Jude Law and son: What most people get wrong about their relationship

Honestly, it’s the jawline that hits you first. If you’ve seen a photo of Rafferty Law lately, you’ve probably done a double-take thinking it was a 1999-era still from The Talented Mr. Ripley. It is uncanny. But the story of Jude Law and son isn't just a carbon-copy genetics experiment; it’s actually a pretty interesting case study in how to handle being a "nepo baby" without making everyone on the internet want to roll their eyes.

Rafferty—or Raff, as he usually goes by—is now 29. He’s spent the better part of the last decade trying to figure out if he’s a model, a punk rocker, or a serious actor. While most of us were struggling to figure out how to use a lawnmower at nineteen, he was walking the runway for Dolce & Gabbana.

But here is the thing: the relationship between Jude Law and son isn't some competitive Hollywood rivalry. It’s actually surprisingly... normal? Well, as normal as it can be when your dad is a two-time Oscar nominee and your mom is Sadie Frost.

The big screen team-up: The Hat and beyond

People always ask if they’ve worked together. They have. But it wasn't some $200 million Marvel blockbuster. During the 2020 lockdowns, they filmed a short called The Hat.

It was shot entirely on an iPhone.

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It’s about five minutes long, features a score by Pete Townshend of The Who, and basically consists of the two of them wandering through a field. Raff once described the experience as being exactly like when he was five years old playing Lord of the Rings in the park with his dad. Jude was Gandalf, Raff was Frodo.

This tells you a lot about their dynamic. Jude hasn't been the "stage dad" pushing his kids into the limelight. If anything, Raff has had to convince people he’s actually working for it. He’s been vocal about the "advantages and disadvantages" of the last name. Sure, the door is open, but you still have to walk through it without tripping over your own feet.

Breaking the "lookalike" curse

For a long time, the narrative around Jude Law and son was just about the resemblance. It’s a lot of pressure to be compared to a man who was once the undisputed face of British cinema. Raff spent years in a post-punk band called Outer Stella Overdrive, seemingly trying to find a lane that didn’t involve a camera lens.

Eventually, the acting bug won. You might have caught him in:

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• Twist (2021): A modern, parkour-heavy reimagining of Dickens where he played the lead.
• Masters of the Air (2024): The massive Apple TV+ WWII miniseries. He played Sgt. Ken Lemmons.
• Huntington (2025): The A24 thriller that really started to shift the conversation from "Jude's son" to "that guy from Huntington."

Why the family dynamic works

Jude Law has seven children. Yes, seven. That’s a lot of birthdays to keep track of. Raff is the eldest of the "original" trio with Sadie Frost (which includes Iris and Rudy). Despite the messy tabloids of the early 2000s, the family is remarkably tight.

Jude is famously private about his younger kids with wife Phillipa Coan, but with Raff, it’s different. They’re peers now. They tape auditions together. Jude gives him tips, sure, but he also says he learns from Raff’s energy. It’s less about a master and apprentice and more about two guys who happen to be in the same weird business.

There was a moment at Jude’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in late 2024 where you could see the shift. Raff and Iris were there, looking like legitimate stars in their own right, not just "plus-ones."

The 2026 outlook

Looking at Raff’s slate for 2026, including the Amazon series Kill Jackie, it’s clear he’s stopped trying to outrun the comparison. You can't change your face, so you might as well use it.

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The most "human" part of the Jude Law and son connection is the lack of drama. In an era where celebrity kids are often making headlines for the wrong reasons, Raff seems to have inherited his dad’s work ethic rather than just his cheekbones. He’s admitted that in the past he took on too much—modeling, music, acting all at once—and failed to give 100% to any of it. He’s settled down now. He’s focused.

What you can learn from their approach

If you’re looking for a takeaway from how this famous duo operates, it’s about the "slow burn." Raff didn't jump into a lead role in a franchise immediately. He did the short films, he did the bit parts, and he stayed close to his family.

1. Acknowledge the help: Don't pretend you didn't have a leg up if you did. Raff has been refreshingly honest about his privilege.
2. Vary the skill set: Whether it’s parkour for a role or writing lyrics, having a "multihyphenate" background builds a thicker skin.
3. Keep the circle small: Despite the fame, their private lives stay relatively private.

The next time you see a headline about Jude Law and son, don't just look for the resemblance. Look at the credits. Raff is building a career that might eventually stand on its own, even if he’ll always have to share the same barber's recommendations as his old man.

If you're following Raff's career path, keep an eye on his upcoming indie projects rather than just the big streaming hits. That's where the real growth is happening. You can actually track his progress by comparing his early performance in Twist to his more nuanced work in Masters of the Air—the difference in screen presence is massive.