Jude Law recently opened up about his dramatic transformation for his role as Henry VIII in the historical drama Firebrand.
The 51-year-old actor admitted to indulging in late-night ice cream as part of his weight-gain strategy for the part.
In an interview with The Sunday Times, Law described this role as his most extreme physical transformation yet.
A King’s New Shape
In Firebrand, Law stars opposite Alicia Vikander, who plays Henry VIII’s sixth wife, Katherine Parr.
Law’s portrayal of the king is a depiction of the monarch in his later, more corpulent years.
At this point in history, Henry VIII was not only severely overweight but also required the assistance of nine men to lift him onto his horse.
To embody this, Law used various techniques to achieve the look, including wearing bodysuits and adding weights to his clothing and shoes to perfect his gait.
Despite only having four months to prepare, he managed to gain weight with late-night pasta and ice cream to give his face a fuller appearance.
Reflecting on His Career
Law candidly shared some of the challenges he faced throughout his career.
He reflected on the ups and downs, including a period when he felt his fame had cooled off.
He was once the Hollywood darling of the late 90s and early 2000s, starring in critically acclaimed films like The Talented Mr. Ripley, Closer, and Cold Mountain.
However, he admitted that the industry’s attention can wane if his films are not major box office hits.
This reality hit him particularly hard when comedian Chris Rock made a joke about him at the Oscars, which Law found upsetting.
New Projects and Triumphs
Law’s latest project, the historical crime film The Order, premiered at the Venice Film Festival in August.
The film, which will soon be available on Prime Video, features Law as Terry Husk, a washed-up FBI agent battling the real-life white supremacist group The Order.
His performance earned a seven-minute standing ovation at the festival.
Law found the role intriguing, noting the importance of capturing a “lived-in quality” and even discussed how growing a mustache was a given, given the character’s background.
Behind the Scenes
The film also stars Alison Oliver, Tye Sheridan, Jurnee Smollett, and Nicholas Hoult.
Hoult plays Bob Mathews, the leader of the neo-Nazi group, and revealed that director Justin Kurzel had each actor follow specific tasks related to their roles.
For instance, Law was tasked with trailing Hoult for a day, adding a unique layer to his preparation.
Looking Ahead
The Order is based on the 1989 biography The Silent Brotherhood by Kevin Flynn and Gary Gerhardt and is written by Zach Baylin.
Though it will debut on Prime Video, Vertical will release it in limited theaters on December 6, 2024.
At the Venice Film Festival press conference, Law and director Justin Kurzel highlighted the film’s relevance in today’s world, emphasizing its connection to contemporary far-right ideologies.
This project marks another significant chapter in Law’s career, reflecting his ability to tackle challenging roles while engaging with timely and provocative subject matter.
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