Jude Law & Jurnee Smollett

The costars talk The Order, why he took The Talented Mr. Ripley for granted and what Denzel Washington whispered to her

- Kat Pettibone

JUDE LAW - HIS BEST ROLES The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), Cold Mountain (2003), Closer (2004), Contagion (2011) and The Nest (2020). DID YOU KNOW...For the 2006 fan fave The Holiday, while filming the kids' tent scene with Cameron Diaz and his movie daughters, he dozed off!

“I geeked out with you on set.” Jude Law and Jurnee Smollett are ensconced in director’s chairs, interviewing each other for Us’ first “In Conversation” feature — and the person making that confession might surprise you. The two costar in The Order (in theaters Dec. 6), and it turns out Law, 51, is a massive fan of Smollett, 38, thanks to her Emmy-nominated role in HBO’s horror fantasy Lovecraft Country. (Her delighted response? “That was so sweet!”)

On screen, they play FBI special agents Terry Husk and Joanne Carney, who eye a white supremacist (Nicholas Hoult) in a domestic terrorist plot. The stars talk about their intense drama and much more for Us.

JS Who is Terry Husk? What is he looking to accomplish?

JL He’s had a very successful career, but it’s taken its toll. He’s carrying war wounds emotionally, physically. He’s left behind a marriage, possibly [kids]. He’s had heart surgery and he’s drinking too much. He’s a wreck. And initially he’s actually looking to take it easy.

After Smollett said, "I wanna ask more questions!" Law teased her about taking turns.

JS Slow it down, you say?