Step aside, Timothée! How Jacob Elordi became Hollywood’s hottest heartthrob with big roles and his first big awards nod… after the 6-foot-2 hunk traded cheap movies for edgy parts

Since Saltburn hit the screens last year, Jacob Elordi has undoubtedly been the most popular name on film buffs’ lips.

The inimitable Australian hunk, 26, was praised not only for his skillful portrayal of the dashing and aristocratic Felix Catton, but also for his mountainous 6ft 3in frame, razor-sharp bone structure and rippling physique.

Yet to many, it seems like the nearly two-metre tall dream piece came out of nowhere, shortly before winning his first major prize for the coveted EE Rising Star award at the 2024 British Academy Film Awards.

He has admitted that he is less fond of his cheap start role as Noah Flynn in the Netflix trilogy Kissing Booth, but is now extremely proud of his critically acclaimed turns in Saltburn and Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla Presley biopic Priscilla.

So where did it all start for Jacob, who wins the hottest Hollywood heartthrob title, beating the likes of Timothée Chalamet and Austin Butler off the top.

WHERE IT ALL STARTED

Jacob’s first taste of fame came when he played an extra in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales in 2017, where he played the uncredited role of a Saint Martin’s Marine at just 17 years old.

His big break came a year later when he took on the role of Noah in 2018’s The Kissing Booth – the first of the films in the trilogy opposite Joey King.

While the films, which are based on Beth Reekles’ novel of the same name, put him on the map with their 2018, 2020 and 2021 installments, Jacob has previously admitted he isn’t too proud of the career roles.

He said, ‘I didn’t want to make those films before I made those films. Those movies are ridiculous. They are not universal. They are an escape.”

In 2019, Jacob cut his teeth on grittier work when he started playing Nate Jacobs in HBO’s Euphoria, which he admitted he preferred his cheesy early work: “It’s so much fun.” Playing Nate is so much fun.

‘Yes, it is demanding and intense. That’s what keeps me interested in this job because I’ll never be like that in my real life. So if I can play those emotions and people like that and completely remove myself, it’s a treat.”

BODY BEAUTIFUL

While his acting skills have certainly won plaudits, Jacob’s muscular body and staggering height are never far from the conversation.

Jacob previously spoke to Men’s Health about his workout routine and goals, saying, “I would never workout shirtless, but from day one I would just take off my shirt and have headphones on while I played Rage Against the Machine…

“I was trying to understand the mentality of what it’s like to be in the gym and look at yourself in the mirror and say, ‘F**k, I look good.’

He did admit that his body often dominates the discussion: ‘You quickly learn that what people take away from those films is your shape and your figure. There are all kinds of elderly people around the world who only talk about what you look like.”

He alluded to issues with male objectification, saying, “I don’t think it’s really a conversation people are having about men…

‘It doesn’t keep me awake at night, but it is certainly frustrating. You go to a shoot and you’re going to get changed or something, and someone says, ‘Oooaaah, do you want to watch?’ Can you imagine if I said to a woman: ‘Daaaaamn, look at your waist!’?…

“Like, see you later. I would never do that, but I think people see it on their screen so they think it’s okay.’

To play Elvis in his older years, Jacob tried to gain weight to portray the devastating star, but his efforts were underachieved.

He explained: ‘It was the first time in my life I had ever had a stomach ache. Bacon. It was about a pound of bacon a day. And when I was going to Canada [to film] it was poutine and burgers…

‘It’s really my pleasure. I could order Uber Eats and say, “Should I get that burger after I just ate Italian?” Yes. Yes, I will do that.”

WHAT THE DIRECTORS HAVE TO SAY

When Sofia cast him as Elvis, she revealed that they met at a restaurant and the reaction of the surrounding women led to him getting the part.

She recalled: ‘There were a few girls there and you could just feel them all turning towards him. I mean, it’s striking, so tall. But he just has charisma; he has an effect on women that, I think, is similar to Elvis’s.”

Jacob laughed, “I think those girls did me a great favor.”

She continued, “He’s so manly. I really wanted these archetypes where she was very feminine and he was very masculine. That an actor nowadays has such a super masculine acting quality… I don’t know if there are that many…

‘[He’s like] a classic movie star, like a Monty Clift or Paul Newman.’

Jacob’s future is certainly dazzling, with the hunk currently filming Paul Schrader’s Oh, Canada in Long Island, portraying a younger version of a character played by Richard Gere.

Regarding their similarities, Paul said: “With the exception of the height difference, he has much of the same qualities as Richard. I certainly could have made America Gigilo with him 40 years ago. In a way he is a throwback to a kind of movie star of yesteryear.’

Reflecting his star power, he said of the stunning star: “The most important thing that makes a movie star is mystery. A lot of good-looking kids usually act in movies, but not that many become stars.”