Jude Law Says Going From an Oscar Nom to Cheesy ‘Alfie’ Flop Was a ‘Bad Move’ and ‘I Was Probably Paid Too Much Money’: ‘I Kicked Myself’

Jude Law admitted in an interview with GQ Magazine UK that it was a "bad move" to sign on to star in 2004's " Alfie " after earning his second Oscar nomination. Law earned raves for "Cold Mountain" and competed for best actor at the Academy Awards. Then came "Alfie," a remake of the 1966 film starring Michael Caine. The movie flopped at the box office and was mostly panned by critics.

"I was in a really strong position [at that time] because I'd just had another [Oscar] nomination on the back of 'Cold Mountain,'" Law said, "and for 'Alfie' to be the film I chose to do quite soon after that, I think was a bad move. I just felt it hadn't elevated [the material] and felt a little light, a little too cheesy. I think it was made for too much money, and I was probably paid too much money, which I underestimated at the time. I kicked myself that I'd done something that was leaning into the heartthrob and the charismatic lead and it hadn't worked."

Did "Alfie" flopping knock Law's confidence? "Yes, I think it probably did," he admitted. "Everyone has hits, everyone has flops. But yes, I think it did. It also made me aware that, when you are fresh out of the gate, everyone is intrigued and everyone wants a piece of you. And then as soon as you have a couple of misfires, their attention goes elsewhere. And so there's a part of you also thinking, 'Oh okay, how do I get that attention back?'"

"Alfie" only made $35 million worldwide on a reported $60 million production budget, but Law did earn favorable reviews for his performance. Variety wrote in its review at the time that Law "shines as the English pretty-boy cutting a wide swath through the women of Manhattan." But the dismal box office returns didn't bolster Law's career momentum after earning an Oscar nomination.