Jacob Elordi believes a strange childhood experience at Blockbuster Video cursed him. He attributes it to seeing the unsettling image of the Pale Man from the movie “Pan’s Labyrinth” – specifically, the picture of the creature with eyes in its palms on the DVD cover.
Jacob Elordi recalls a childhood memory his mother shared with him. He excitedly ran through the house, determined to watch a particular DVD, but his mother wouldn’t let him, finding the content too violent and graphic.
Guillermo del Toro, the director of the Oscar-winning dark fantasy film, adds, sitting beside Elordi, ‘She said, “I’ll do it only if you absolutely promise to never work with that director again.”‘
Young Elordi got to see “Pan’s Labyrinth,” and it had a profound impact on him. The film, set during the Spanish Civil War, truly changed his perspective. He explains, “After seeing how Guillermo del Toro brought magic to life, I felt like I was somehow destined to pursue similar storytelling.” He admits it sounds strange, but he genuinely believes it’s true.
Jacob Elordi, 28, is now starring as the Creature in director Guillermo del Toro’s version of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” (in theaters Friday, streaming on Netflix November 7th). He undergoes a striking transformation with detailed prosthetics and makeup to play the being brought to life by the ambitious scientist Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac) – a patchwork of body parts given new awareness.
The Creature, capable of both gentle feelings and sudden rage, finds a perfect match in actor Jacob Elordi, who skillfully portrays its complex and volatile emotions. Makeup artist and prosthetics designer Mike Hill notes that it was Elordi’s innocent portrayal that was most striking, capturing how quickly the Creature could shift from calm to explosive, much like a wild animal.
Guillermo del Toro’s monster isn’t just a beast; it’s capable of deep thought, questioning why it exists and lamenting the actions of its creator. Del Toro compares the creature’s internal struggles to the philosophical questions posed by John Milton in his works, suggesting a poignant dialogue with its maker. He emphasizes the need to portray the monster with a physical presence that is both unsettlingly realistic and strangely human.
Australian actor Jacob Elordi, known for his tall and striking looks, has become increasingly popular recently. He’s gained recognition for his work in the popular show “Euphoria” and the suspenseful film “Saltburn.”
“Frankenstein,” however, seems to have been calling his name for a long time.
Jacob Elordi remembers seeing harsh criticism online after his first movie. Someone wrote that he could only play Frankenstein’s monster and should be taken off the screen. Surprisingly, Elordi thought it was a great suggestion!
While filming Sofia Coppola’s 2023 movie “Priscilla,” where he portrayed a brooding and introspective Elvis Presley opposite Cailee Spaeny, Jacob Elordi learned about another project. Even before he accepted the role, the hair and makeup artists working on “Priscilla” mentioned they would next be working on Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein.”
I saw Cliona Furey, the hair designer, and told her I felt like I was supposed to be in the film. She asked if I’d even auditioned, and I replied that I hadn’t, but I just knew I belonged in it.
Elordi describes the role as something that came to him unexpectedly. He felt a powerful, almost compulsive need to play the character, comparing it to a growing feeling within him. He’d heard other actors describe similar experiences – a sense of destiny – and now feels strongly that he was meant to take on this part.
Andrew Garfield had to leave the project late in 2023 because of other commitments. With filming scheduled to begin in early 2024, director Guillermo del Toro needed to quickly find a replacement. When Jacob Elordi learned he was a potential candidate, he had to read the script immediately and fully commit to the challenging role.
He says he had some time to get ready, but he felt fortunate to draw on a lifetime of experiences – and he meant that genuinely. He described the role as a deep dive into his own past, reflecting on everything from his relationships with his parents to childhood memories and his love of movies.
Del Toro realized Elordi was ideal for the Creature role after their Zoom conversation. He instantly contacted Adam Isaac, who was playing Victor, certain Elordi could embody both sides of the creature – what Del Toro describes as ‘Adam and Jesus’.
Del Toro doesn’t believe he’s often witnessed true miracles, but he feels a particular person profoundly changed the course of this film. He describes that individual as a miracle, having transformed the project in a significant way.
Like he does with all his actors, Guillermo del Toro sent Jacob Elordi several books before they began working together. Elordi received a reading list that included the classic Taoist text “Tao Te Ching,” a highly-praised translation of the Book of Job by Stephen Mitchell, and a book detailing the stages of infant development.
Del Toro feels the hardest part of the performance is portraying “nothingness” – the unformed, innocent state of mind of a baby. As Elordi explains, a baby experiences a full range of intense emotions – both joy and pain, and a powerful curiosity – but hasn’t yet developed the ability to process or categorize those feelings.
