Career Highlights |
||
Actor Credits
FilmographyActor CreditsAlfie [2005] |
||
Jude Law Biography |
||
|
Early life
Law was born in Lewisham, South London, England to teachers Peter and Maggie Law, who run a drama school in France. His sister Natasha is a well regarded illustrator and artist. He was educated at `John Ball` Primary school in Blackheath and Kidbrooke School in Kidbrooke then Alleyn`s School in Dulwich. He started acting with the National Youth Music Theatre at the age of 12 and, at 17, dropping out of school completely. [edit] Career Law`s first major stage role was as Foxtrot Darling, the sexually ambiguous and manipulative teenager in Philip Ridley`s The Fastest Clock In The Universe. Law went on to appear as Michael in the West End production of Indiscretions, an imaginative re-working of Jean Cocteau`s tragicomedy Les parents terribles directed by Sean Mathias, a role he subsequently played on Broadway opposite Kathleen Turner, Roger Rees and Cynthia Nixon. After minor roles in British television, including a two year stint in the Granada TV soap opera Families in 1990, Law had his breakthrough with the British ram-raiding drama Shopping which also featured his future wife Sadie Frost. He shot to fame in Britain upon the release of Wilde, in which he played Lord Alfred Douglas, the glamorous lover of Stephen Fry`s Oscar Wilde. He subsequently moved to Hollywood; his performances include Gattaca, as a frustrated Olympic medalist bound by a wheelchair, in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil as the ill-fated lover of Kevin Spacey`s character, and in Road to Perdition as a sadistic hitman in a critically-praised performance. He has been nominated for an Academy Award twice; once as Best Supporting Actor for his performance in The Talented Mr. Ripley in 2000, and then again as Best Actor in a Leading Role for Cold Mountain in early 2003. In 1997 he set up a film company, Natural Nylon, with Sadie Frost and fellow friends and thespians Jonny Lee Miller, Ewan McGregor, Sean Pertwee, Damon Bryant and Bradley Adams. He portrayed the lead character in Alfie, the remake of Bill Naughton`s 1966 drama. He also acted opposite Michael Caine in the 2007 remake Sleuth. In both films, he plays the role originally played by Caine. In Sleuth Michael Caine played Laurence Olivier`s role. Law is an admirer of Olivier and it was Law`s idea to use archive footage of Olivier (who died in 1989) in Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow so the deceased actor could "play" the film`s villain. Jude Law is on the latest Top Ten List from the 2006 A-list of the most bankable movie stars in Hollywood. The list was created by James Ulmer, he calls his method "The Ulmer Scale". He was honored with the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government on March 1, 2007 in recognition of his contribution to World Cinema Arts. He was named a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres . He is a fan of the graphic novel Watchmen, by Alan Moore, so much so he has a tattoo of the Rorschach character. He has maintained an interest in being involved in a feature film production of the series, especially if it were directed by Darren Aronofsky. He has said that he would most likely play the character Ozymandias. He was, at one point, courted to play either Batman or Superman in Batman Begins, Batman vs. Superman, and/or General Zod in Superman Returns. In 2005, he was one of many actors rumored to be a possible choice to assume the role of James Bond, as MGM decided not to renew Irish actor Pierce Brosnan`s c |
||
Trivia |
||
BiographyFriends and FamilyAndrea Logiudice [Friend] :: Ewan McGregor :: Johnny Lee Miller [Friend] :: Maggie Law [Mother] :: Natasha Law [Sister] :: Peter Law [Father] :: Rachel Weisz [Friend] :: Sadie Frost [Friend] (and Ex Wife)Trivia and QuotesQuotes "Face it, I didn`t become famous until I took my clothes off" - (People Magazine 3/26/01) "It`s not ideal for me that they come out all one after the other in four or five months. I did them all because I found them very different different kinds of films, different kinds of parts. And I hope people recognize the variety rather than the onslaught". [On Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004), I Heart Huckabees (2004), Alfie (2004), Closer (2004/I) and The Aviator (2004) coming out within 6 months of each other. He actually did them in the last two years.] (2004 quote) I`ve spent most of my free time the past 10 years traveling in Southeast Asia. It started with a trip to Vietnam, because we were told it could be a wonderful