Jude Abides: Interview with Jude Law

Fans of Jude Law are currently enjoying the star in The Young Pope, HBO’s sophisticated drama about a newly appointed pontiff. The character struggles with his newfound power and responsibilities – as well as the overarching question of whether he is a fanatical traditionalist or truly imbued with the holy spirit.  
It’s the type of role that Law excels at – leading men who defy simple categorisation. Though casual moviegoers may know Law merely as the handsome guy who charmed his way through many a ’90s film, the actor’s career is in fact filled with intriguing roles. Having played Faustus, Karenin, Hamlet and Henry V, both on screen and on stage, Law often works against his good looks to eke out more interesting fare.
And his desire for diverse roles is paying off. Not only is Law receiving rave reviews for The Young Pope as well as his turn in Ivo van Hove’s play Obsession, currently at the Barbican in London, he has also been cast as everyone’s favourite wizard, Albus Dumbledore, in the upcoming sequel to Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them.
Of course, Albus Dumbledore is a pretty good guy. And so what better way to balance it out by playing an uber villain in another remake of a fantastical, magic-filled world?
Law has thus reunited with acclaimed filmmaker Guy Ritchie, to play the villain in the epic fantasy action adventure King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword. Starring Charlie Hunnam in the title role, the film is an iconoclastic take on the classic Excalibur myth, tracing Arthur’s journey from the streets to the throne. In Ritchie’s version, young Arthur’s father is murdered, and his uncle Vortigern (Law) seizes the crown. Robbed of his birthright and with no idea who he truly is, Arthur comes up the hard way in the back alleys of the city. But once he pulls the sword from the stone, his life is turned upside down and he is forced to acknowledge his true legacy.
Law has previously worked with Ritchie on the director’s adaptations ofSherlock Holmes, in which Law played the affable, good-hearted Watson – the responsible foil to Robert Downey Jr.’s mercurial Sherlock. Having loved working with the director and experiencing how Ritchie applies his own unique and dynamic style to classic tales, Law was more than eager to hear about his vision for King Arthur.  
“We had a great collaboration on both Sherlock films,” Law recalls, “so when Guy approached me with a view to playing Vortigern, I was curious. He described the story as a way of looking at British folklore as opposed to history. Guy makes tentpole films with a signature style, wit and energy. When we made the Sherlock Holmes films, I was intrigued by the way Guy applied that style to Victorian London and the Holmes legacy. I thought he did a wonderful job. He was incredibly collaborative and fun, and a very embracing director. When he came to me with King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword, I was intrigued, again, by how he was able to apply his style to the Arthurian legend. I liked that the story is set in the blood, mud and sweat of Londinium, and I loved the fact that Guy was embracing the world of fantasy and folklore.” 
For Law, there was no hesitation about whether or not to work with Ritchie; however he did want to make Vortigern a complex and realistic villain. Eschewing the modern trope of having the villain be a caricature, Law was determined to convey how power and ego are corrosive forces.
“Guy described this character as a man who is battling his circumstances, his own ego, a devil within,” says the actor. “I found that really intriguing. I didn’t want Vortigern to be a witty or sassy villain. I wanted him to be rotten to the core! (laughs). The element of the cost he’s willing to pay to attain and sustain his power was really dark and very interesting to me. Vortigern is almost like an addict. He’s willing to sacrifice so much to hold on to this power.”
Vortigern’s insecurity is ultimately his downfall; it is his desperate need to know whether there was a prophecy regarding the rightful heir to the throne that alerts Arthur to his birthright. Law’s performance is equal parts determination and desperation, as his entire being is wrapped up in his ability to control others.
“Vortigern rules through fear,” notes Law. “He’s purging the country of mages and the old ways in order to harness the control solely for himself. But the way he came to rule preys on his conscience, on his soul. It’s very dark and twisted. And over time, he’s almost developed an addiction to the control, to his supremacy, so he’s a man wrestling with his inner devil, that devil being his own ego. It doesn’t matter that Arthur has no awareness of his own status; he’s a perceived threat to Vortigern’s delicate hold on the power he craves.” 
Law’s character and the film’s message regarding the corruptive nature of power and ego feels incredibly prescient. While avoiding getting too explicitly political, the actor does indeed make a nod to how his character reflects the worst of current political leadership.
“This film is very timely,” he asserts. “It’s warning us against egomaniacs and fascism and division. As with all interesting villains, Vortigern doesn’t see himself as a bad guy. He sees other people as a sort of distraction or collateral damage to his attainment of total control.”
Hollywood, like politics, is a place where people can easily lose perspective amongst a sea of yes-men and ego-stroking, but Law likes to surround himself with people who don’t believe their own hype. He muses that one thing he loves about working with Guy Ritchie is that the director hasn’t allowed fame and success to change him as a person; a trait Law values deeply.
“All of us have probably grown more comfortable in our skin,” he says, “more confident with what we can contribute, and have eliminated things we know aren’t necessary. If there’s a commonality, it’s that Guy and I are team players. Guy is a leader who has the ability to involve others on almost every level.”
As such, Law says that his favourite moments of working with Ritchie aren’t shooting the big budget action sequences or enjoying the premieres and parties; it’s the quieter moments the director and actor share together.
“As ever with Guy, one of my favourite memories is mulling over upcoming scenes in his little log cabin, stoking the fire,” the actor recounts fondly. “I remember him cooking chicken on the fire for us. It feels very folky; it was almost like we were camping!”
Law also enjoyed the task of revisiting the old tales and previous iterations of King Arthur, saying that they were immeasurably valuable not just in preparation for the film, “but just because they’re wonderful stories. I remember Excalibur, and reading the Arthurian legend by TH White. Obviously, it’s something that many cultures hold as folklore.”
Again remarking on the tale’s relevancy to the modern world, the actor finds that they provide a much-needed source of optimism. “At the story’s heart is a sense of hope that somewhere there is a rightful leader who will take us all to a place where we are better served and well looked-after. As long as hope is alive I think we’re always going to be alright.”
King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword is in cinemas from May 17.