Just before filming “Frankenstein,” Jacob Elordi had been working on a demanding World War II miniseries for Prime Video in Australia called “The Narrow Road to the Deep North.” He lost a significant amount of weight during filming, and he then used that physical vulnerability to enhance his performance in “Frankenstein.”
He recalls feeling scattered and overwhelmed. He would often wake up around 3 a.m. with intense physical pain and deep emotional distress. He saw this suffering as a positive thing, though, as it gave him the ability to express these feelings authentically when working on ‘Frankenstein’.
Beyond just providing a way to relieve stress, taking on the role also allowed Elordi to get his bearings. He started working on “Frankenstein” when he was questioning his direction in life.
“I was at a point where I just wanted to disappear,” Elordi explains. “I needed to get away and find a normal life again, and work on how I behaved and approached my work.” When he was offered the film role, he initially felt reluctant. “I really needed a break right then,” he remembers. But he quickly realized the character offered the perfect escape. “It was like the role was exactly where I needed to be – a chance to hide and be free.”
Was he looking to get away from the stress of becoming famous? According to Elordi, his reasons were actually more about deeper questions and beliefs.
He wonders about his own identity – who he is, and how he appears to others. He reflects on his preferences, dislikes, and capacity for love, even questioning the very definition of it. He describes this internal exploration as the profound and sometimes overwhelming experience of simply being alive.
The process involved completely immersing himself in a different persona. This freedom allowed Elordi to let go of his inhibitions, entering a detached and almost dreamlike state. Each moment felt new and revealing.
He felt freed by the makeup he wore. It allowed him to move past a previous version of himself. Over the next six months, he fundamentally changed who he was, and by the end of the film, he felt like a completely new person.
On days when the full creature makeup was needed, Jacob Elordi would spend up to ten hours getting it applied—or four hours if only his face was being transformed. According to makeup artist Barrie Hill, Elordi was prepared for the demanding process and insisted on wearing the makeup himself.
Elordi described the experience as almost spiritual. He was incredibly excited, even just getting the cast for his body – he felt full of energy.
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Hill argues that Guillermo del Toro’s version of Frankenstein’s creature stands out because of the unusual choice to depict him with no hair during his infancy.
Hill explains that Victor Frankenstein didn’t just *create* a baby like in cloning – he actually *made* a fully-formed, albeit large, infant. The Creature learns so rapidly because its brain and body have experienced life before, and it’s unclear what memories it held before forgetting and needing to be taught.
Del Toro wanted the creature’s skin to resemble marble, a visual style he’d explored in previous films like “Cronos,” “Blade II,” and “The Devil’s Backbone.”
According to Del Toro, Mike skillfully refined the creature’s appearance, blending skin tones with shades of violet, purple, and a pearly sheen. Del Toro was particularly impressed that it looked like it was made of drained bodies, calling it a remarkably brilliant touch that exceeded his expectations.
According to Hill, a creature like Frankenstein’s monster, but with brightly colored skin, feels perfectly suited to the imaginative world of a Guillermo del Toro film.
Del Toro explains they wanted the creature to appear flawlessly beautiful, like something from a scientific illustration of the head or body. They specifically decided against any imperfections like scars or stitches, aiming for a pure, unblemished look.
Guillermo del Toro’s choice of Jacob Elordi for the role proved perfect the moment Elordi stepped onto the set with his full makeup on. “It was all about building anticipation,” Elordi explained. “Then I opened my eyes and saw del Toro looking back at me, and it was exactly the feeling I had when I first read the script.”
Hill knew Jacob Elordi was perfect for the Creature role after seeing him in an interview. He was struck by how naturally relaxed Elordi seemed – particularly his wrists. Hill also noted Elordi’s long eyelashes and large eyes, which he felt would look great with makeup. Additionally, Elordi’s subtly shaped nose provided a good base for prosthetics and makeup to build upon.
Hill adds with a laugh, responding to Del Toro’s amusement, that he decided against using prosthetics to enhance his chin. He didn’t feel it was necessary.
Elordi reacted with playful defensiveness when someone commented on his appearance, responding with a bit of self-deprecating humor: “He wasn’t exactly a looker, but he had some talent. A weirdly thin guy.”
Elordi describes feeling a change in his energy levels after finishing makeup. Though physically tired, he felt perfectly prepared mentally and emotionally to play the character and portray their struggle in a harsh world.
Elordi explains that the person will always be a part of who he is, like a fundamental element of his being. He acknowledges their lasting presence in his life, saying he’s made space for them, but admits he can’t logically explain their impact.
Whether by curse or by miracle, Elordi’s Creature lives. And the actor feels reborn.
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2025-10-16 13:36