Jude Law, 51, is embracing the aging process, believing that moving away from his heartthrob looks has actually helped his career by broadening the range of roles he can play. In an interview with The Guardian, he shared, “I’m very happy ageing. There’s a physical side to the job, but it’s also about how you’re perceived. Are you seen as someone who can transform into another person, or are you just the person you are?”
He explained that if you’re successful based on your looks, there’s added pressure, though he acknowledges it’s even harder for women. He added, “We could do a lot more to rebalance that.”
Jude also revealed that his desire to avoid being typecast in Hollywood has driven him to take on diverse roles. “Curiosity is key. The actors who inspired me were those who took on different types of roles – Daniel Day-Lewis, Gary Oldman, Tim Roth. I didn’t recognize them from one role to the next. I found that fascinating, the idea of losing yourself in a character.” 
Future Plans: Roles Jude Law Hopes to Play
After discussing his plans for the future, Jude shared that he hopes to return to his theatre roots to close out his career. Starting in theatre in 1987 with the National Youth Music Theatre, he later earned praise for his performance as Hamlet in the West End in 2009. He also returned to the stage in 2013, playing Henry V in Michael Grandage’s season at the Noel Coward Theatre.
While he is currently busy with his production company, Riff Raff Entertainment, Jude expressed his desire to return to the stage eventually. He told Deadline’s The Actor’s Side, “I will certainly go back. Theatre was where I started, and it’s my first love. I can see myself ending there one day. There are still many roles I want to play.”
Among the roles he hopes to tackle are Benedict, the Scottish King, and Lear. “I’ve already played Hamlet and Henry VI, and someone once told me that to play Lear, you need to first play Hamlet, Henry, Benedict, and the Scottish King. I’ve got time for Lear, but those are just a few I’d love to take on.”
