Jude Law was forced to wear a putrid perfume made up of pus, blood, faeces and worse for his new movie.
The Sherlock Holmes actor is starring as King Henry VIII in Firebrand, set in the 15th century – and he’s taking the role very seriously.
Jude confessed at the Cannes Film Festival this week that he headed to an artisan perfumier to step into the king’s smelly shoes and get into character.
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The star explained: “I read several interesting accounts that at this period you could smell Henry three rooms away. His leg was rotting so badly. And he hid it with rose oil. So I thought it would have a great impact if I smelt awful.”
(Image: Luca Carlino/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock)
The talented scent-maker can create “wonderful” but “awful” odours, Jude explained, going on to say that his own was made up of pus, blood, faeces and sweat.
Originally meant to be a private “subtle” way for Law to get into character, eventually director Karim Aïnouz managed to get his hands on it, and things became a “spray fest”.
Jude said the smell was “just horrible”, and left his co-stars dry heaving because it stunk so badly.
(Image: FILM STILL / HANDOUT)
But director Karim would spray rooms down with the perfume as soon as the cast and crew left to eat, because it “triggered a lot” for his actors.
Those who have seen the film already in preview events described the gruesome scenes viewers can expect, with a reviewer for The Guardian writing: “We at one stage get a full-on shot of His Majesty’s pale, fleshy bum as he has conjugal relations with Catherine – like the giant, shaved a**e of a sheep.
“Did Law use a buttock double for this stomach-turning image?”
(Image: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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A reviewer for The Times also suggested a “substitute posterior” might have been used to convey Henry’s deteriorating physical form.
The king suffered from chronic leg ulcers thought to have been caused by an infection from a jousting accident – and his sores were regularly lanced and kept in the open air.
Jude, for his part, might be taking on the role of a monarch in Tudor England, but when it comes to the present-day King and Queen, Jude isn’t interested.
He said: “I don’t really follow it. I’m not one for gossip. I don’t really enjoy it. I find no interest in it, and I don’t really enjoy following tittle tattle stories.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
