Jude Law The Dane: Broadway Hamlet Video

By Christopher Moore, Broadway Magazine

'Tis Jude, Hamlet the Dane! The new Broadway season features Jude Law in William Shakespeare's Hamlet. The combination of this dynamic actor in this celebrated role has quickly become one of the hottest tickets on Broadway. Here is a first video look at the performance, and conversations with star Jude Law and acclaimed director Michael Grandage.

Broadway Show: Hamlet

"The role really does draw on your own sense of self," Jude Law says of playing Hamlet, "Indeed, you suddenly find yourself being tattooed , if you like, onto the skin of this man. And the best way through it, I've learned, is to be oneself in a way. That's not to say that 'I am Hamlet' but it is to say that he demands of you a very honest, and a very revealing performance."

"Well, Jude Law is internationally known, probably best for his screen profile, but here in England, he's got an amazing stage profile as well. As well as doing new plays, he's tackled a lot of the classical repertoire... and right now, when you've done a lot of the classical repertoire there comes a point when you need to tackle this great play and this great part," offers director Michael Grandage, who's production of Hamlet starring Jude Law earned raves in London earlier this year. Now the production comes to Broadway with previews starting September 12 for a limited 12 week run only.

"It just felt that the timing was perfect, there was a sort of alignment with who was involved... and me feeling capable but just fresh enough for me to be able to bring something to it," shared Jude Law about this particular production.

"The role offers the actor just about everything. There's comedy, tragedy, drama, physicality, but equally within the part there is also an incredible 'everyman' journey," reflects Jude Law on the play, "He raises questions that I think all of us ask of life... and he asks it in such a way that makes it incredibly therapeutic. So, to combine all of that in one part is, I think, the pinnacle of one's life, let alone one's career. I mean there's a part of you that often feels like 'God, I'm facing questions here that I hope to face in my own existence, let alone on stage for other people.'"

"Jude Law is at the peak of his powers now to be able to come and take on this great role and the visceral energy and intelligence that he has naturally as an actor to interpreting this part," observes director Michael Grandage.

"It's a part that I always admired and enjoyed on the page, and also on the stage. I've seen several other actors playing it," says Jude Law on playing Shakespeare's Prince of Denmark, "My sense is you want to feel safe. You want to get a feel that you can really explore it fully... because there is so much in it... so many layers to him."

"The piece is phenomenally modern. It seems to speak for all people all of the time, and I really didn't want any barriers to exist between the audience and what is going on on-stage... I wanted people to come into the theatre and feel that this could be about them," says director Michael Grandage.

"You're watching something happen to a man in the moment - all the time. Everything unfolds in the second you are watching it and it unfolds at a thriller like pace. It is something that is exciting for audiences to engage with," notes Michael Grandage about the production.

The play is the thing for Jude. In the interview, he shares that he prefers performing on-stage to film or television. While he's performed in several productions in London, he is not a Broadway novice either. In fact, Jude Law won a Tony Award nomination for his Broadway debut. Now, Jude Law says he's quite excited about returning to the Broadway stage.

"My Broadway debut was one of the highlights of my life, but at the same time, being that young, I wasn't quite aware of how lucky I was. So, I'm glad I get a second opportunity to go back and really embrace it," he smiles.

Check out the entire video feature, an up-close and in-depth look at Broadway's newest Hamlet right here on www.Broadway.tv.