Nearly 20 years after the release of The Holiday, Jude Law has reflected on starring in the beloved festive romantic comedy — revealing he actually spent much of his career trying to avoid the genre.
The London-born actor, now 53, played charming widower Graham in the 2006 romantic comedy, which paired him opposite Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet in one of the most enduring Christmas films of the 21st century.
Directed by Nancy Meyers, The Holiday tells the story of two heartbroken women who swap homes for the festive season — with Diaz’s character travelling from Los Angeles to the English countryside, while Winslet’s character heads to California. While abroad, both unexpectedly find romance with new partners played by Jude Law and Jack Black.
Released in 2006, the film proved a major commercial success, earning around €190 million worldwide against a budget of approximately €79 million. In the years since, it has become a staple of festive viewing and a significant part of modern Christmas pop culture, with many fans returning to it every December.
Despite his role as one of the film’s romantic leads, Law has now revealed that romantic comedies were something he deliberately steered away from for much of his career.
Speaking in a recent interview with Variety, the actor explained that many people assume he built his career on the genre — something he says is far from accurate.
“People assume that I’ve had this career of romcoms.”
“And this is really one of maybe two that I’ve done in 30 years. I avoided them for many many years, because I felt like it was going to lead me down a path where I became that guy who does those films. And then I was intrigued to do one.”
In fact, across more than three decades in film, Law has appeared in only two romantic comedies: Alfie (2004) and The Holiday (2006).
Before stepping into the rom-com world, Law had already established himself as one of the most prominent British actors of his generation, thanks to a string of acclaimed dramatic roles.
His major international breakthrough came in 1999 with the psychological thriller The Talented Mr. Ripley, in which he played the charismatic but doomed socialite Dickie Greenleaf opposite Matt Damon and Gwyneth Paltrow. The performance earned Law a BAFTA Award and his first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, propelling him to global fame.
Throughout the early 2000s, he built a reputation as a versatile leading man, appearing in films such as Cold Mountain (2003) — which earned him another Oscar nomination, this time for Best Actor — as well as A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) and Road to Perdition (2002).
According to Law, it was ultimately director Nancy Meyers who convinced him to take the leap into romantic comedy with The Holiday.
“Nancy talked about all of my favourite romcoms that she wanted to emulate: Bringing Up Baby, Arsenic and Old Lace, His Girl Friday, films like that…. So I was in!”
The director is widely known for her glossy and character-driven romantic comedies, with credits including Something’s Gotta Give and It’s Complicated, both of which helped define the genre for modern audiences.
Two decades later, The Holiday continues to attract new viewers and remains a favourite seasonal rewatch — something Law says he finds genuinely moving.
“You hope what you make appeals to people. You hope what you make finds its way into people’s heads and hearts.”
“But for it to be returned to so frequently, to become a sort of store for people’s celebration at Christmas every year is a wonderful thing.”
While Jude Law’s career has largely focused on drama, thrillers and historical epics, his role in The Holiday remains one of his most recognisable performances — and proof that sometimes stepping outside a comfort zone can leave a lasting mark on audiences.
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