At the 2024 Met Gala, actors Andrew Scott and Jude Law walked the red carpet together, dressed by designer Donatella Versace. Scott wore a sleeveless black shirt and matching trousers with a gold necklace, while Law opted for a classic tuxedo. Versace herself looked stunning in a mint green gown. The actors share a connection through The Talented Mr. Ripley, with Law starring in the 1999 film alongside Matt Damon and Gwyneth Paltrow. Law received an Oscar nomination for his role as Dickie Greenleaf, a rich playboy, in the adaptation of the Patricia Highsmith novel.
Years later, Scott was cast as the lead in a TV series based on the same novel, with Johnny Flynn portraying a new version of Law’s role. The eight-episode series, Ripley, premiered on Netflix in April. Although the show and the movie share the same source material, they are not connected in terms of continuity. Law praised the different styles of Zaillian’s series compared to Minghella’s film, highlighting the unique interpretations brought out by each director. The actor found it rewarding to experience the story from a new perspective and appreciated the depth of the character of Tom Ripley.
Scott, in an interview published in April, described the character of Tom Ripley as a complex and unreliable hero who does terrible things. Despite his actions, Scott sought to portray the vulnerability and human side of Ripley, showing that he is not a natural-born killer. The actor found the role to be an epic journey, requiring him to find the soul within the character to create a multi-dimensional portrayal. Scott expressed his enjoyment of working on the series, praising the material, the talented actors involved, and the interesting character dynamics that played out on screen.
Law reflected on the differences between the two versions of The Talented Mr. Ripley, noting the visual, colorful, and romantic elements of Minghella’s film and the more forensic and sinister tone of Zaillian’s series. He pointed out that both versions are reflections of the directors’ styles and highlighted how the same story can be interpreted in diverse ways. Law found it fascinating to see which scenes and themes from the original source material resurfaced in the new adaptation, showcasing how timeless and compelling the story of Tom Ripley continues to be for audiences across different mediums.
The actors’ reunion at the Met Gala brought together two different generations of performers who had both found success in bringing the character of Tom Ripley to life on screen. Scott and Law’s shared experience in portraying this iconic literary figure demonstrated the enduring appeal and complexity of Patricia Highsmith’s creation. As Hollywood continues to explore diverse narratives and interpretations, The Talented Mr. Ripley remains a rich source of material for actors and filmmakers to delve into, showcasing the timeless allure of psychological thrillers and complex characters in storytelling.
