Mike Nichols’ “Closer” is based on British playwright Patrick Marber’s award-winning 1997 play of the same name.
Like the play on which it’s based, the movie is viewed by some as a modern and more tragic version of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Lorenzo Da Ponte’s 1790 opera “Così fan tutte.”
The dark romantic drama’s synopsis is as follows: “The relationships of two couples become complicated and deceitful when the man from one couple meets the woman of the other” (per IMDb).
It stars an intimate and all-star core cast comprising Natalie Portman, Jude Law, Julia Roberts, and Clive Owen. Portman and Owen were nominated for the Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor and Actress, respectively, for their superb performances in the film.
“Closer” holds a more than respectable 67% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It was also a commercial success, grossing over $116 million worldwide, having cost just $27 million to make (per Box Office Mojo).
Released on December 3, 2004, “Closer” will turn 22 this year. Wouldn’t it be cool to compare how the cast looked back then to what they look like today? Let’s do it!
Natalie Portman (Alice Ayres, AKA Jane Jones)
GettyAcademy Award-winning Israeli-American actress, producer, and director Natalie Portman played Alice Ayres (whose real name is Jane Jones) in “Closer.” Alice is a stripper and aspiring photographer. A fragile character, she serves as the emotional core of the movie and poses an “innocent” figure amidst a web of toxic relationships.
Age when “Closer” released: 23.
Selected movie credits before “Closer”: Léon: The Professional (1994), Mars Attacks! (1996), Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999).
Above is a 2025 social media post by Natalie Portman with two recent pictures of her.
Age now: 44.
Selected movie credits after “Closer”: V for Vendetta (2005), Black Swan (2010), Jackie (2010).
Filmography info per IMDb.
Jude Law (Daniel “Dan” Woolf)
GettyAcademy Award-nominated British actor Jude Law played Daniel “Dan” Woolf in “Closer.” Dan is a struggling obituary writer. Initially presented as sensitive and charming, he evolves into a smug, manipulative, and lust-driven predator who creates chaos in the lives of those he claims to love.
Age when “Closer” released: 31.
Selected movie credits before “Closer”: The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001), Cold Mountain (2003).
GettyAge now: 53.
Selected movie credits after “Closer”: The Holiday (2006), Sherlock Holmes (2009), Captain Marvel (2019).
Filmography info per IMDb.
Julia Roberts (Anna Cameron)
GettyAcademy Award-winning actress Julia Roberts played Anna Cameron in “Closer.” Anna is a successful portrait photographer. She is sophisticated and quietly guarded, and acts as a grounded yet conflicted anchor among the movie’s other intensely emotional characters.
Age when “Closer” released: 37.
Selected movie credits before “Closer”: Steel Magnolias (1989), Pretty Woman (1990), Erin Brockovich (2000).
Above is a 2026 social media post by Julia Roberts with a recent picture of her.
Age now: 58.
Selected movie credits after “Closer”: Charlie Wilson’s War (2007), August: Osage County (2013), Wonder (2017).
Filmography info per IMDb.
Clive Owen (Larry Gray)
GettyAcademy Award-nominated British actor Clive Owen played Larry Gray in “Closer.” Larry is a dermatologist. He is an “alpha male” type who is brutally honest, possessive, and emotionally volatile. His role is one of a raw, authentic counterpoint to the movie’s more manipulative characters.
Age when “Closer” released: 40.
Selected movie credits before “Closer”: Bent (1997), Gosford Park (2001), The Bourne Identity (2002).
GettyAge now: 61.
Selected movie credits after “Closer”: Sin City (2005), Children of Men (2006), Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017).
Filmography info per IMDb.
How wonderful it is to see the core cast of “Closer” are all still doing so well.
They all perform fantastically, which contributes to what amounts to a fearless, provocative, and thoroughly engrossing movie-watching experience.
