Jacob Elordi Finds Peace Through Cassavetes

Jacob Elordi reveals how Opening Night eased his acting doubts and creative struggles.

Jacob Acting Self-Doubt

According to Elordi, a 1977 Cassavetes classic made him feel “less insane and alone” as an actor.

The star, who has appeared in more than ten films as of his latest project, admitted this while talking about his past acting demons.

At a recent appearance at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, Elordi surprised many by speaking candidly about his anxiety on set.

Not a recent critical success or a visit from a familiar director, but a movie called Opening Night, written and directed by John Cassavetes, helped him get better.

For an actor who often appears to “be himself”, who is constantly in the klieg lights, this is a major display that the troubles of a serious craft can often hurtle a person in very public ways.

What to Know

At the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, Elordi spoke about Cassavetes’ film, 1977’s Opening Night, which made him realize that he was “less insane and alone” as an actor.

Elordi revealed that he was very judgmental of himself at a very young age. Eager to become a serious actor, but realizing that he lacked gravitas and thinking that some of his earlier roles were lesser, he started to doubt himself and his ability to perform.

The film that changed his attitude towards these self-judgments was Cassavetes’ own directorial debut. A psychological drama about a stage actress who witnesses a fan’s suicide and has a severe breakdown before her Broadway show.

Elordi revealed that this was the first time he saw such a raw and tangible look at the process of an actor.

Before this film, he used to think about his mind and body betraying him during the most crucial of moments and assumed that there was something fundamentally wrong with him.

Elordi later understood that his job was much more than just learning lines and delivering them on cue. The process of finding the character was often much more physically and psychologically taxing than most give it credit for.

Even today, Elordi is known to have severe anxiety about embodying a role before he shoots it.

He even said that he sometimes finds himself on the floor during preparations and wonders if there is something fundamentally wrong with him for even entertaining the idea that he needs to ‘break’ for a role.

He even questions if the real actor in him would just smash a window and walk away instead of doing his job.

With more than ten movies in his filmography, Elordi still claims to re-watch it for a better understanding of the role.

He says that it is a very holistic process and often starts with any given part of the body, rarely with the actor’s mind, and without them even realizing it.

Why It Matters to Him

Elordi has had a particular interest in balancing two very different parts of the entertainment industry: a regular actor and a stage actor.

His comments showcase an environment where these two identities have clashed, and the sheer disappointment and dejection that came with it.

Elordi admits that the success of his early roles or performances did little to ease his self-guilt. In essence, he was a victim of his own standards for the job, and he found little solace in external validation.

The fact that he did not turn to more traditional methods for curing self-loathing is a major indicator of the kind of professional he is.

Elordi is a serious student of his craft, and Cassavetes’ film made him realize that the process of making art is much more vital than succeeding at it. This also explains why he picked very intense roles throughout his career.

Elordi joins the ranks of actors, especially in the modern era, who speak very openly about such psychological burdens and the physical toll they take on them. This level of openness and vulnerability from a celebrity often makes the public connect to them on a deeper level.

The Takeaway

Elordi has revealed the kind of anxiety actors, especially the ones who strive to be bigger than their medium, often have to deal with. These demons often start with a feeling of inadequacy at the very start of a long and thankless journey.

The fact that he spoke so openly about these struggles is what made fans connect to him so closely. Meanwhile, his citing of Cassavetes’ film showcases the kind of professionalism and dedication that got him to where he is.

Elordi says that the role of an actor is not to be vain or narcissistic about their work, but to realize that the craft is a privilege and one that demands a lot of its students.

As per him, Cassavetes simply made him realize that such struggles are normal for someone committed to their art.

Tell us in the comments if you think that an actor’s vulnerability about their processes makes their performances more relatable or that we are better served when they keep their methods mysterious.