“I’m just a boy, standing in front of a girl, asking her to love him.” For Hugh Grant’s fans, it’s hard to forget the iconic line from Notting Hill, where the actor was the lead.
But his career is far from defined by that single moment. From his iconic roles in Four Weddings and a Funeral to his hilarious turn in Paddington 2, Grant has mastered the art of blending charm, wit, and depth into every role.
Throughout his career, Hugh Grant has earned several accolades, including a British Academy Film Award and a Golden Globe Award. Time Out magazine even listed him as one of Britain’s 50 greatest actors of all time.
Yet, despite his public reputation, many untold truths remain about this iconic actor.
1. Hugh Grant played female roles
During his school days, the actor was often chosen to play female roles in the story. Growing up at Wetherby School, an all-boys institution in London, Grant’s delicate features made him a natural fit for these parts.
Hugh Grant shared with Pride Source how he often dressed up as female characters to perform in front of his classmates, saying “This was a necessity.”
“It was dictated that some of us had to become little actresses,” he explained. “And, yes, I was particularly moving as Brigitta von Trapp, one of the von Trapp daughters, in ‘The Sound of Music.’”
The actor later shared that his appearance was so androgynous during his teenage years that when he participated in a French exchange program in Paris, locals would address him as “mademoiselle,” believing he was a girl.
2. Grant possesses remarkable academic achievements
Hugh Grant’s journey began with a scholarship to Latymer School in London, where he showcased his intellect on the UK quiz show Top of the Form. This early success led him to the Galsworthy Scholarship at New College, Oxford. There, he studied English literature and graduated with second-class honors.
Initially set to pursue a PhD in art history at the Courtauld Institute of Art, Grant’s plans took an unexpected turn. His performance in the student film Privileged (1982) caught the eye of industry insiders, steering him away from academia and onto the path to becoming an internationally acclaimed actor.
He worked a variety of low-paying jobs
In an interview with WENN, Hugh Grant revealed, “I was a very good waiter in a restaurant that catered to a gay clientele on the Kings Road.” Working there, he discovered that being charming and flirtatious with customers earned him generous tips.
Compared to his stint scrubbing toilets, waiting tables was a significant step up, even if it was considered a modest position on the career ladder. Grant’s experiences during this time highlight his resourcefulness and ability to make the best of challenging situations.
Grant also dabbled in sketch comedy for a while
When Hugh Grant ventured into acting, he faced the challenge of breaking into the industry with no connections or clear path. To gain experience, he took on a variety of small roles in stage plays, from portraying a tree to a background peasant. These early gigs were his way of finding a foothold in the world of entertainment.
The book “Hugh Grant: The Unauthorized Biography”, revealed that early in his career, Grant helped start a sketch comedy group called “The Jockeys of Norfolk.” This group gave him the chance to experiment with comedy, acting, and even directing his own material.
Being part of this troupe helped him develop his comedic timing and range. These skills would later become a key part of his success in romantic comedies, where he became known for his mix of wit and charm.
He had to fight hard to land a role in Four Weddings and a Funeral
Hugh Grant’s big break came in 1994 with Four Weddings and a Funeral, where he played Charles, a bachelor who repeatedly crosses paths with a woman named Carrie (Andie MacDowell) at various events.
Though it may come as a surprise now, Hugh Grant wasn’t the first choice for his iconic role as Charles in Four Weddings and a Funeral. In fact, the film’s writer, Richard Curtis, was initially against casting him.
“[My audition for the film] was in front of Mike Newell, the director, who seemed to quite like me,” the actor explained to Sky Arts’ BAFTA: Life in Pictures.”
Luckily, Curtis eventually changed his mind, and what followed was a successful collaboration between the two on several beloved projects, helping to cement Grant as a quintessential leading man in British cinema.
The actor revealed the worst scene he ever filmed
In one of his most memorable scenes, Hugh Grant’s character, the British Prime Minister, dances around his office with carefree energy. While the moment has become iconic, Grant revealed during his career retrospective “Hugh Grant: A Life on Screen” that filming it was far from enjoyable.
He described the experience as “absolute hell,” admitting he dreaded the idea of dancing on camera.
“I thought, ‘That’s going to be excruciating, and it has the power to be the most excruciating scene ever committed to celluloid,'” the actor confessed when talking about learning what was expected of him in the scene.
Grant’s co-star Colin Firth even joked that Grant “made a terrible fuss” about the scene, but in the end, it became a fan favorite despite his discomfort.