Entertainment
Jude Law was told ‘don’t get above yourself’ when he was younger: ‘It was crushing’
Jude has said that people told him not to ‘get above yourself’ (Picture: IFC Films/Getty)
Jude Law has told of how people around him told him not to ‘get above yourself’ as a child, which he has slammed as ‘appalling British advice’.
The actor made the comments while discussing his role in the psychological thriller film The Nest, which takes place in London in 1986 and revolves around broker Rory O’Hara (Jude), whose financial deals take a toll on his marriage to wife Allison (Carrie Coon) when they move from New York to London for a new business opportunity.
Jude admitted that he had to deal with a certain mindset during his own childhood in London, with people also telling him to not be ‘too enthusiastic’ thanks to a general British attitude, compared to that of the more go-getting Americans.
He told The Guardian: ‘I certainly have memories as a child, not from my own family but people around me, of being given that appalling piece of British advice: “Don’t get above yourself”.
‘You know: “Don’t be too enthusiastic. You might actually be seen to be liking this”. Which for someone who is a born enthusiast, someone who’s constantly thinking: “How can we do this bigger and better?” was quite crushing.’
The 48-year-old recalled moving to New York at the age of 11, which he says was ‘a different world’ compared to London.
Jude plays a broker in his latest film The Nest (Picture: IFC Films)
‘I don’t quite know how or why but there was just a totally different energy and it felt like a different mentality,’ he explained. ‘It was so stark and so immediate.’
Jude also spoke more about his character in The Nest, saying it was somewhat ‘exposing’ taking on the role as there’s ‘so many layers to play’.
He added: ‘And it’s structured in such a way that it doesn’t feel like it’s melodramatic. It’s a very natural sort of unpeeling of a man.’
The Nest first premiered at the Sundance film festival in January 2020, before being released in the US and Canada in September that year.
The film, written and directed by Sean Durkin, is now finally getting a release in cinemas across the UK.
More: Jude Law
Alongside Jude and Carrie, Charlie Shotwell, Oona Roche, Adeel Akhtar and Michael Culkin are some of the other stars who appear in the movie.
The Nest will be released on August 27.
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