Hugh Grant Opens Up About a Film Role He Regrets.
Having directed numerous hit movies like Love, Paddington 2, Bridget Jones's Diary, Notting Hill, and Four Weddings and a Funeral, the 42-year-old filmmaker shared his honest opinion about a particular film during his appearance on the Late Late Show with James Corden.
After some hesitation, the actor finally opened up about his genuine sentiments toward one of his previous movies. However, when presented with the choice between disclosing the name of the film he would like to forget or consuming a dish of worm-infused mayonnaise shepherd's pie, Hugh Grant deliberated extensively.
On March 29, Chris Pine, the English actor and co-star of "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves," made an appearance on "The Late Late Show With James Corden." During the show, they played a comical game called "Spill Your Guts or Fill Your Guts."
Grant, who is 62 years old, joked that he would have to consume a pie if he failed to select a film to delete from his IMDB page. He expressed his willingness to shred his digital resume, stating that he has been an expert in playing negative roles for several years.
Grant argued with Corden, stating that although he may admit his work was bad, he cannot discredit the efforts of his talented colleagues who worked on the same film. However, Grant did manage to name one project he was proud of: "The Lady and the Highwayman."
The Lady and the Highwayman cover (CBS)
In 1988, a made-for-TV film featured him as Lord Lucius Vyne. The movie's IMDB page describes it as a thrilling story of love, deception, envy, robbery, homicide, and political scheming set in the 1660s, during King Charles II's reign, as per the synopsis. Grant, who was 28 years old at the time of the film's release, claimed, "I'm supposed to be a sexy highwayman." He added, "With a limited budget, an unappealing wig, and a tacky hat, I resemble Deputy Dawg."
My voice rises by two octaves when I'm tense, he shared, as the poster of the movie appeared on the screen. He then expressed his regret to his exceptional colleagues while recalling Deputy Dawg's habit of jumping out of trees and shouting, "Stand and deliver!" whenever a carriage passed by. The actor's admirers are well aware that he starred in some of the most popular romantic comedies, such as "Four Weddings and a Funeral," "Notting Hill," "Bridget Jones' Diary," "2 Weeks Notice," and "Love Actually," among many others.
Hugh Grant in an interview with host James Cardon (CBS)
During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2019, he made a jest that he was now "too old, ugly, and fat" to continue doing romantic comedies. He added that he had moved on to other projects and had slightly less self-loathing. The next year, Grant elaborated on his decision to depart from Hollywood and the genre that propelled him to fame. He explained to the Los Angeles Times in 2020 that he had developed a negative attitude around 2005, shortly after his film "Music and Lyrics" with Drew Barrymore, and had simply had enough.
He realized things had changed when the 2009 movie "Did You Hear About the Morgans?" starring Sarah Jessica Parker failed. "It wasn't me leaving Hollywood, Hollywood left me because of the huge failure of that film," he explained. "After that, I couldn't be a highly-paid leading man anymore, whether I wanted to or not."
Despite this setback, Grant made a joke about a potential sequel to "Notting Hill" while promoting his drama series "The Undoing" in 2020, but it wasn't what people expected.
Grant expressed his desire to create a sequel to his romantic comedies, which would reveal the truth behind their supposed happy endings. He plans to depict his character and Julia going through a tumultuous divorce, with high-priced attorneys and a custody battle over their children. The film would showcase the emotional toll on everyone involved, leaving lasting psychological scars.
Hugh Grant, known for his roles as a charming bachelor in beloved romantic comedies from the '90s and early 2000s, was once considered a highly desirable single man. However, in 2018, he tied the knot with Swedish producer Anna Eberstein, leaving his bachelor days behind. The couple had been in a relationship for several years before exchanging vows in a private ceremony at the Chelsea Register Office in London. Following their nuptials, it was reported that the star of Four Weddings and a Funeral expressed regret at not getting married sooner.