THESE TWO A-LISTERS ARE BATTLING TO BE THE NEXT JAMES BOND. HERE’S HOW THEY COMPARE

The name’s Turner. Callum Turner. Unless the name’s Elordi. Jacob Elordi. Was ever an audition process more opaque or longwinded than the casting of the new James Bond?

As the world waits with bated breath to see which of these two frontrunners is finally handed the life-changing accolade, the time seems right to assess their various merits.

Each is half of two of the world’s most famous power couples: this, we already know. But what lies under the bonnet of their shiny, undeniably easy-on-the-eye surfaces? The truth may surprise you.

The vital statistics

Turner: 35 years old, 6ft 1”, bodyweight 80kg, star sign Aquarius. Zero followers as zero social media. Has been described as having “piercing eyes, a boxer’s nose and shoulders broad enough to land a biplane on”.

Elordi: 28 years old, 6ft 5”, bodyweight 83kg, star sign Cancer. Also zero followers. Has been described as “not so much a tall drink of water as the entire water fountain”.

The backstories (spoiler: they’re both working class)

Turner: a born-and-bred Londoner raised on a west London estate by his mother, Rosemary, who works as a club promoter. “Steve Strange lived with us for a long time. I had this very working class upbringing… and also this colourful world that I was able to dive into of famous or interesting people,” he told The Sunday Times. He’s never publicly named his school other than to say he dropped out at 16. “School wasn’t for me”.

Elordi: born in Brisbane, Australia, and brought up with his three older sisters by his house painter father John and homemaker mother Melissa. “Growing up as the baby, I was definitely spoiled and I’m still spoiled,” he told GQ. He attended the all-boys Catholic schools St Kevin’s College in Melbourne and St Joseph’s College in Brisbane, graduating in 2015.

The record of service

Turner: a lifelong Chelsea fan, he planned to be a professional footballer and was crushed not to make it past semi-pro status. Happily, he had the looks to become a model, a Plan B which by the age of 18 had taken him all over the world. By 20, he’d become interested in acting. His first big role was in Fantastic Beasts (2018), followed by The Capture (2019), after which he starred alongside Anya Taylor-Joy in Emma (2020). His breakthrough role was in Steven Spielberg’s Masters of the Air (2024).

Elordi: he always wanted to act, even if his debut – playing a cat in a school production of Seussical aged 12 – wasn’t auspicious. Aged 19, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue the profession full time. It didn’t take him long to find success: by 20, he’d made his debut in teen flick franchise The Kissing Booth (2018) which led to a breakout role as Nate Jacobs in HBO hit Euphoria (2019). By the time season 3 aired earlier this year, Jacobs was a megastar, having starred in Priscilla (2023), Saltburn (2023), Frankenstein (2025) and Wuthering Heights (2026).

The fieldcraft

Turner: he once had to drop his waist size down to 28 inches, via an intense dietary regime consisting almost solely of tuna. He also underwent flight training for Masters of the Air.

Elordi: he studied Tibetan throat-singing to develop a husky voice for Frankenstein, and Butoh dance techniques to inhabit the monster’s movements. He also spent 11 hours in the make-up chair having prosthetics applied – though this is nothing compared to his prep for Wuthering Heights, which saw him accidentally injure himself with a steaming hot shower head, telling Esquire he ended up with a “second-degree burn”. Despite this, he claims not to be a method actor.

The love lives

Turner: after a six-year relationship with actress Vanessa Kirby, in 2024 he began dating multi-Brit and Grammy winning pop sensation Dua Lipa. They recently got married – twice – in London (Marylebone Town Hall), then in Italy (Palermo), in a lavish three-day ceremony whose specifics remain unknown, since the wedding photos haven’t surfaced yet. Vogue exclusive or genuine desire for privacy? Time will tell. Oh, and he designed Dua’s ring himself.

Elordi: as well as confirmed relationships with actress Joey King, model Kaia Gerber and influencer Olivia Jade, he’s also been linked to Euphoria co-star Zendaya. But this is history: he’s currently in a relationship with Kendall Jenner, 30, whom he’s been “quietly getting to know” since March. Or as quietly as you can, when your girlfriend is a Kardashian-Jenner with 278m Instagram followers.

The pets

Turner: Has a six-year-old dog, Golo, who is half-Labrador, half-Rottweiler – an unusual yet spookily apposite mix of breed for the next Bond, a man who himself could be described as 50 per cent Lab, 50 per cent Rotty. Turner sweetly describes Golo as his best friend. Other than his wife, obvs.

Elordi: Has a golden retriever named Layla, who he has called his “best friend and confidante”, and has occasionally accompanied him to interviews. In one, he joked that Layla is a service dog because “she makes me happy, which is a service”.

The residences

Turner: is too in-demand to live in any one place, but is primarily London-based, and thought to split his time between a flat in South London and Lipa’s pad near Primrose Hill.

Elordi: is thought to split his time between a property in the Hollywood Hills and a more nature-focused retreat in Byron Bay, Australia.

The brands

Turner: modelled for Next in 2010, Burberry in 2014, and has a lucrative deal with Louis Vuitton, for whom he’s been a brand ambassador since 2024.

Elordi: top-tier all the way, having worked with Calvin Klein, Boss and Tag Heuer. He’s currently coining it as a brand ambassador for Cartier, Bottega Veneta and Bleu de Chanel.

The cash

Turner: a reportedly modest fortune of $5m (£3.73m), dwarfed by his wife’s $200m (£149m) stash. Though watch this space.

Elordi: also surprisingly modest, at $4m (£2.98m), and also overshadowed by his girlfriend’s $60m (£45m). Not that he’d get his hands on it even if they married. Momager Kris is way too shrewd for that.

2026-06-13T05:19:03Z