Jacob Elordi has shared insights into the unusual creative freedom he experienced while filming the third season of HBO’s Euphoria. The actor revealed that director Sam Levinson allowed him significant autonomy during production, a process that felt very different from his previous acting roles.
Speaking on Entertainment Weekly’s The Awardist podcast, Elordi explained how the constraints and unpredictability of the shoot shaped his approach to the role. The focus keyword “Jacob Elordi Euphoria freedom” is central to understanding how this working method affected his performance.
Unconventional Preparation and On-the-Spot Creativity
Elordi described a lack of traditional preparation time and incomplete scripts, which forced him to rely on immediate creative instincts rather than detailed planning.
“Usually, I would like to obsess over what I was doing and understand what was happening, and have the time to go through every element and construct it and put it together,”
Elordi said.
“And I had no time to get ready for it. And I didn’t have scripts in any kind of full sense. I sort of just had creative conversations with Sam, so I had no choice.”
Jacob Elordi, Actor
This lack of complete scripts and rehearsal time led him to interact with the material day-by-day, responding to whatever the set environment offered him. He shared,
“I was coming off of a plane somewhere, and later I had a small amount of time … to fit in a lot of work. And so I hit a point where I could only go day by day. I could only do what was handed to me that day, and then try to invent something based on what I know of the character, based on what I see on the set live in front of me.”
Jacob Elordi, Actor
How Limited Preparation Opened Doors to New Acting Techniques
The scarcity of preparation time ultimately released Elordi from overthinking his scenes, encouraging spontaneity and exploration within each take.
“Because I had no choice, I got to be free in the acting process, ’cause it was kind of just throwing s— at the wall and seeing what would stick,”
he commented.
“Less thinking about what feels real and more about, ‘How does this work in the frame?’ Or ‘Is this funny or not funny?’ I had a more relaxed way of approaching playing a character, you know?”
Jacob Elordi, Actor
Director Sam Levinson’s trust in Elordi’s instincts allowed him to move his character Nate Jacobs in directions that felt organic to the moment.
“Sam basically just gave me the floor, which was a lot of fun,”
Elordi said, acknowledging that the freedom also brought a measure of anxiety.
Elordi’s Connection With the Complex Character Nate Jacobs
Despite Nate’s challenging and dark nature, Elordi expressed a deep affection for the role. “I love him,” he shared.
“I act to understand a different experience, to express an experience that’s different to my own. Playing him taught me a lot about empathy and patience, which is strange with a character like that.”
Jacob Elordi, Actor
The actor reflected on the broader value of breaking down complex characters, suggesting it promotes understanding beyond the screen.
“The luxury to be able to examine a fictional character like that is something that I wish everybody, especially in today’s day and age, could have,”
he said.
“Because you can start to do it with the people around you and the people that you don’t really listen to, and people in your life that you judge, or people on the internet that you judge immediately.”
Jacob Elordi, Actor
By comparing personal interactions to acting techniques, Elordi believes society could gain greater patience and compassion.
“If we could all sort of just approach those relationships like an actor breaking down a character, I do think that we’d have, like, a little bit more calm in the world. I can look at everything that he does and maybe not understand it, but I can at the very least empathize.”
Jacob Elordi, Actor
Insights Into Nate Jacobs’ Journey in Season 3
Regarding Nate’s storyline, Elordi pointed to a survival-driven arc, emphasizing a significant transformation. He described the season as marking “the end of hubris” and “the end of arrogance” for the character.
“It’s a real treat to be a part of that show, and to play the quote-unquote bad guy,”
Elordi said.
“It’s always more fun. You don’t wanna play some morally superior, world-saving loser.”
Jacob Elordi, Actor
The third season is set to premiere on HBO in spring 2026, continuing to explore the intense and complicated lives of the characters as they mature beyond high school. The time jump featured in this season presents new challenges and opportunities for the actors, especially Elordi, who embraces the evolving complexity of Nate Jacobs.
