Jacob Elordi calls David Bowie his favourite musician: “The guy’s a genius”
It’s been five years since Jacob Elordi made his feature film debut with an unfortunate first role in Netflix’s cringe-inducing rom-com The Kissing Booth, but he was finally awarded his real breakthrough as an actor in 2023. Putting his days as Noah Flynn behind him, Elordi has come into his own through a series of dramatic roles ranging from a posh Oxford student to Elvis Presley.
Elordi became the name on everyone’s lips as he starred in two of the most discussed features of the year. He delivered a chilling performance as Presley in Sofia Coppola’s beautifully shot biopic, Priscilla, which took a closer look at the so-called King of Rock and Roll’s relationship with Priscilla Presley.
Overshadowing Austin Butler’s recent take on Presley with ease, Elordi embodied the dark power of ‘The King’, supporting Cailee Spaeny’s stunning and nuanced performance as the titular character. But Elordi’s most talked-about role came in Emerald Fennell’s gothic Saltburn, a film that prompted impassioned debate due to its dubious class criticism and a series of shocking scenes.
Utilising his charisma to embody another character marked by wealth and power, Elordi stood his ground opposite stunning performances from the unsettling Barry Keoghan and the scene-stealing Rosamund Pike. In 2023, we’ve learned more about Elordi as an actor than ever before, as he’s cemented himself as a rising indie star.
Between various appearances and interviews, we’ve also learned more about Elordi as a person. Over the course of various press tours, the Aussie actor has divulged some of his own favourite pieces of media, from his favourite films to his reading recommendations. Elordi has also revealed his musical tastes, which range from Bon Iver to Fred Again.
During a conversation with GQ, the Saltburn star spoke about some of his favourite things in the world, and he named David Bowie as one of his favourite artists. Noting that he has a “thing about things that are ‘overrated-underrated’”, Elordi suggested that The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars could fall into that category.
The concept album birthed Bowie’s most famous alter-ego in Ziggy Stardust and spawned some of his most beloved songs, including ‘Starman’ and ‘Moonage Daydream’. Elordi divulged that he had been “listening to that album kind of in everything I do, particularly this song called ‘Five Years’. I love the way it sounds and I love the way it feels.”
Elordi continued to gush over the impact of the glam rock icon, deeming him a “trendsetter”, a “world-shaker”, and a “genius”. They’re strong words, but if there’s anyone whose work might come close to deserving them, it’s Bowie.
