Jacob Elordi is barely recognizable as The Creature in the new “Frankenstein” film, directed by Guillermo del Toro.
The director told E! News during the film’s premiere Monday night that, “He took around 10 hours every day and about 42 pieces of makeup, prosthetics. And then he would have to work.”
The “Crimson Peak” director was impressed by how Jacob embraced the makeup.
“He did it all with grace and patience and love,” he said. “I told him, ‘Look, it’s like when a priest is getting dressed, there are many layers to the robes and the ceremonial guard. You have to think, this is your Ceremonial Guard. You’re invoking the Creature.”
He added, “And the result is heartbreaking and beautiful. It’s a really naked performance – emotionally so close to innocence that it breaks your heart.”
Oscar Isaac stars in the film as scientist Victor Frankenstein, and he was equally as impressed by how “effortless” Jacob was.
“He’s so put together,” Oscar told the outlet. “He was so effortless. He never complained. He was in 10 hours of makeup every day. The fact that he would just show up and was so beautiful and vulnerable and vulnerable and open, I was so impressed with him.”
Despite the “Frankenstein” story’s origins in gothic literature and association with horror movies, Guillermo doesn’t see his adaptation of the classic novel as a scary movie.
“It’s a story like Pinocchio, about a creature that is created by his father and thrown into the world, sort of into the deep end of the pool,” he told Variety in August. “He’s attempting to learn to swim by not drowning. Frankenstein is a song of the human experience. It’s the story of a father and a son.”
Jacob was cast as Frankenstein’s Creature after Andrew Garfield, 42, dropped out because of scheduling conflicts.
However, Guillermo – who has been wanting to make Frankenstein for three decades – previously said Jacob was the “perfect actor” to play The Creature.
In July, Guillermo told Vanity Fair, “We have a supernaturally good connection. It’s like, very few words. Very few things I have to say, and he does it.”
“Frankenstein” is in theaters October 17 for a limited run followed by its Netflix debut on November 7.
