Jacob Elordi, the 28-year-old Australian actor, has captured the spotlight with his role as Heathcliff in Emerald Fennell’s upcoming adaptation of Wuthering Heights, generating significant buzz as the film’s release approaches. Praised as
the hottest man on the planet
and predicted to become an Oscar contender, Elordi’s rise continues despite mixed early reviews. His rapid ascent reflects his strong impact as an actor and cultural figure, positioning him firmly as the Jacob Elordi hottest man currently captivating audiences worldwide.
From Generation Z’s Favorite to Hollywood Crush
While his role as Heathcliff is perhaps his most prominent to date, Jacob Elordi has become a defining figure for Generation Z’s admiration, steadily building his reputation on screen since 2018. He gained fame through Netflix’s popular Kissing Booth series by portraying Noah Flynn, the respectful and likable older love interest, striking a chord with younger audiences. Concurrently, on HBO’s gritty teen drama Euphoria, Elordi depicted Nate Jacobs, a toxic and conflicted jock, showcasing his versatility in roles that span from good-hearted to morally complex characters. Standing at an imposing 6 feet 5 inches, his physical presence has complemented his appeal as a symbol of youthful desire, whether viewers prefer a hero or an antihero.
Balancing Teen Idol Status With Serious Acting Choices
Much like Robert Pattinson’s deliberate shift from Twilight, Elordi has made efforts to distance himself from the teen franchise image attached to The Kissing Booth. He has openly criticized the films as ridiculous … [and] not universal, expressing regret about his involvement, though his former co-star and partner Joey King called these remarks unfortunate. Attempting to reshape his career trajectory, he has embraced darker, more challenging parts such as a serial killer in 2023’s He Went That Way and a murdered piano teacher in the erotic thriller Deep Water (2022). His performance as Elvis Presley in Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla delighted critics and filmmakers alike; Coppola highlighted a shared quality between Elordi and the legendary musician, noting,
I mean, he’s striking – so tall.
Beyond Looks: Elordi’s Intellectual and Artistic Depth
Elordi’s recent portrayal of Frankenstein’s monster in Guillermo del Toro’s 2025 Netflix film signals his continued efforts to be seen beyond his physical attributes, confronting the stereotype of being “just really attractive.” Although height and appearance remain significant elements of his allure, Elordi consistently demonstrates intellectual engagement, often referencing his love for literature. In a 2024 interview with Bustle, he revealed himself as an enormous Kerouac fan, enthusiastic about Sartre, joyful over having read The Odyssey, and deeply admiring Shakespeare. Donna Tartt’s The Secret History also ranks among his favorites, as he affirmed,
I believe it to be her best work.
This bespectacled actor is known for his disciplined approach, carrying a Moleskine notebook to record details about each character he portrays. He has also been working on paintings, though he guardedly declined to share these creations, explaining,
I worry I might jeopardise what I get out of them.
Casual sightings of Elordi browsing airport bookstores or carrying paperbacks have sparked excitement on social media platforms, revealing a more nuanced public image than just that of an irresistible heartthrob.
Australian Roots Shape His Unique Hollywood Presence
Jacob Elordi’s Australian background is fundamental to his distinct identity in the American-dominated Hollywood landscape. Born in Brisbane and having split his upbringing between Brisbane and Melbourne, he offers a refreshing cultural difference that he often highlights. In a 2023 GQ interview, he likened Australians and Americans to different types of fish, explaining,
If Australians are like freshwater fish, Americans are saltwater fish,
and added,
It kind of looks the same. The water is water, you’re swimming around, but you can’t breathe.
He compared ordering coffee in Los Angeles to a tense standoff, contrasting it with the relaxed and familiar mateship culture he experienced in Australia. Despite his confidence, Elordi has acknowledged a challenging past, recalling,
From the moment I did a play I was called gay at school,
but emphasized resilience by stating,
I was never worried that my peers would think I was less than a man … I’m spending my weekends with the most beautiful women from the school next door, reading the most romantic words ever written.
The Complexity Behind Celebrity and Intrusive Fame
Despite his literary interests and artistic dedication, Elordi cannot fully avoid the pitfalls of modern celebrity. His romantic relationships have attracted public attention, involving Euphoria co-star Zendaya, Kaia Gerber, Cindy Crawford’s daughter, and Olivia Jade, notably associated with the 2019 US college admissions scandal. This level of scrutiny has occasionally caused discomfort, capturing the difficult reality of
new-world version of fame … can pain Elordi,
as noted by GQ. Elordi received two BAFTA nominations for his role as Felix, a young aristocrat, in Fennell’s 2023 film Saltburn. Yet, a scene involving Barry Keoghan’s character drinking Felix’s bathwater overshadowed praise, provoking unexpected responses such as bootleg merch and a bath bomb inspired by the scene. Elordi appeared lighthearted about this controversy on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, but later became involved in an altercation when an Australian radio producer filmed himself requesting Elordi’s bathwater and refused to delete the footage. Police reportedly investigated the incident in early 2024, but no developments have since emerged.
Taking on Heathcliff: Doubts and Determination
After the attention inspired by Saltburn, Elordi confessed to feeling uncertain about reprising a role in another Emerald Fennell project, describing,
Saltburn grew into this thing I didn’t really plan for,
and admitting to Vogue Australia,
There is this feeling of having to swing for the fences again.
Wuthering Heights reportedly intensifies the erotic and social media-driven elements, with early reviews suggesting the first half is essentially an extended foreplay sequence. Margot Robbie, Elordi’s fellow Australian co-star, recalled hosting a screening that became the most unhinged experience of her life, sharing with Jimmy Kimmel,
Twenty women were like frothing at the mouth,
and,
They were like rabid dogs … when Jacob came on screen, I think it registered on the Richter scale; they screamed so loud.
When asked for his own take on this anecdote, Elordi responded with reluctance,
I don’t know. What do you say to that?
but ultimately admitted that Robbie’s friends were intense.
Elordi’s casting as Heathcliff was contentious given the character’s description in Emily Brontë’s novel as having dark skin, but Fennell defended the choice, arguing that Elordi
looked exactly like the illustration of Heathcliff on the first book that I read
. Even Elordi himself grappled with self-doubt during filming, revealing he experienced the greatest amount of doubt in his career at that time, conceding,
It was the first time I’d been like, ‘I don’t know if I’m good enough’.
His breakthrough came when he realized his struggle stemmed from holding on so tightly to the character, acknowledging,
Like, it’s Heathcliff. It has to be Heathcliff.
The looming question remains whether audiences will accept his interpretation of the iconic figure.
jacob elordi and books? i am going feral pic.twitter.com/nxzmSo89rF
— rona ☾ (@air6oll) January 2, 2024
