Why Jude Law Thinks He’s Taken The Talented Mr. Ripley For ‘Done’

Jude the Lion looks back on his breakthrough role in The talented Mr. Ripley with rose-colored glasses — and feeling nostalgic for the incredible experience he had on set.

“I kind of took it for granted,” Lo, 51, shared exclusively in a joint interview with Jurnee Smollett for Us Weekly’s In the Conversation series. “I was, like, a 25-year-old kid thinking, ‘Oh, that’s what movies are like.’ And of course, I never had the same experience again, sitting on a yacht, drinking wine in the sun.”

Law portrays Dickie Greenleaf in the 1950s psychological thriller, a shipbuilding heir who flees to Italy to live a life of luxury away from his powerful parents. When Dick’s father asks Tom Ripley (Matt Damon) to bring back his expatriate playboy son Dickie and his girlfriend Marge Sherwood (Gwyneth Paltrow), quickly find themselves caught up in the dangerous extremes Tom goes to in order to make their way of life his own.

The Anthony Minghella-directed the film, based on the author’s novel of the same name from 1955 Patricia Highsmithit received critical and commercial acclaim upon release, grossing $128 million worldwide. He received five Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations, including Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor for Leo.

Although there have been attempts to revive the story since the original film – “a few recently“, threw the Lion U.S with a smile — none managed to achieve the same level of success as the 1999 film. Looking back, it’s easy for Lau to recognize how special the experience really was.

“It was funny now, when I look back all these years later, I honestly remember the youthful energy, optimism and brilliance of all these actors who have now gone on to (great careers),” he said, quoting Paltrow, Cate Blanchett and late Philip Seymour Hoffman’s extensive filmographies as examples. “Amazing, amazing actors. And so funny.”

Some of Lo’s best memories come from rehearsals, and the actor says he often “smiles” thinking about the memories the cast made while preparing with Minghella. (The Briton died aged 54 in 2008 after suffering a haemorrhage.)

“We really hit it off with the rehearsals,” Lo recalls. “Mingella loved full rehearsals, and we rehearsed in the famous Cinecita cinemas where (Federico) Fellini worked (on his) films.”

“We were there, we faked it,” he continued. “It was a show, really.” Blocking everything and learning to drive a scooter. Those were fun times.”

The talented Mr. Ripley gave Lowe his first Oscar nomination and he has gone on to have a rich career ever since. And although during his career he constantly worked on films such as The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Holiday and cold mountain, the actor said he’s been “blessed” to land projects over the past few years that he’s particularly proud of.

“I feel like I’m in a really good place with the way I approach my work,” he explained. “And what I get out of it, and the relationship I have with the principals.”

Leo stars alongside Smollett, 38, in The Orderhis latest film. The pair play Terri Husk and Joanne Carney, respectively, in the crime thriller, a pair of FBI special agents who look down on the white race (Nicholas Hoult) in a domestic terrorist plot.

“This was a very, very happy experience for me, and it felt really fulfilling,” Law said of the role, noting that there’s a “sense of discovery” fuel to continue the “fight” with Terry — something connected to his life.

“When I discovered his kind of tiredness, it reminded me a little bit, maybe of the state of mind I was in,” Lo admitted Smollett. “You know, since I hit middle age 15 years ago, 10 years ago, I kind of thought we were all living this great life. And I thought the world was in a pretty good place. I looked away from the track. And all of a sudden now (I’m at) the age where I feel like, ‘Oh, I’m going to retire,’ but it’s like, ‘No, no, no, no. The moral battle is before all of us who have the opportunity.’”

Law said playing Terry “invigorated” him to find that spark again.

“I thought, ‘Well, if Terry can find it, I’ll find it.’ “Now is the time to make the right choices,” he said. “Now is the time to have those conversations and invite people.” And, you know, just be brave.”

The Order is in theaters now.