In a startling revelation, actor Jacob Elordi has disclosed that he was hospitalised with second-degree burns following a bizarre accident during the production of the upcoming film adaptation of Wuthering Heights. The incident occurred in a steam shower at his temporary residence, leading to a painful injury that required medical attention.
Freak Accident on Set
Elordi, who stars as Heathcliff in the new cinematic version of Emily Brontë's classic 1847 novel, detailed the mishap in an interview with Esquire. He explained that the accident happened after a playful challenge from the film's make-up artist, Siân Miller, who jested that a method actor like Daniel Day-Lewis would have arrived on set with authentic scars for the role.
"She challenged me: 'If Daniel Day-Lewis was playing Heathcliff, he would have come in with scars,'" Elordi recalled. "I said, 'Well I'm going to go away and maim myself on the weekend to prove to you that I'm Heathcliff!'"
Steam Shower Scald
That evening, Elordi returned to the house where he was staying, which featured a steam shower with a brass knob emitting steam from the wall. Determined to maintain better hygiene than during previous roles, he sat on the shower floor to clean his feet. "I leant back and my back seared into the steam knob and I stood up screaming; it tore up my back," he described. The result was a severe second-degree burn that became apparent when he returned to work the following Monday.
Director Emerald Fennell, who previously collaborated with Elordi on the controversial 2023 film Saltburn, expressed her shock upon learning of the injury. She received a text from producer Josey McNamara stating, "Jacob's in hospital." Initially fearing a car accident, Fennell was relieved yet amused to discover the true cause. "He's burnt his back in the shower," McNamara clarified, prompting Fennell to quip, "You know what, Josey? Start with that."
Method Acting Gone Awry
When Fennell later asked Elordi if the injury aligned with "the spirit of Daniel Day-Lewis," the actor humorously responded, "It was actual Daniel Day-Lewis. In the shower." This light-hearted exchange underscores the unexpected perils that can arise during film production, even from routine activities off-set.
The new adaptation of Wuthering Heights also stars Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw, reuniting Elordi and Fennell for this highly anticipated project. The film is scheduled for release on February 13, adding to the buzz surrounding its cast and creative team.
This incident highlights the physical demands and risks actors sometimes face, even outside of traditional stunt work, as they immerse themselves in their roles. Elordi's experience serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of safety in all aspects of filmmaking.
