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Jude Law: Far from Frivolous
By : Silvia Maestrutti
At times, the unmeasured praise heaped on Jude Law can become a heavy burden. The 32-year-old British actor who appeared on the big screen in 2004 in such varied films as Alfie and Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow tries hard to shake off the title bestowed upon him by People magazine as the Sexiest Man on Earth. Even so, he is charming and does not further complicate his already strained relationship with the media. It's not that he behaves badly during interviews, it's just that he doesn't really ever open up.
When he's asked how he reacts to such lofty adulation, the actor becomes uncomfortable and begins to turn his head and look the other way. His reaction is understandable. "Jude is the most beautiful man who ever walked the Earth," says the actress Naomi Watts, his costar in the movie I Heart Huckabees. How does one react to such a comment? It's obvious that, to the actor, all this fuss about his looks is frivolous.
"It's hard to believe that some people actually pay attention to these kinds of things. You are not going to know who I am by figuring out my eye color. The best way to learn about an artist is to see their work," he complains.
Is there a specific compliment you'd like to receive?
A nice compliment would be that I'm a good father to my three kids. But for me, it's enough to know that I'm regarded as a good guy.
You saw six of your films premiere in 2004, and at each subsequent debut, you seemed to become more and more irritated with the media. What is it that bothers you so much?
Making these films was a wonderful journey because they were all very different. I was very lucky: I was in great hands, and pretty much they were very different environments, very different roles and moods. The problem of doing six movies in two years was that all of them came out almost at the same time, one after the other in four months, and that meant a lot of promotion. One thing I've learned lately: fame is hard to control.
How do you manage to fulfill all of your work commitments when you accept so many simultaneous offers?
Like everything in life, you have to find the time. The work that came up was really exciting. I suddenly got to a point where I thought, perhaps greedily, that I didn't want to turn any of it down, and luckily it all worked out logistically. With the release of all these movies, people keep saying to me, "Gosh, you've been so busy!" And in fact, I haven't done a film since Closer. I was on vacation from March to November 2004, when I started rehearsing for All the King's Men. I've just been taking some time off to spend time with my children and go fishing with my parents. It was enjoyable, but I ended up wishing to go back to work.
All the King's Men, which is scheduled to be released this year, is a remake of the 1949 classic film about a popular Southern politician's loss of innocence and fall into corruption. The main character is played by Sean Penn, while Law was content with the role of the ambitious reporter investigating him. Working with Penn and Meryl Streep was, for him, reward enough. Many industry observers affirm that, in spite of Law's well-earned fame, his desire to play such serious roles as this one instead of that of a superhero demonstrates that he doesn't want to play by the usual rules of celebrity.
Although he was discovered by Hollywood in 1999 when his rare mix of talent and good looks was revealed in The Talented Mr. Ripley—which earned him an Oscar nomination—Law already boasted a well-established career. In fact, he first began working as an actor in theater and later in soap operas when he was barely out of his teens in his native London, encouraged by both his parents, who were teachers. In 1995, he arrived in New York to make his Broadway debut in the play Indiscretions starring Kathleen Turner in which he appeared briefly in the nude.
A year before, in 1994, he met his soon-to-be-wife Sadie Frost while shooting a film, with whom he would have three children, Rafferty, Rudy and Iris. His most common refrain at the time was "I'm a family man," at least until his divorce in 2002. One of his friends, the actress Gwyneth Paltrow, told People magazine that Law strives to spend as much time as possible with his children, even bringing them with him to the set if necessary.
In the film Closer, your character cheats and is cheated on. How do you react towards deception in real life? Are you one of those who knows how to handle it, or would you rather not know?
When something like that happens, you always want to know. You say, "Tell me, I can handle it; please tell me." As soon as you hear it, you say, "Why did you tell me?" It's life.
Your playboy character in Alfie seems to be far from your own reality. Or is there a similarity?
I'm quite different from that character. I grew up always looking for commitment and looking for a relationship. That's why I got married so young.
Speaking of playboys, it's said that you're the ideal candidate to replace Pierce Brosnan as the newest James Bond. Would that role interest you?
Not really. Never say never, but personally I'm really enjoying making these kind of dramas, and that's where I'm at the moment. I can't see myself in one of those movies right now. But I'll probably get to 65 and say, "I'd love to play James Bond now," but I'll be too old!!! Ha, Ha, Ha. Isn't it ironic?
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