"A perfumier designed the aroma to contain hints of 'pus, blood, faecal matter and sweat' so [Jude] Law could imagine himself as [Henry VIII]...."

"At the start of filming Law said he made sure 'very subtly' to use a dab or two of the stomach-turning scent. However, when he found that the smell aided his performance, 'it became a spray-fest.' "When Jude walked in on set,” the director, Karim Aïnouz, said, 'it was just horrible.' [Alicia] Vikander, who performed sex scenes with Law, gave a look of disgust as the actor [said] 'Even the camera operators were gagging. My memory is that we were laughing a lot.... [I'd] 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.'"

From "Jude Law has more than a whiff of Henry VIII in Firebrand/The film received an eight-minute standing ovation after its premiere at the Cannes film festival on Sunday" (London Times).

Watch Ms. Vikander approach the putrid actor:

I asked ChatGPT, "Can you tell me about other actors who have used smelliness to enhance their performance?" In classic ChatGPT form, I got a list of 5 items:

1. Robert Pattinson - In the film "The Lighthouse" (2019), Robert Pattinson revealed that he purposely didn't wash his hair during the shoot to achieve a more authentic and grimy look for his character. 

2. Charlize Theron - For her role as serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the film "Monster" (2003), Charlize Theron gained weight and wore prosthetic teeth to transform herself physically. She also didn't wear deodorant or shower during the production to create a more realistic portrayal of the character's hygiene and lifestyle. 

3. Daniel Day-Lewis - Known for his intense method acting, Daniel Day-Lewis reportedly stayed in character throughout the production of "Gangs of New York" (2002) and went to great lengths to embody the 19th-century character of Bill the Butcher. This included refraining from showering and wearing the same clothes for weeks to achieve a certain level of odor. 

4. Heath Ledger - In the film "Brokeback Mountain" (2005), Heath Ledger played the character of Ennis Del Mar, a rugged and rough cowboy. To maintain the authenticity of his character, Ledger purposefully avoided using deodorant, which contributed to the overall unclean and sweaty appearance of his role. 

5. Marlon Brando - In "A Streetcar Named Desire" (1951), Marlon Brando portrayed Stanley Kowalski, a working-class character known for his brute masculinity. To enhance his performance, Brando would reportedly wear the same clothes for weeks, not wash them, and even put raw meat in his pockets to create a pungent smell, emphasizing the character's rawness and intensity.

These are all examples of actors using their own body to produce the bad smell. Law had a perfumier manufacture something for him. Prompting ChatGPT, I got a list of only 4 items:

1. Sir Laurence Olivier - In the film adaptation of "Richard III" (1955), Laurence Olivier used... a foul-smelling oil in his hair....

2. Johnny Depp - In the "Pirates of the Caribbean" film series, Johnny Depp.... used a mixture of different perfumes to create the distinct scent associated with his character....

3. Tilda Swinton - In the film "Only Lovers Left Alive" (2013), Tilda Swinton... requested the set to be filled with a specific scent, described as a mix of Moroccan spices, saffron, and other elements, which helped her connect with the character's ancient and sensual nature.

4. Tom Hanks - In the film "Charlie Wilson's War" (2007), Tom Hanks... reportedly used herbal cigarettes during filming instead of regular cigarettes. This choice not only helped him remain healthier but also prevented the usual unpleasant odor associated with tobacco smoke.

Only item #1 corresponds to what Law did — use something to create a bad smell. Item #4 is especially nonresponsive — annoyingly off point.

I don't think it's fair to the other actors, who, I presume would like to perform using their own skill and interpretation. They're forced to include the instinctive feeling of disgust that the other actor is choosing to inflict on them. Which actors are allowed this liberty to intrude on other actors like this? Jude Law sounds quite pleased with himself, and Alicia Vikander looks on, as though she is simply a lowly recipient of his whim. Vikander, a woman, is 34. Law, a man, is 50. The disparity in power is obvious, though not as great as the disparity in power between Henry VIII and Catherine Parr. Still, Henry VIII had no choice about having that rotting leg. Law chose... and suffered no pain. For him, it was hilarious.

ADDED: I glossed over the raw meat Brando put in his pockets. There was one item in the first set that had an actor using something other than his own body. ChatGPT did not correct me when my follow-up prompt said that all of the items only had the actor using his own body to generate the stink.