place to visit. I loved it and have been to Cambodia, China, Malaysia and Bali. Now I`m intrigued to see places like South America or Africa. I like the idea of constantly discovering. As a culture, the West has found itself in a strange, not battle of the genders, but battle in one`s own gender. There`s been so much equalizing that we`ve all kind of lost a little sense of who and what we`re about, and a certain amount of definitions of who and what being a woman and being a man is about. It`s almost like a murky middle ground that sometimes diffuses the definition and out of that has indeed spawned, in certain areas, misogynism. I just want to say I am deeply ashamed and upset that I`ve hurt Sienna and the people most close to us. It was cold, very, very cold. I don`t remember a lot of daylight, just endless hours of being buried in rubble, interrupted by lots of raising collective spirits by singing Russian folk songs. Can our genuine physical suffering be seen on film? I bloody hope so. (On filming Enemy at the Gate) It was the first time I felt I was making a script I believed in, and that I`d see something onscreen close to what I`d hoped, rather than this vaguely confusing wilderness my jobs had been to this point. It was my first project with quality minds behind it, Jersey Films, Andrew Niccol, and Ethan Hawke, who was a joy to work with. I felt we had a real meeting of the minds. (On making Gattaca) I never thought I had to forge a family, but it felt the most natural thing that ever happened to me - meeting someone and becoming a father. There were two instances where the police were called for whatever reason to my old house and they sold the story, telling lies. The police were responding to phone calls that happened, but they were then coming out and creating an atmosphere, a drama, when actually nothing had happened; there were no charges pressed. But that`s the High Court and then the police selling stories, so how are you going to live in a country and feel safe? (About his injury during Dickie`s death scene in The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)) "Matt [Damon] broke my rib! But I think I strained his neck, we got a little bit carried away". (about how he got the role of Gigolo Joe) "Through one of those fantastical phone calls when your agent calls you and says `Stephen Spielberg is on the phone, he wants to speak to you about his next film.` And once you`ve peeled yourself of the ceiling you go, *clears throat* Yeah, great." (about the paparazzi) "I throw root vegetables at them." Bosie [from the movie Wilde] was the first part I was ever offered, which I suppose is sort of an insult because he`s just the nastiest bastard! I only want to do the kind of work that I would like to go and see, that`s going to teach me something new, that involves working with people I can learn something from and I can give something to. I`ve always liked what Thomas More said in Utopia, which is that in Utopia every person is allowed their own lifestyle and religion but no one is allowed to stand on a soapbox and tell others that theirs is right. I thought that was brilliant. Brilliant. The only film I ever made for money was something called Music From Another Room, which I really didn`t like. The truth is, one can work for another ten years and be playing parts, pushing yourself as hard as you can, and you are still accused of that. You`re still tainted with that brush. I`m not called Jude Law, I have three names; I`m called `Hunk Jude Law` or `Heartthrob Jude Law`. In England anyway, that`s my full name. That`s the cheap language that`s thrown around, that sums you up in one little bracket. It doesn`t look at your life. But if one looks beyond, there is actually a little bit more. Well, I had to do a nude scene [in the play Indiscretions], and you`re on stage naked but you get over it, you do whatever you have to do. But the first night, my character is just getting out of the bath, and the rest of the crew had poured in freezing cold water. {About working on Enemy at the Gates (2001)) "Yeah, I got blown up, cut up...I remember actually, when I had to go the Ripley premiere which was happening at that time, I arrived with this huge gash in my head. Very cool, really". I don`t want to do anything that I`m not passionate about. I have no problem with nudity. My friend Ewan and I are starkers in most of our films. I honestly have no interest in celebrity whatsoever. If anything, I always cringe at it because it takes away from what I am, which is an actor who wants to be better and do better things. I think it`s a bigger