We've all heard of actors taking their movie and TV roles seriously, from Lady Gaga living with an Italian accent for House of Gucci to Jared Leto starving himself for his role in Dallas Buyers Club.
And while they may have put their blood, sweat, and tears into the job, perhaps they might have drawn the line at spritzing themselves with a foul-smelling concoction... which is something Jude Law did to prepare for his latest role as King Henry VIII in Karim Aïnouz's upcoming historical drama, Firebrand.
Having its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival this week, the upcoming movie is centered around the Tudor king's sixth and final wife Catherine Parr, who was married to Henry VIII for just five years before his death in 1547.
Towards the end of his life, Henry VIII is widely known to have had poor personal hygiene and overall general health - suffering from a multitude of illnesses like gout and scurvy. He also reportedly had chronic pus-filled boils on his legs following a jousting accident and was so obese that he had to be moved about with the help of wheelchairs and other mechanical devices.
So, naturally, embodying the role of a monarch who was in such physical decline towards the end of his life may have required a little more than prosthetics and special effects makeup. In fact, Law took matters into his own hands and went one step further - dousing himself with a disgusting mixture of smells that were reminiscent of blood, fecal matter, and sweat.
Speaking at a press conference for the movie at Cannes, the 50-year-old British actor told reporters (via Far Out Magazine): "I read several interesting accounts that you could smell Henry three rooms away. His leg was rotting so badly. He hid it with rose oil. I thought it would have a great impact if I smelt awful."
He then added that the process involved getting in touch with a specialist scent maker, saying: "She makes wonderful scents, and she also makes awful scents. She somehow came up with this extraordinary variety of pus, blood, fecal matter, and sweat."
Firebrand focuses on the last chapter of Henry VIII's life and especially his relationship with Catherine Parr, who is played by Alicia Vikander. After premiering, the movie received an impressive eight-minute standing ovation, which reportedly ended early as Vikander didn't want to get too emotional.
Law was also asked about his feelings on the current Royal Family, telling the press: "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."
As for his role as King Henry VIII, his efforts to make himself appear as hideous as possible seemed to work, with The Daily Beast saying Law's performance was "grotesque" and "a distraction you can't get over."
