In an era where celebrity interviews can feel scripted, predictable, and overly polished, Jacob Elordi did something refreshingly simple and utterly disarming on January 27, 2026: he showed up to Jimmy Kimmel Live! with his golden retriever, Layla, in tow. The moment—captured in paparazzi shots of the towering Australian actor striding toward the studio doors, Layla trotting happily beside him—sent the internet into a tailspin of adoration. Suddenly, the man known for brooding roles in Euphoria, Saltburn, and the upcoming Wuthering Heights wasn’t just a heartthrob; he was relatable, grounded, and—according to gossip site Lainey Gossip—”immediately 10 points cooler.” In a Hollywood landscape obsessed with calculated image, bringing your dog to a late-night promo spot feels like a genuine flex of authenticity. And Layla, the Platonic ideal of a “good dog,” made it impossible not to fall a little harder for him.
The appearance wasn’t random. Elordi, 28, is in the thick of a career-defining media blitz. Fresh off a BAFTA nomination for his transformative role as the Creature in Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein (a film that has him collecting nods from SAG, Critics Choice, Palm Springs, and Santa Barbara festivals), he’s now promoting Maggie Gyllenhaal’s adaptation of Wuthering Heights for Warner Bros. Discovery. Add to that the looming final season of Euphoria—HBO’s cultural lightning rod—and Elordi is everywhere. But while other stars might arrive in designer suits or with a entourage of stylists, he rolled up with Layla, the golden retriever who’s become as much a part of his public persona as his signature brooding stare.
Layla isn’t just any pet; she’s a bona fide celebrity companion. Elordi has taken her everywhere—from Men’s Health shoots to Vogue features, and even on-set during the grueling makeup sessions for Frankenstein. Photos from that production show the actor, buried under prosthetic scars and stitches, cuddling Layla on breaks. “She was wonderful,” a crew member reportedly said, and Elordi himself has called her his constant companion, a “great teacher” in interviews. On The Tonight Show in late 2025, Jimmy Fallon pulled up a snapshot of Elordi in full Creature makeup hugging his dog, eliciting laughs and awws from the audience. Layla, unfazed by the monstrous transformation, simply wagged her tail. That bond—real, uncomplicated, and visible—translates powerfully on camera. When Elordi walked onto the Kimmel set with her, it wasn’t a gimmick; it was an extension of who he is off-screen.
The “Always Bring Your Dog” playbook isn’t new—Glen Powell has mastered it, turning appearances into viral moments by bringing his rescue pups. Powell’s strategy has paid dividends: it humanizes him, softens his leading-man image, and generates endless positive buzz. Elordi, consciously or not, seems to be borrowing from that page. But where Powell’s dogs add charm, Layla elevates Elordi to another level. Golden retrievers embody warmth, loyalty, and pure joy—the “Platonic ideal of dog,” as Lainey Gossip aptly put it. Her presence undercut any lingering perceptions of Elordi as aloof or overly serious. Here was a 6’5″ heartthrob, fresh from playing literary icons and tragic monsters, reduced to a doting pet dad. Fans ate it up.
Social media exploded the moment photos hit. On Instagram, Backgrid USA posted: “Jacob Elordi brought charm and chill vibes to Hollywood as he arrived at Jimmy Kimmel Live! with his dog in tow.” The reel racked up thousands of likes and comments like “He loves dogs!!!! Could he be more ridiculously perfect?!” and “He now brings dog to keep the ppl away” (a playful nod to his rumored aversion to crowds). On X, fans shared clips and stills, with hashtags like #JacobAndLayla trending locally. TikTok creators stitched together montages: Elordi in Saltburn‘s infamous bathtub scene fading into him scratching Layla’s ears. The consensus was unanimous—this was peak boyfriend material.
The Kimmel appearance itself was a masterclass in low-key promo. Elordi discussed his first concert, his very first crush, and other lighthearted personal anecdotes that fans crave. Jimmy Kimmel, ever the genial host, leaned into the fun—planting a playful kiss on Elordi’s cheek in one viral moment that had viewers swooning. But the real star was Layla, waiting patiently off-camera or perhaps lounging in the green room. The dog didn’t need lines; her mere existence softened the edges of Elordi’s intense on-screen persona. In a year where celebrity dogs (think Sydney Sweeney’s German shepherd puppy Sully Bear) have become cultural touchstones, Layla’s cameo felt timely and effortless.
Elordi’s journey to this moment has been anything but straightforward. Born in Brisbane, Australia, he shot to fame with Netflix’s The Kissing Booth trilogy—a bubbly teen rom-com series that made him a global sensation but also earned him some eye-rolls from critics. Elordi has been candid about his ambivalence toward the franchise, once calling parts of it “sh-t” in interviews. Lainey Gossip notes he hasn’t fully recanted those opinions, but there’s hope he’ll evolve—like Robert Pattinson did around age 30, reframing Twilight as a stepping stone rather than a millstone. Elordi’s post-Kissing Booth career has been a deliberate pivot: Euphoria‘s volatile Nate Jacobs showcased his dramatic range, Saltburn turned him into an indie darling, and Frankenstein positioned him as a prestige actor capable of physical and emotional extremes.
The BAFTA nod for Frankenstein—where he underwent a grueling 10-hour daily transformation into the Creature—cemented his arrival. Nominations from Oscar, SAG, and others followed, plus wins and honors at key festivals. He’s “kind of already won,” as Lainey puts it, in the eyes of industry insiders. Wuthering Heights offers another literary heavyweight role: Heathcliff, the brooding anti-hero opposite a yet-to-be-cast Catherine. Promoting it on Kimmel—a platform that has hosted Margot Robbie and others in similar waves—makes strategic sense. But bringing Layla? That’s the personal touch that cuts through the noise.
Gossip angles swirl, of course. There’s the rumored link to Olivia Jade Giannulli (the YouTube star and daughter of Lori Loughlin), but even Lainey admits more interest lies in whether Elordi brings his dog than in his dating life. Elordi has kept his personal world private, letting Layla do the talking. In British Vogue, he revealed she spends most of his time with him—a quiet admission that resonates in an industry full of flash. Dogs don’t lie; they don’t have agendas. They just love unconditionally, and in Hollywood, that’s rare currency.
The broader trend is telling. Celebrity dogs have become a soft-power tool: Taylor Swift’s cats, Pete Davidson’s pit bulls, or Glen Powell’s rescues—they humanize stars, deflect scrutiny, and generate feel-good content. Elordi’s adoption of the tactic feels organic. Layla has been photographed with him in New York streets (July 2025 walks), on sets, and now on late-night TV. Each sighting reinforces his image as approachable, even vulnerable—a counterpoint to the intense characters he plays.
Fans see it too. Comments flood in: “He’s so beautiful” alongside heart-eyes emojis; “I want a kiss too” (referencing the Kimmel peck); “He’s ridiculously perfect.” The internet, as Lainey warns, “will not be normal about any of this.” With Euphoria Season 3 on the horizon—potentially the final chapter—Elordi faces heightened scrutiny. Staying offline, walking Layla, and letting the work speak might be his best play.
In the end, January 27, 2026, wasn’t about a blockbuster reveal or scandalous confession. It was about a man and his dog, walking into a studio together. In that simplicity lies the magic: authenticity in a manufactured world. Jacob Elordi didn’t need fireworks; he had Layla. And in one effortless entrance, he reminded us why we root for stars—not for perfection, but for moments that feel real.
As the media tour rolls on, one thing is clear: Layla isn’t just a pet. She’s part of the brand, the heart, the cool factor boost. And if bringing your dog to Kimmel makes you 10 points cooler? Jacob Elordi just leveled up.
