Green-fingered Jude is happy to get his hands dirty

The Academy-nominated actor, whose latest film, My Blueberry Nights by director Wong Kar Wai, opened the Cannes Film Festival, sat on a beach and told me how he and Young Vic artistic director David Lan, whom he called his "co-conspirator", were developing the play by Williams - the title of which he asked me to keep secret.

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Busy weeding: Jude Law in Cannes

"It's safe to say that next year, David and I will pull something together," the actor told me.

He was also developing a theatrical production with a dancer friend.

Jude told me he was "savouring a new-found clarity" thanks to working on a film version of Sleuth with Michael Caine (about which I'm hearing terrific things, and not from people who work for Jude!) and on My Blueberry Nights, with unconventional director Wong Kar Wai.

The film is half-romance, half-road trip, and features singer Norah Jones in her debut big screen role, as well as sexy, knockout performances from Rachel Weisz and Natalie Portman.

Jude, giving his most relaxed performance to date, plays a Mancunian marathoner who manages a New York cafe, where he ends up falling in love with Ms Jones's character after he feeds her slices of blueberry pie.

They enjoy a lovely romantic moment where Jude plants one of the best screen kisses ever on her lips. Jude said making the film reminded him that acting wasn't just an everyday job.

"I think, because of some private and public dramas, I'd had a little bit of life sucked out of me and this has been a good turning point to remind me to set my sights on different places."

For all that people think of Jude as a jet-setting Lothario, I was interested to learn from him that he has been getting his kicks lately from gardening and being with his kids.

"I've spent the past two months in the garden, watching my flowers grow and getting on my knees and weeding, then turning the top soil. No gloves! I get my hands dirty, and in any case you can't garden with gloves," he insisted.

It's good to have yet another reminder that Jude's one of our best actors. I wish more people would give him a chance.