In a revelation that has surprised fans and colleagues alike, veteran British actor Hugh Grant has claimed he only ever pursued acting 'to be famous and make a lot of money' and has 'never loved it'.
The 65-year-old star of Love Actually and Notting Hill made the candid confession to his younger co-star, Justice Smith, while they were filming Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves together.
The Candid On-Set Confession
Justice Smith, 30, revealed Hugh Grant's true feelings during an appearance on the What Are We Even Doing? podcast, hosted by Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan, last week. Smith recounted how he asked Grant if he still loved acting, only to receive a blunt and unexpected response.
'I did. Oh, I love Hugh,' Justice began, explaining their rapport. 'When I worked with him, I was like, "Hugh, you know, do you still love what you do? Do you still love this?" And he was just like, "No." He said, "I've never loved it." He's like, "I just wanted to be famous and make a lot of money."'
Smith expressed his disbelief, questioning the sincerity of the statement, but Grant confirmed it was true. The younger actor added that Grant elaborated, saying, 'I've always hated the acting part of it,' and delivered the line with such sincerity that it left a lasting impression.
A British Dry Wit or Brutal Honesty?
The conversation so profoundly 'stuck' with Justice Smith that he later sought a second opinion from fellow British actor Rosamund Pike while filming Now You See Me: Now You Don't.
He asked her if she thought Grant was being serious or 'just British' with his dry humour. 'She's like, "No, I'm pretty sure he's just British,"' Smith recalled. Despite this, the actor was left pondering the notion that 'you can be a really good actor and just want to like just do it for the fame and money'.
Both Smith and podcast host Kyle MacLachlan agreed that, regardless of his stated motives, Hugh Grant is a consummate professional and a 'perfectionist'.
'I think the thing that is so challenging for him is that he's such a perfectionist, and he takes it so seriously,' MacLachlan noted, suggesting that this drive for control might be the source of his professed disdain for the process. 'It's like everything, he wants it to be perfect... I feel like it's the torture of that experience.'
The Paradox of a Masterful Performance
Ultimately, Justice Smith concluded that Grant's proclamation might be the ultimate testament to his skill as an actor. Reflecting on their work together on the 'silly comedy' Dungeons and Dragons, Smith observed, 'you could tell he really cares about it.'
He marvelled at the paradox, stating, 'He's such a good actor, he'll make you believe that he doesn't.' This leaves the true nature of Grant's feelings – a genuine confession or an example of his famously dry wit – tantalisingly ambiguous.
This is not the first time Grant has expressed strong opinions publicly this year. Earlier, the father-of-five made headlines when he condemned schools for indulging pupils' screen addictions.
At a campaign event for the group Close Screens, Open Minds at a west London school, the actor called for laptops and tablets to be barred from classrooms, lambasting classroom Chromebooks as 'the last f***ing thing they need'. He described himself as 'another angry parent fighting the eternal, exhausting and depressive battle with children who only want to be on a screen', showcasing a different, yet equally passionate, side to the renowned performer.
