Hugh Grant thinks his Notting Hill character is ‘despicable’. Here's why

November 16, 2024, at 10:20 AM IST

Hugh Grant Critiques His Character In Notting Hill

Actor Hugh Grant isn't particularly fond of many of his earlier movies, but he has some specific grievances about his role in the 1999 romantic comedy Notting Hill, according to The Hollywood Reporter. In the film directed by Roger Michell, Grant portrayed the character William "Will" Thacker. (Also See – 'India felt unusual in 1998': Hugh Grant reflects on his trip to Kolkata for a French film shoot)

The film features Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant in the lead roles, supported by Rhys Ifans, Emma Chambers, Tim McInnerny, Gina McKee, and Hugh Bonneville.

He mentioned that he considers his character to be "detestable." "Whenever I'm at home, relaxing with a few drinks and I come across this scene on TV, I can't help but think, 'Why is my character so spineless?'" he explained. “There's a point in the movie where she’s in my place, and the paparazzi show up at the front door and ring the bell, and instead of stepping up, I just let her go ahead and answer it. That’s pretty terrible,” he continued.

The movie, directed by Roger Michell, tells the story of Anna Scott (played by Roberts), who discovers love with William, the proprietor of a bookstore in Notting Hill. However, their romance becomes challenging due to the intense interest from the paparazzi surrounding her.

"I've never been in a relationship or had a wife who hasn't asked me, 'Why didn't you put a stop to it? What's wrong with you?'" Grant remarked. "Honestly, I can't provide an explanation for that—it's just how it was portrayed. I find him quite contemptible, to be honest," he expressed.

In 2016, Grant revealed in an interview that while he doesn’t “hate” all of his movies, he finds it extremely painful to watch himself perform. “I’ve heard that I dislike all my films, but that’s not accurate; the films themselves are often fantastic. It’s just me that I can’t stand,” he explained at the time. “I always think, ‘Oh, you messed that up.’ You never really feel good about your own work. It’s like those old answering machine messages—listening to your own voice always made you feel a bit sick. Watching yourself on screen is like that, but a hundred times worse,” he shared, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

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