Jude Law - Jude Law Wows Critics In New London Play

The Brit stars as an Irish sailor who falls for a former prostitute in the new revival of Eugene O'Neill's 1920s play, which opened in London's Donmar Warehouse on Tuesday (09Aug11).

Law has earned rave reviews for his gritty portrayal, with Britain's Daily Telegraph drama critic Charles Spencer applauding the actor for mastering "humour, tenderness and sudden moments of intense physical and emotional violence".

The Guardian's Michael Billington calls his turn "excellent" and "the best performance I've seen (Law) give", adding: "It's a breakthrough performance in that it releases Law from the tyranny of always being seen as the good-looking lead man and allows him to become a character actor."

Meanwhile, Henry Hitchings of the Evening Standard says Law "exudes a visceral toughness that may just shape an entirely new career path for him", while a review on U.K. theatre website The Stage states, "Proving that he's a law until himself, Jude is much more than a pretty face and hot body - at 38, his latest return to his theatrical roots is another dazzling affirmation of his riveting abilities as an actor."

Law's stint will run until October (11).