risk following a part that plays up your looks than it is to try and carve out a career as an actor. I would never know how to sell myself as a sex symbol. That`s not how I`m programmed. I`ve always thought Prince Charming in Cinderella was the most boring role; I`d rather be the Wicked Witch. My only obligation is to keep myself and other people guessing. On his role in The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) - "I told Anthony that if I play Dickie Greenleaf, I want to eat in the best restaurants and drink the best wines every night because he would". Success, and even life itself, wouldn`t be worth anything if I didn`t have my wife and children by my side. They mean everything to me. [...] you go to the National with your parents and think: `I`d love to be here.` And then suddenly you are. It`s a dream come true.Trivia Director Bryan Singer originally wanted him to play Zod in Superman Returns (2006). That role was previously played by Terence Stamp, who originally played the title role of Alfie on stage. Friend of Andrea Logiudice. Good friends with Jonny Lee Miller. In 2007, he spent 10 days in Afghanistan touring the country and filming a documentary. Plays the lead role in Alfie (2004) and Sleuth (2007). Both films had previously been made with Michael Caine in the roles played by Law. Attended the Cream reunion at the Royal Albert Hall in May of 2005. Band Brand New has a song named after him, titled `Jude Law and a Semester Abroad`, featured on their album Your Favorite Weapon. Became engaged to actress Sienna Miller in January 2005. In July 2005, she ended the engagement and he publicly apologized for cheating on her with nanny Daisy Wright. They reconciled briefly and broke up again in 2006. Considered for the role of Will Turner in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003). Good friends with Rachel Weisz. He and his ex-wife Sadie Frost fought a custody battle for over 2 years. Is a huge fan of Little Britain. Kate Moss is the godmother of his daughter Iris. Learned to play saxophone for the film The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999). Voted #3 in Elle (France) Magazine`s "15 Sexiest Men" poll (June 2007). Attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Children: Son Rafferty Law (born October 6th 1996), Daughter Iris Law (born October 25th 2000) and Son Rudy Indiana Otis Law (born September 10th 2002) with Sadie Frost. Dropped out of school at age 17, to star in the daytime soap "Families" (1990). Has done 2 movies with director Anthony Minghella, The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) and Cold Mountain (2003), and got Oscar nominations for both. He is now doing a third movie with Minghella, Breaking and Entering (2006). Is a former partner in the production company Natural Nylon. Nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award of Outstanding Newcomer. Received the Ian Charleson Award for Outstanding Newcomer for "Les Parents Terribles" ("Indiscretions"). Supports Tottenham Hotspur Football Club in London, UK. Was originally considered for the role of Shinzon of Remus in Star Trek: Nemesis (2002). Was the host of "Saturday Night Live" (1975) the night of the infamous Ashlee Simpson-Wentz incident. At the age of 12, started acting with the National Youth Music Theatre. Broke a rib after falling backwards while filming the murder scene on the boat in the movie The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999). Dropped out of the movie From Hell (2001). During a guest appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (1992), Jay Leno asked him where his name came from, and he replied that he was named after the Beatles song "Hey Jude." [15 June 2001] Former roommate of Ewan McGregor. Has a tattoo on his left forearm of words from a Beatles song, "Sexy Sadie", which states "You came along to turn on everyone Sexy Sadie", representing his ex-wife Sadie Frost. He kept the shirts his characters in The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997) and Gattaca (1997) worn in the scenes when they were killed. Jude`s parents, Peter Law & Maggie Law, were school teachers, but now run a theater company in France. He has one older sister, Natasha, who is a photographer. On People (USA) magazine`s `50 Most Beautiful` list in 2000 and 2004. When joining the N.Y.M.T., he was placed in the wrong dormitory because they thought he was a girl because of his name. He never told anyone but was soon caught and moved. | ||
Top Contributors |
||
|
Top editors for this profile:
|
||
Related Profiles |
||
Comments
Continue the Conversation