Jude Law - Actor

Photo courtesy of A Jude Law Fansite

Since 1995, when JUDE LAW made the transition from British soap opera to Broadway via Sean Matthias' "Indiscretions" (in which he co-starred with Kathleen Turner), his work has increasingly garnered favorable notice from critics and moviegoers alike.

Born in London on December 29, 1972, Law started acting as a teenager. Before "Indiscretions," his most notable role was in Paul Anderson's "Shopping" (1994), a British production that gave him both initial recognition and an introduction to his future wife, actress Sadie Frost. After the critical and commercial success of "Indiscretions," Law began finding more work in film, starring as the genetically privileged embittered paraplegic who sells his identity to Ethan Hawke in "Gattaca." Also in 1997, Law took on the plum role of Alfred Lord Douglas, Oscar Wilde's volatile lover in "Wilde." Although none of these films received unanimously positive critical or box office attention, they did help to further establish Law as an actor to be taken seriously.

Law then had a small part in "Bent" (1997), and the more pivotal role of Danny, Jim Williams' hotheaded and ill-fated lover whose murder drives the story in Clint Eastwood's "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" (1997). Following that film, Law went on to make a few smaller films, including "Music From Another Room" and "The Final Cut," in which he played a sinister, deceased version of himself.

In 1999, Law appeared in David Cronenberg's cyberific "eXistenZ" and completed filming Anthony Minghella's "The Talented Mr. Ripley" alongside Gwyneth Paltrow, Matt Damon, and Cate Blanchett. The film earned widespread acclaim upon its release, much of which was lavished on Law's portrayal of the serially charming and devastatingly superficial Dickie Greenleaf. Law garnered both a Golden Globe and Oscar® nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance, further cementing his reputation as one of the more promising up-and-coming actors on either side of the ocean.

Law's other projects include the recent feature films "Love, Honour and Obey" and Po-Chih Leong's "Wisdom of Crocodiles." In 2001, he had a variety of roles including a Russian sniper in the World War II drama "Enemy at the Gates," William Shakespeare in "Marlowe," and a Gigolo android in "A.I. Artificial Intelligence." His latest effort is the 2002 acclaimed film "Road to Perdition," in which he plays a hitman.

Law began his stage career in George Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion." At London's Royal Court he starred in a revival of "Live Like Pigs" and was nominated for a Tony Award for the Broadway production of the National Theatre's "Les Parents Terribles" ("Indiscretions") in which he co-starred with Kathleen Turner, Eileen Atkins and Roger Rees. In England he received the Ian Charleson Award for Outstanding Newcomer for the same role which he originated on the London stage.

As a youth, Law worked with the National Youth Music Theatre and has appeared in several productions in the West End and at the Royal National Theatre. He is currently starring in "'Tis Pity She's a Whore" at the Royal Court Theatre in London where he previously starred in "Ion" in 1995. Law played the lead in "The Crane," a short film made for the British Film Institute which was shown as part of the 1992 London Film Festival.

In addition to his acting commitments, Law keeps busy with Natural Nylon, the production company he founded with Frost, Sean Pertwee, Ewan McGregor and Jonny Lee Miller.

Law lives in London with his wife and their son Rafferty, daughter Iris, and Finley, Frost's son from a previous marriage.