Full Name: David Jude Heyworth Law
Date of Birth: December 29, 1972
Place of Birth: Lewisham, London, England
Occupation: Actor, Producer
Years Active: 1987–present
Children: 7
Early Life & Education
Jude Law was born in Lewisham, South London, and raised in Blackheath. His parents, Margaret Anne and Peter Robert Law, were both teachers. He developed an interest in acting at an early age and joined the National Youth Music Theatre. He later dropped out of school at 17 to pursue an acting career.
Career Highlights
Theater Beginnings & Early TV Work (1987–1999)
Law started his career on stage and gained recognition in theater productions like Les Parents Terribles (1994), for which he received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination. He transitioned to television with roles in British series such as Families (1990–1993).
Rise to Fame (1999–2005)
His breakthrough came with The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), where he played Dickie Greenleaf, earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He followed this with notable performances in:
- Enemy at the Gates (2001)
- A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
- Road to Perdition (2002)
- Cold Mountain (2003) – Academy Award nomination for Best Actor
By 2004, Law was one of Hollywood’s most sought-after leading men, starring in Alfie, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, and Closer.
Established Stardom (2006–2015)
In 2009, he portrayed Dr. Watson in Sherlock Holmes, alongside Robert Downey Jr., reprising the role in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011). Other major films during this period include:
- The Holiday (2006)
- Contagion (2011)
- Hugo (2011)
- The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
He also returned to theater, playing Hamlet in a successful 2009 stage production.
Recent Work & Franchise Roles (2016–Present)
In recent years, Law has taken on major roles in franchises:
- Played Albus Dumbledore in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) and its sequel (2022).
- Starred as Yon-Rogg in Captain Marvel (2019).
- Played Henry VIII in Firebrand (2023).
His television work includes the critically acclaimed HBO series The Young Pope (2016) and The New Pope (2020).
Personal Life
Law was married to actress Sadie Frost (1997–2003), with whom he has three children. He also has children from later relationships. In 2019, he married Phillipa Coan, and they have two children together.
Awards & Recognition
Law has received multiple accolades, including BAFTA and Golden Globe wins, along with two Academy Award nominations. He remains one of the most respected British actors in Hollywood.
