The intense relationship between Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi’s Saltburn characters left fans reeling.
But the real-life tension between the actors is also said to be palpable – with Barry confessing the pair ‘really flirted’ and have a ‘brotherly’ relationship off-screen after building up a close friendship on set.
The film shows Barry’s character Oliver Quick be welcomed into the home of ultra-rich kid Felix Catton, played by Jacob, 26, after the pair meet at Oxford University.
Oliver’s toxic infatuation with Felix sees him caught up in a web of lies and lust – culminating in one particularly eyebrow raising bathtub scene.
And after teasing fans with their budding bond throughout the film’s press tour, Barry, 31, confirmed the actors’ flirtatious relationship ‘ain’t just for the cameras’.
![Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi's intense Saltburn characters left fans reeling - but the real-life tension between the actors (pictured at the premiere in November) is also said to be palpable](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/10/14/79845347-12947205-image-m-37_1704898584711.jpg)
Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi’s intense Saltburn characters left fans reeling – but the real-life tension between the actors (pictured at the premiere in November) is also said to be palpable
![The film shows Barry's character Oliver Quick be welcomed into the home of ultra-rich kid Felix Catton, played by Jacob, 26, after the pair meet at Oxford University](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/10/15/79845333-12947205-The_film_shows_Barry_s_character_Oliver_Quick_be_welcomed_into_t-a-54_1704900098630.jpg)
The film shows Barry’s character Oliver Quick be welcomed into the home of ultra-rich kid Felix Catton, played by Jacob, 26, after the pair meet at Oxford University
The actors constantly gush about each other and their close friendship in interviews, with the n referring to his Irish co-star as ‘pure electricity’.
In one interview with Vogue, the chat ended with the pair grinning at each other and Jacob telling Barry: ‘You’re a really talented, handsome guy’, leaving the star blushing.
In pictures from the Saltburn premiere, the duo were practically giddy around each other – even pictured jokingly gazing into to one another’s eyes.
The internet was awash with memes and fantasies relating to the pair, as fans fawned over their connection. ‘Good God the sexual tension between Jacob Elordi and Barry Keoghan is electric,’ one fan wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
And the actors played up to the hype, with Barry giving his thoughts on the recently-released Jacob Elordi bathwater scented candle.
‘I already have 10 of them,’ he told Variety while smirking. ‘They’re all burning at my house right now.’
In a new interview with GQ this week, Barry shed light on the real reason why him and Jacob appear so close both on and off screen.
The Banshees of Inisherin actor said he has a very close relationship with the Euphoria star off-screen because they had to get ‘comfortable’ with each other due to their intimate Saltburn scenes.
![Barry said he has a very close relationship with Euphoria star Jacob (pictured together at the GQ Men of the Year Party in November) off-screen as he said they had to get 'comfortable'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/10/15/79801849-12947205-Barry_said_he_has_a_very_close_relationship_with_Euphoria_star_J-a-60_1704900098916.jpg)
Barry said he has a very close relationship with Euphoria star Jacob (pictured together at the GQ Men of the Year Party in November) off-screen as he said they had to get ‘comfortable’
![Barry and Jacob in a behind-the-scenes snap while filming Saltburn, posted to Instagram](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/10/15/79848319-12947205-Barry_Keoghan_and_Jacob_Elordi_in_a_behind_the_scenes_snap_while-a-55_1704900098634.jpg)
Barry and Jacob in a behind-the-scenes snap while filming Saltburn, posted to Instagram
![Jacob said: 'Barry, what drew you to Saltburn?' Barry responded: 'When I met Emerald, she told me that she had you kind of down to do it. So, Emerald, yourself and the script... '](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/10/15/79636551-12947205-Jacob_said_Barry_what_drew_you_to_Saltburn_Barry_responded_When_-a-56_1704900098639.jpg)
Jacob said: ‘Barry, what drew you to Saltburn?’ Barry responded: ‘When I met Emerald, she told me that she had you kind of down to do it. So, Emerald, yourself and the script… ‘
‘I’m really flirtin’,’ he told GQ. ‘We were constantly close. It ain’t just for the cameras and the premiere[s].
‘Me and Jacob—he’s like a brother to me, honestly. I think when you’re comfortable with someone, you can be as close as you want, you know what I mean?’
Barry again drove fans wild by revealing that the pair even had to kiss while filming – which did not make it into the final cut.
‘It’s not like, “Oh, don’t come near me” — it’s like, I’m comfortable,’ Barry continued.
‘We’ve just done a movie where we had to kiss, man. Look at the scenes we’ve done. You have to be comfortable with yourself.’
At hearing the news, one fan wrote: ‘Somewhere, there’s a version of saltburn where Jacob Elordi and Barry Keoghan kiss. I’m sick over this knowledge.’
Saltburn director Emerald Fennell originally had A-lister Timothee Chalamet down as who she wanted to play Oliver in the film, and it was actually Jacob who suggested Barry.
In an interview with Vogue, Barry and Jacob were asked what drew them to the film, both saying that Emerald was the key reason.
![Saltburn director Emerald Fennell (centre) originally had A-lister Timothee Chalamet down as who she wanted to play Oliver in the film, and it was actually Jacob who suggested Barry](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/10/15/77816093-12947205-Saltburn_director_Emerald_Fennell_centre_originally_had_A_lister-a-57_1704900098645.jpg)
Saltburn director Emerald Fennell (centre) originally had A-lister Timothee Chalamet down as who she wanted to play Oliver in the film, and it was actually Jacob who suggested Barry
Jacob said: ‘Definitely yeah, it was Emerald. Then she said she wanted Timothée Chalamet for it. And I said, “have you thought about Barry Keoghan?”‘
Months before the release of the hit film, Barry and Jacob were snapped working out together at the gym in April 2023.
The pair could be seen flexing their sculpted muscles and abs while posing for a couple of snaps inside a spacious gym – in a picture shared by fitness trainer Kirk Myers.
Released on November 17, Saltburn centres around Oxford scholarship holder, Oliver and his infatuation with his upper-class friend Felix.
Oliver struggles to fit in with the super wealthy crowd that study at the elite university, however Felix soon takes him under his wing.
Sought-after Felix eventually invites down on his luck Oliver to stay at his illustrious Saltburn mansion for the Summer, igniting a season of eccentricity, partying, chaos – and ultimately, death.
A number of scenes in the explosive thriller Saltburn set the internet ablaze, including one where Oliver drink’s Felix’s bathwater, as well as the ‘vampire sex’.
Yet one scene appears to set tongues wagging the most – when Oliver stimulates sex with the grave of the best friend he murdered.
![Months before the release of the hit film, Barry and Jacob were snapped working out together at the gym in April 2023](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/10/15/79848389-12947205-Months_before_the_release_of_the_hit_film_Barry_and_Jacob_were_s-a-59_1704900098656.jpg)
Months before the release of the hit film, Barry and Jacob were snapped working out together at the gym in April 2023