Jacob Elordi and Pedro Almodóvar. Monica Schipper/Getty Images, Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images for Loewe Pedro Almodóvar is questioning if Jacob Elordi‘s rise to acclaim in the entertainment industry has occurred because he’s a “sex symbol or a respected actor.”
During an appearance on the La Pija y la Quinqui podcast, the Spanish filmmaker was encouraged to collaborate with the Oscar winner in a future project. Almodóvara admitted that Elordi’s stardom is “real,” but that some of the projects he’s taken part in have led him to question if he’s become popular solely for his acting skills.
“I can now see that Jacob Elordi’s stardom is indeed real,” Almodóvar said, per the HuffPost. “I was still wondering whether he was a sex symbol or a respected actor.”
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The Room Next Door director specifically described Wuthering Heights, which Elordi recently starred in, as “very bad.” However, the filmmaker noted that it wasn’t the actor or his co-star Margot Robbie’s fault that he disliked the film. He added, “They do what they can.”
He also discussed Elordi’s Oscar-nominated performance in Frankenstein, noting that the titular role is “comfortable” part for an actor to take on. Almodóvar also argued that Guillermo del Toro’s take on the classic story depicted the monster of Frankenstein in a different, more attractive light.
“We still need to see him, at least I do, in another role that demands more from him,” Almodóvar added.
Elordi is currently starring in the third season of Euphoria, a project that undoubtedly rose his prominence in the industry. As of late, he has also starred in Wuthering Heights (2026), Priscilla (2023) and Saltburn (2023); he’ll next lead Ridley Scott’s The Dog Stars.
Frankenstein not only earned Elordi his first Academy Award nomination, but also a Golden Globe nomination, an Actor Award nomination and a Critics Choice Award.
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