Actor Jude Law sparked a Sherlock Holmes-worthy in the summer of 2009 when he revealed he was to become a father for the fourth time. Spokeswoman for the 36-year-old star of stage and screen, Sara Keene, this week told the press that Law was “to be the father of a child due in the autumn.” However, she refused to confirm the identity of the unborn child’s mother.
But this morning a young model from Florida was revealed as the mum-to-be. Samantha Burke, 24, from Pensacola, Florida, issued a statement to the press confirming she was expecting Law’s baby. Her representative told reporters that the Brit actor had been “supportive” since Burke informed him of the impending arrival.
Law will be Part of Child's Life
Sara Keene added that Law, who already has three children – Rafferty, 12, Iris, 8, and Rudy, 6 - from his seven year marriage to British actress Sadie Frost, intended to be “part of the child’s life.”
The couple, who are no longer together, are believed to have met in New York last year, while the actor was in the city filming for his role of Dr Watson in Guy Ritchie’s upcoming film of Sherlock Holmes.So the happy news may have come as a surprise to the actor, who is currently receiving rave reviews for his portrayal of Shakespeare’s Hamlet on Broadway.
Burke "shocked" by Pregnancy
In an interview with the London Evening Standard Miss Burke’s mother revealed that the petite brunette has also been stunned by the development, which means she has had to put on hold plans to return to education. Lea Burke told the newspaper: “This was in no way planned.”
Will Samantha Burke Seek Maintenance?
Mrs Burke refused to comment on speculation that her daughter had retained a lawyer and planned to seek extensive maintenance payments from the star, whose movie appearances are believed to have earned him in excess of £10m in 2004 alone and who appeared in the top 10 of a 2006 list of most bankable movie stars.
Family law experts in America have begun to speculate that Law may be hit with a large maintenance bill unless he intends to move closer to his child in order to take an active role in its daily life. One likened the case to that of comedian Eddie Murphy, who was ordered to pay Spice Girl Mel B $50,000 a month for their daughter Angel.
Although unconfirmed as being related to Law and his ex-partner, one public online gift registry in the name of Samantha and Lea Burke of Pensacola Florida lists baby's due date as October 6th and features a request for a pack of baby girl's bibs.
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