The Spin

Jacob Elordi's candid discussion positions him as a dedicated method actor willing to endure physical suffering for his craft. The Fight Club comparison suggests artistic ambition and a desire to be taken seriously beyond teen drama typecasting.

The Tea

Insiders reveal Euphoria's set was notoriously grueling under Sam Levinson's direction. Sources say Elordi physically broke down during filming — both literally (heels) and figuratively (emotionally). The 'torture me' comment? That's not a joke. Former crew members have whispered for months about the brutal conditions on set.

The Receipts

Elordi is confirmed to be 29 years old as of this interview. He directly stated in the Hollywood Reporter conversation: "I think Sam brought me back to torture me." The actor broke both heels during filming and described getting physically pummeled for weeks straight on the Sam Levinson-created drama.

The Last Byte

Jacob Elordi just confirmed what everyone suspected — playing Nate Jacobs wasn't acting, it was an ordeal. And if Sam Levinson's 'torture' comment is any indication, Euphoria's final season was as punishing behind the camera as it was explosive in front of it.

Jacob Elordi is finally ready to talk about how much destruction Nate Jacobs caused him — and trust me, it's a lot. The 29-year-old Australian actor sat down with Hollywood Reporter at Cannes and pulled zero punches when discussing the violent demise of his infamous Euphoria character. For three seasons, Elordi played HBO's most loathed golden boy, a toxic manipulator who terrorized Rue, Jules, and basically everyone within arm's reach.

But behind that menacing on-screen presence? A man who literally broke both his heels filming the show's brutal final arcs. "It's like Fight Club," Elordi said, comparing the experience to David Fincher's notoriously grueling 1999 cult classic.

And honestly? That tracks. Fight Club famously pushed Brad Pitt and Edward Norton through weeks of physical torment — getting punched for real, bleeding on camera, the whole brutal method approach.

If Elordi's drawing that parallel, Nate Jacobs' final moments weren't just emotionally devastating — they were physically punishing in ways viewers never fully realized. The Euphoria star didn't hold back when discussing creator Sam Levinson's direction either. "I think Sam brought me back to torture me," Elordi revealed, a comment that's equal parts joke and confession.

This isn't some mild complaint about early call times or craft services disappointment — this is an actor suggesting the showrunner's deliberate intent to break him down for authenticity. Whether you view that as artistic dedication or concerning working conditions depends on how much grace you're willing to extend to HBO's prestige drama machine. The physical toll Elordi describes goes beyond standard actor complaints.

Getting "pummeled for weeks straight" isn't hyperbole — it's a literal account of sustained violence captured on camera, likely resulting in the heel injuries he referenced. For context: Elordi stands at 6'5", meaning every fight scene involved coordinated choreography multiplied by his frame size against co-stars. That's not stunt padding and careful angles — that's real impact, accumulated over months of filming.

What makes this interview particularly juicy is the timing. Euphoria concluded its run as one of HBO's most-watched series ever, generating cultural conversations about teen addiction, sexuality, and violence. Elordi emerged from that noise relatively unscathed publicly despite playing an objectively monstrous character.

Now, post-show, he's finally admitting what it cost him — both physically and presumably mentally. The Fight Club comparison is particularly telling. Fincher's film famously depicted toxic masculinity spiraling into violence and identity dissolution, with its characters literally beating each other bloody in basement fight clubs.

If Elordi sees parallels between that cinematic nightmare and his Nate Jacobs experience, Euphoria's final season was darker than even its most devoted viewers realized. Bottom line: Jacob Elordi just confirmed what set insiders have whispered for months. Playing Nate Jacobs wasn't a career opportunity — it was an ordeal. And if Sam Levinson's "torture me" comment reveals anything, it's that the show's creator got exactly the raw, physically devastating performance he wanted by breaking his star down in the process.

📰 Sources

Hollywood Reporter

📷 Axelle/Bauer-Griffin · Getty Images