Jacob Elordi on The Narrow Road to the Deep North – and the “epic romance” of new Wuthering Heights

JACOB ELORDI I got a letter from Justin. For me, he was the peak of what I wanted to do as an actor from when I was about 14 years old, so I didn’t really need to read it. I was like, “Yeah, OK, I’ll come and do that!” As an actor, you want to do what you feel is important. You don’t want to phone it in; you don’t want to just present yourself on the day. When you get given a book like Richard’s, you can’t really ask for anything else as a performer.

JUSTIN KURZEL As for me, I’m a good mate of Richard’s. I was actually in London when he won the Man Booker Prize and we went out and celebrated. Then one day, at his shack on Bruny Island in Tasmania, he asked me whether I’d be interested in directing it as a longer form. We started from there and it’s probably been about a six-year process of trying to get it going. This sort of drama is hugely ambitious. We’re not making them every day now.

How tough was it shooting the jungle sequences?

JE It was incredibly demanding. Justin sat us down beforehand and said, “This is going to be really hard, but I promise you you’ll all remember what you share for ever.” And he was right. It was incredibly difficult, but it was also a really beautiful experience.

What makes this story so resonant now?

JK I think we’re surrounded by images that wouldn’t look out of place in World War Two right now. Looking back on those events and reminding generations that might be quite distant from it, we learn a lot. It directly speaks to today and it gives us insight and a sense of perspective that we need to be reminded of.

JE Through all atrocity and tragedy, we, as human beings, have made art. It’s something that we do naturally. It’s how we understand and it’s how we process; it’s how we remember. And it’s important that we do remember.

Jacob, after working in America and the UK, did you feel like you wanted to come back and tell an Australian story?

JE Very much so. I mean, we all just want to tell our own stories. And Australian cinema is this incredibly rich thing, and I think it’s something that doesn’t really get a look-in as much as it should. It’s something that I’m very passionate about.

What is it that still excites you about acting?

JE It’s like being 12 years old again. It’s like going to the park with your mum. It’s like petting a dog. It’s like drinking a really cold beer. It’s like everything that life has to offer in one glimpse. And you kind of chase that. Well, I feel like I try to chase that feeling, or whatever it is. It makes me feel like I’m here.

Justin, you’ve worked with some extraordinary actors in the past, including Michael Fassbender and Jude Law. How do they compare to Jacob?

JK He’s right up there. Jacob’s an extraordinary actor and is going to have some extraordinary roles in the future. His taste is impeccable, and the directors that he’s working with are really substantial.

Talking of which, Jacob, how do you reflect on the wild success of Saltburn?

JE It was mad. I’m just so happy that people responded to it. Emerald Fennell is a genius and it’s great to see her work on a stage like that.

You’ve just reunited with the director on Wuthering Heights, starring opposite Margot Robbie. What can we expect?

JE It’s an epic romance. It’s a scale of film you don’t see often any more. I’m really proud of it.

How do you feel about playing a heart-throb?

JE Love is inherent to every single human being, so it’s always going to be a common theme in cinema if you are making movies about people.

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