Jacob Elordi says filming Wuthering Heights left him 'out of sorts' and questioning himself

“Waking up every day, it’s so dark and so cold. I think I was base‑level depressed,” Elordi explained

Actor Jacob Elordi has opened up about the emotional challenges he faced while filming the upcoming adaptation of Wuthering Heights, admitting the experience left him feeling “out of sorts” and even doubting his own abilities.

Elordi, 28, who stars as the tortured antihero Heathcliff in the film directed by Emerald Fennell, told Vogue Australia that the shoot — largely done in the cold, dark winter months — took a toll on his mood and confidence. “Waking up every day, it’s so dark and so cold. I think I was base‑level depressed,” he said, describing how different this experience was compared with shooting his previous film Saltburn during sunnier weather.

The Euphoria and Saltburn star also revealed that when Fennell first asked him to take on the iconic role of Heathcliff, he questioned whether he was up to the task. “It was the first time I’d been like, I don’t know if I’m good enough,” Elordi said. “Saltburn allowed for a lot of improv… But because she had asked me to make Wuthering Heights, I was holding it so tightly…”

He continued that the early weeks of filming included the “greatest amount of doubt I’ve probably ever had” about a role, and that he would go home each day wrestling with uncertainty. “Cause I really love her. I really love her… I usually don’t think about letting someone down, and I really didn’t want to let her down,” Elordi said of working with Fennell.

Over time, he said, those intense feelings faded and he began to feel more comfortable and connected to the material, likening the shift to the freer atmosphere he experienced on Saltburn. “Then it started to feel like Saltburn again, when I let go and relinquished a little bit…” Elordi explained.

The film — a fresh cinematic take on Emily Brontë’s 1847 literary classic — stars Elordi opposite Margot Robbie, who portrays Catherine Earnshaw. Their portrayal of one of literature’s most famous and tumultuous romances has already drawn attention ahead of the movie’s release. Robbie has also shared stories about Elordi’s thoughtful gestures on set, including a memorable Valentine’s Day surprise for her dressing room, which she praised as both meaningful and dramatic.

Elordi’s candid reflections provide a rare glimpse into the emotional journey behind bringing complex literary characters to life, showing that even rising stars can struggle with self‑doubt while striving to meet high expectations in demanding roles.