lavenza
- Christoph Waltz
- Ralph Ineson
- Felix Kammerer
- Charles Dance
The film has already garnered significant buzz, receiving a remarkable 14-minute standing ovation at its world premiere during the 82nd Venice International Film Festival in August. It is slated for release in selected theaters in the United States on October 17, with a global streaming premiere on Netflix on November 7.
For Elordi, ‘Frankenstein’ represents not just another film credit, but a profound artistic and personal turning point. It’s a testament to how even intense pressure can sometimes lead to unexpected avenues of self-discovery and creative resurgence in the world of Hollywood.
