Around the world with Jude Law

Work has taken him everywhere from Ischia (The Talented Mr Ripley) to Toronto (Repo Men) and Görlitz (The Grand Budapest Hotel), but the actor is a home boy at heart. Interview by Francesca Babb

Where in the world have you felt happiest?

I'm happiest wherever my family is, so that can be anywhere. I'm happy at my home in London and at my family home in France with my parents. Anywhere my children are, really.

Name a place that most lived up to the hype…

Angkor Wat in Cambodia. You can wander through these incredible engraved stone labyrinths and along dried-up waterways. When I first went, there was very little development, just one hotel and a tiny little hut of an airport. The whole experience felt like something out of an adventure story. I went back about 10, 15 years later and it was still pretty much the same, except for a few more hotels.

Which is your favourite city, and why?

London. I was born here and I live here. I've fallen in and out of love with it over the years, but after watching my children grow up here and become young teens, and having moved into a new home in the last six months, it's definitely the place for me. It's got absolutely everything. And when the weather is good, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

Describe your favourite view…

Out of my new kitchen, looking at my magnolia tree and wisteria.

Where did you go on your first holiday without your parents?

The first place I went when I'd earned some money was Jamaica. I was 16 and I had the time of my life.

What do you pack first?

I used to be one of those people who takes far too much, but I just got sick of heavy bags, so now I'm quite good at packing and then taking a lot of stuff out. Over the years, travellers far more seasoned than myself have given me advice on two really cool key items to pack. One is a bottle of Tabasco, because you can add it to any food and make it taste relatively interesting. The other is a large piece of material - you can use it as a shawl, or wrap it around your head if it's hot. I've even used it to carry water when I was on a trek up a mountain. Believe it or not, those two items are very, very useful.

What's the best hotel you've stayed in?

I think perhaps the one that impressed me most was an island hotel in the Philippines. You had to fly in on a tiny plane and everything about it was breathtaking: white sand, incredible flora and fauna, giant lizards and turtles wandering around. It was also a bird sanctuary, so there were exotic creatures everywhere. It was quite a simple place, not pompous, which was nice. It was all about the environment you were in.

How do you relax?

I find it easiest when I don't have to talk much, or I don't have to be somewhere at a particular time. It usually helps if I know where my children are. If they're close at hand and I know they're safe and happy, I can just read a book and nod off.

Jude Law stars in 'The Gentleman's Wager', the latest film for Johnnie Walker Blue Label Blended Scotch Whisky; www.youtube.com/johnniewalker

Published in Condé Nast Traveller [/i] September 2014