His chiselled good looks and acting talent may have boosted his earning power to Hollywood levels, but AI star Jude Law is currently content earning just £ 285 a week on the British stage. On Monday, the British thespian opened in the title role of Christopher Marlowe’s Dr Faustus, at the Old Vic fringe theatre in Waterloo.
Understandably, the venue – originally a temporary structure and now plagued by a leaky roof and dodgy wiring – was packed on opening night. Among the audience were Jude’s wife Sadie Frost, accompanied by close friend Kate Moss, plus Jude’s fellow Primrose Hill brat-packers Ewan McGregor and Sean Pertwee.
The Talented Mr Ripley actor is a big supporter of theatre, and Dr Faustus is a collaboration between the Old Vic and Natural Nylon, the film company he set up with Sadie, Ewan, Sean Pertwee and Jonny Lee Miller. Jude’s stint at treading the boards is destined to be relatively brief, however, as come April 28, he will be back filming for the big screen opposite Vanilla Sky star Penelope Cruz. The Spanish actress is jetting into the UK to lens Diary Of A Young London Physician, a new take on the Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde theme. Ms Cruz, who has just been axed as the spokesmodel for the preppy Ralph Lauren range Polo – although she maintains her contract for the company’s fragrance Glamorous – has a reputation for the effect she appears to have on the love life of her male co-stars.
Nicolas Cage announced plans to divorce Patricia Arquette during the shooting of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin while Matt Damon broke up with Winona Ryder after filming with Pen. Her latest co-star brings a solid family life to the on-screen partnership, however. A devoted family man, Jude has two children with Sadie and the couple is expecting a third child later this year.