Jacob Elordi was struggling with his confidence as an actor. A 1977 John Cassavete movie made him feel less alone
Jacob Elordi said John Cassavetes’ 1977 film *Opening Night* helped him feel less alone while he was struggling with confidence as a young actor. He saw the film’s portrayal of an actor’s inner creative work as reassurance that his own doubts and turmoil could be part of developing a character.
Speaking at a Santa Monica event on 16 October, Elordi recalled making three films he considered poor and once aspiring to become a stage actor. *Opening Night* stars Gena Rowlands as Myrtle Gordon, an ageing stage performer who suffers a breakdown after a traumatic event. Elordi said the film showed him that acting involves more than learning and delivering lines.
- *Opening Night* reassured Elordi during a difficult period.
- He had doubts about his early acting work.
- The film helped him understand the inner work of acting.
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John Cassavetes was an American actor and film-maker known for films focused on people’s emotions and relationships. His 1977 film Opening Night stars Gena Rowlands as Myrtle Gordon, a stage actor whose confidence and sense of self are shaken by events around her work.
The film follows the effort of making a character, as well as the performance seen by an audience. Elordi has described it as a reminder that an actor’s doubts and inner struggles can be part of that creative process, which helped him think about his own early career.