Jacob Elordi has spent the last year proving he is one of the most versatile actors of his generation. From his haunting portrayal of the Creature in Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein (winning Best Suporting Role in the Critics Choice Awards) to his upcoming turn in Wuthering Heights, the Australian actor is rarely associated with “lighthearted” fare.
However, in his latest cover story for W Magazine, released today, Elordi reminds us that before he was a prestige cinema darling, he was just a kid in Australia with a very specific set of TV and movie crushes. In a viral segment of the interview, Elordi lists an eclectic group of stars that defined his early years, proving that even a “monster” has a soft spot for The Lizzie McGuire Movie.
Jacob Elordi, winner of the Best Supporting Actor Award for “Frankenstein”, poses in the press room during the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association)
Elordi’s Childhood Crushes
When asked about his earliest cinematic crushes, Elordi didn’t hold back, listing a series of iconic 2000s figures that will be instantly familiar to anyone who grew up in that era.
Elordi’s first mention was a throwback to the 1960s with Barbara Eden in I Dream of Jeannie. It’s a classic pick that shows Elordi’s appreciation for the “Golden Age” of television started early.
The Olsen Twins: Moving into his own generation, he admitted to a double-crush on Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, specifically citing their final theatrical film, New York Minute (2004). “Both of them collectively,” he joked, noting the impact the twins had on every pre-teen in the early aughts.
The Disney Channel Era: Like most kids in the mid-2000s, Elordi was not immune to the power of Disney. He named Miley Cyrus during her Hannah Montana days as a major influence.
Perhaps the most relatable part of the interview was Elordi’s attempt to describe his crush on Hilary Duff. While he couldn’t quite remember the title, he perfectly described the plot of 2003’s The Lizzie McGuire Movie.
Hilary Duff and Yani Gellman in The Lizzie McGuire Movie / IMDb
“Hilary Duff, when she’s in Italy in that one movie,” Elordi recalled. “There’s a frog in the fountain, and there was a boy on a moped. Whatever age I was when those came out, I remember that.” The “boy on a moped” (Paolo Valisari, for those keeping track) and the famous Trevi Fountain scene clearly left a lasting impression on the future movie star.
