Jude Law, whose birth name is David Jude Heyworth Law, is a renowned English actor.
He was born on December 29, 1972. Law initially began his career in the theater industry, but later transitioned to taking on minor roles in British television shows and films.
However, it was his exceptional portrayal in the movie The Talented Mr. Ripley in 1999 that propelled him to stardom.
This remarkable performance not only earned him a prestigious BAFTA award but also garnered him a nomination for an Academy Award.
REAL FACTS ABOUT JUDE LAW
FULL NAME: David Jude Heyworth Law
DATE OF BIRTH: December 29, 1972
PLACE OF BIRTH: London, England
NATIONALITY: English
OCCUPATION : Actor
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
David Jude Heyworth Law was born on December 29, 1972, in the Lewisham district of London.
Both of his parents were teachers, and they had been married for five years before he was born. Law’s father eventually became the youngest headmaster in London.
His Welsh ancestry can be traced back to his maternal grandmother, who had been estranged from the family because Law’s mother was adopted as a child.
Despite being legally named David, he has always been known as Jude, which was inspired by Thomas Hardy’s novel and the Beatles’ song.
Law grew up in Blackheath with his sister Natasha and attended John Ball Primary School, Kidbrooke School, and Alleyn’s School.
CAREER
Law’s acting career began in 1987 with the National Youth Music Theatre, where he drew inspiration from his childhood performances, such as playing Saint George and the Dragon at the age of five.
At 17, he left traditional schooling to pursue acting and took on challenging roles in acclaimed stage productions like Foxtrot Darling and Michael.
He later transitioned to television and appeared in various shows and films, including The Tailor of Gloucester and Sherlock Holmes.
In 1994, Law landed his first major leading role in the British crime drama Shopping, which marked the beginning of a successful career.
He has delivered notable performances in films such as Wilde (1997), Gattaca, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and The Wisdom of Crocodiles.
Law became famous in 1999 when he starred in The Talented Mr. Ripley, which earned him the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor and nominations for the Golden Globe and Academy Awards.
During this time, he was associated with the Primrose Hill group, which led to the creation of Natural Nylon in 1996.However, he left the company in 2003.
In the early 2000s, Law displayed his versatility in movies such as Enemy at the Gates, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, and Road to Perdition.
He continued to work with esteemed directors like Anthony Minghella in Cold Mountain and paid tribute to Laurence Olivier in Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.
Before parting ways with Natural Nylon, Law showcased his diverse skills in roles in Alfie and Sleuth.
Law experienced success in the mid-2000s with roles in popular films like The Holiday and My Blueberry Nights.
His performances were highly praised, and he even received the Honorary César award.
Law’s versatility extended to the theater, where he received a Tony Award nomination for his role in Hamlet.
He also took on challenging characters in movies like The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus and Contagion, demonstrating his range as an actor.
David Jude Heyworth Law gained the attention and admiration of audiences through his compelling portrayal of Pope Lenny Belardo/Pius XIII in the television series The Young Pope.
His performance as the complex character was highly praised, leading to his return in the follow-up series, The New Pope.
Law also showcased his talent in the miniseries The Third Day.
Expanding his range, Law took on the role of Albus Dumbledore in the film Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and portrayed Yon-Rogg in Captain Marvel.
He is now set to bring the iconic character of Captain Hook to life in the upcoming live-action adaptation Peter Pan & Wendy.
Additionally, Law has other projects in the works, including The Auteur and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.
It is worth noting that Law was initially cast as Roland Penrose in the World War II drama Lee but was later replaced.
PERSONAL LIFE
In his personal life, Law married Sadie Frost in 1997, whom he met on the set of the film Shopping in 1992.
They have three children together, including Raff and Iris, but unfortunately divorced in 2003.
During the filming of Alfie in 2004, Law began a romantic relationship with Sienna Miller.
Although they became engaged, they eventually parted ways in 2006.
Law has children with American model Samantha Burke and Catherine Harding.
Currently, he is happily married to Phillipa Coan. In 2020, Law and Coan welcomed their first child together, and they are expecting their second child in 2023.
