Hugh Grant has claimed he’s “too fat and old” to star in romantic comedies nowadays after decades of starring in some of the world’s best-known flicks.
The two-time Emmy nominee’s CV boasts a catalogue of roles in the 90s’ and 00s’ biggest romcoms including Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, the Bridget Jones franchise, and Love Actually.
In 2023, he’s transformed into an Oompa-Loompa to star in the reimagining of Roald Dahl’s Wonka, directed by Paul King.
Timothée Chalamet takes on the titular role alongside a star-studded cast boasting the likes of Rowan Atkinson, Olivia Colman, Matt Lucas, Keegan-Michael Kay, Jim Carter and many more.
But while Grant’s turn as a stubborn thorn in Wonka’s side manages to provide the laughs, he’s openly admitted he’s happy to leave the romantic-comedy aspect of filmmaking behind him.
Speaking to Drew Barrymore on her US talk show, Grant was quizzed on the longevity of his success in Hollywood.
Timothee Chalamet and Hugh Grant star in the new film, Wonka
GETTY
“I told you I got a bit better,” Grant joked. “I got a little less bad after I had children, got married, got happier.
“I got too old and fat and ugly to do romantic comedies obviously, so I got off with more interesting things.”
And Wonka certainly is a far cry from anything Grant’s stepped into previously as he explained elsewhere in the interview what inspired his portrayal of the orange-coloured chocolate fanatic.
Barrymore said she could she an Oscar nomination on the horizon for his role as an Oompa-Loompa, which prompted Grant to let out a big puff of breath.
“You’re very nice, you’re very nice to me,” Grant replied. “I didn’t bring much, I just brought grumpiness…
“I based him on an angry little Scotsman I once knew… his name was Archie and he had red hair and no one liked him much, poor little Archie.
“He was a bit lonely but bossy – so it’s him really, and a few schoolteachers I knew.”
Wonka premiered in cinemas in the UK last Friday and has already raked in impressive numbers.
Hugh Grant and his Wonka castmates spoke to Drew Barrymore
THE DREW BARRYMORE SHOW
According to Comscore [via Variety], Wonka debuted to the summit of the UK and Ireland box office with £8.9 million ($11.2 million).
It’s set to debut in the United States on Friday, December 15 which will undoubtedly take its overall earnings much higher.
