Jacob Elordi on His Powerful Role in The Narrow Road to the Deep North and Transition to Frankenstein
Australian actor Jacob Elordi, known for Saltburn and Priscilla, takes on a demanding new role as Lt. Col. Dorrigo Evans, a World War II prisoner of war, in the Prime Video miniseries The Narrow Road to the Deep North. Based on Richard Flanagan’s Booker Prize-winning novel and set in Elordi’s hometown, this project marks a significant milestone in the actor’s fast-rising career.
Elordi shared that director Justin Kurzel was a major influence in his decision to join the project. Receiving a personal letter from Kurzel, whom he admired since his teens, made Elordi eager to read the novel and embrace the role. He described the experience as being handed the role he had wanted all his life with the filmmaker he had dreamed of working with.
To prepare mentally and physically, Elordi dove into extensive research on medical surgeons and the Burma Railway, while working closely with Kurzel for over a year and a half before filming. Kurzel created an immersive live-theater style set, where the cast was constantly in character, intensifying the authenticity of the experience.
Physically, the actors underwent a six-week “prisoner bootcamp” supervised by nutritionists and trainers to simulate the harsh conditions of the POW camps. Elordi reflected on how hunger stripped away all distractions, focusing the mind entirely on survival and the wellbeing of fellow prisoners.
After wrapping, Elordi enjoyed some much-needed comfort food, joking about the mixed results of indulging in sushi and Mexican dishes after months of hardship.
Returning to an Australian production was especially meaningful for Elordi. He appreciated using his natural accent and found relief in speaking without filters, unlike many American actors who often perform with altered accents.
Almost immediately after finishing The Narrow Road, Elordi was cast as the creature in Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming Frankenstein. He described this transition as a symbolic rebirth—from playing the deeply human Dorrigo, who faces death, to embodying the creature, a being starting completely anew. This journey, Elordi explained, required rebuilding himself physically, mentally, and spiritually, linking the two roles in a unique, transformative way.
