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Jude Law: I have some of the greatest lines ever written in Hamlet
By Louise Jury, Evening Standard 04.06.09
Great Dane: Jude Law at the first-night party with Michael Grandage, Penelope Wilton and Gugu Mbatha-Raw
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Jude Law has promised every one of his performances as Hamlet will be as if it were the first time.
Speaking after his opening last night, Law said that was a guiding principle for director Michael Grandage.
“Michael is very brilliant at instilling a sense that you do it every time as if the audience had never seen it before,” he added.
The star of films including The Talented Mr Ripley and Cold Mountain said often you could take it for granted that audiences all knew the play. “But the majority don't actually know it that well.”
He explained why he had wanted to take on one of the most famous roles in theatre.
“I get to speak some of the greatest lines ever written. It demands of you to be 100 per cent in the moment,” he said.
Law arrived at the post-show party at the National Gallery café after the rest of the cast and apologised to co-star Penelope Wilton, his stage mother, for the delay. “My darling, I've kept you waiting,” he said.
Wilton said Grandage had got a “wonderful company” together before departing to celebrate her birthday with friends.
The director said he believed Hamlet to be the best play written. “It was a revelation,” he added.
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Reader views (2)
Utterly brilliant performances from all concerned. Very good set. But what about the costumes? Royalty in the drabbest brown smart/casual? Hamlet in a grey cardie?
Still a hot ticket though...
- Mark Ramsden, Rochester uk
I should coco. Once more unto the breach dear friends!
Is this a ghost I see before me ... or a critic? First Tennant and now Law. Hamlet needs to be played by a young man to bring out the best.
- Dhan Raj, basildon
