In an exclusive interview, Jacob Elordi reflects on his new mantle as the face of Bleu de Chanel, marking a cinematic shift for the fragrance as it enters a high-velocity era. The announcement follows a string of transformative years for the Australian actor, whose recent Academy Award nomination for Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ and his recent turn as Heathcliff opposite Margot Robbie in the controversial ‘Wuthering Heights’ have cemented him as the defining leading man of 2026.
Elordi first crossed paths with the Maison on the set of Luca Guadagnino’s ‘See You at 5’ campaign for N°5, where he starred alongside Robbie. Thomas du Pré de Saint Maur, Chanel’s Head of Global Creative Resources for Fragrance & Beauty, describes meeting him as a “revelation,” noting that Elordi “perfectly embodies Bleu de Chanel: expressing freedom, mystery, magnetism and a masculinity that blends modernity with a certain classic elegance.”
For the first time in the history of the fragrance, Chanel is venturing into the world of action cinema. Directed by the legendary Alfonso Cuarón, the upcoming campaign film for ‘Bleu de Chanel L’Exclusif’ – set to debut this May – reimagines the scent through the lens of a sleek spy thriller. Elordi embraced the physical demands of the role, spending days perfecting fight choreography and stunts to ensure the story landed with impact. “The entire strength of the story relied on the precision of body language,” Elordi says of the experience. “Alfonso and I were both keen to explore a world centred around action. It was his idea to approach the campaign like a spy film.”
The actor’s personal connection to the fragrance is rooted in its lack of pretension. “There’s a certain subtlety in this fragrance that I really appreciate. It can be understood without being too obvious. It’s never overwhelming,” he says, adding that he is naturally drawn to authentic, woody notes and the “deep, intense midnight blue” that has defined the bottle since its inception in 2010.
Joining a lineage of ambassadors that includes Gaspard Ulliel and Timothée Chalamet, Elordi views the role as a nod to his own obsession with film history. “Bleu de Chanel has strong ties to cinema,” he says. “The filmmakers and actors who have collaborated with the House before me are people I deeply respect and admire. Being able to become part of this story is an honour.”
As the brand pushes into a riskier, more instinctive territory with Cuarón at the helm, Elordi’s modern masculinity provides the perfect anchor for the House’s most ambitious olfactory chapter yet.
photography. courtesy of Chanel
words. Gennaro Costanzo
