Hugh Grant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hugh Grant
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Grant in 2014
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| Born |
Hugh John Mungo Grant
9 September 1960 Hammersmith, London, England
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| Alma mater | New College, Oxford |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1982–present |
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Works
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Full list |
| Spouse(s) |
Anna Elisabet Eberstein
(m. 2018) |
| Partner(s) | Elizabeth Hurley (1987–2000) |
| Children | 5 |
| Relatives | Rick Cosnett (cousin) |
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Hugh John Mungo Grant (born September 9, 1960) is a famous English actor. He is known for playing charming and sometimes shy characters in romantic comedies. Later in his career, he started taking on different kinds of roles.
Hugh Grant has won many awards, including a British Academy Film Award (BAFTA) and a Golden Globe Award. He has also been nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards. His movies have earned billions of dollars around the world. In 2022, Time Out magazine named him one of Britain's 50 greatest actors ever.
He first appeared in a movie called Privileged (1982). He then gained praise for the romantic drama Maurice (1987). He also acted in historical dramas like The Remains of the Day (1993) and Sense and Sensibility (1995).
Hugh Grant became a big star with the romantic comedy Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994). For this movie, he won a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Award. He continued to star in popular romantic comedies such as Notting Hill (1999), Bridget Jones's Diary (2001), About a Boy (2002), and Love Actually (2003).
More recently, Grant has taken on different types of roles. He played a villain in Paddington 2 (2017) and appeared in the science fiction film Cloud Atlas (2012). He has also been in action films like The Gentlemen (2019) and the musical fantasy Wonka (2023). On TV, he earned Emmy nominations for his roles in A Very English Scandal (2018) and The Undoing (2020).
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Early Life and School
Hugh Grant was born in London, England, on September 9, 1960. His mother, Fynvola, was a schoolteacher who taught Latin and French. His father, James, was a soldier who later ran a carpet business. Hugh has an older brother named James.
Hugh grew up in Chiswick, West London. He went to several schools, including Hogarth Primary School and Latymer Upper School. He was a good student and played sports like rugby, cricket, and football. He even appeared on a quiz show called Top of the Form.
In 1979, Hugh went to New College, Oxford, where he studied English literature. While at Oxford, he joined the drama club and acted in plays. He also starred in his first film, Privileged (1982), which was made by students at Oxford.
Acting Career Highlights
Early Roles and First Big Success
After his first film, Hugh Grant tried different jobs, like working at a football club and writing comedy sketches. He eventually decided to try acting for a year to save money. He got small roles in plays and TV shows.
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His first main movie role was in the drama Maurice (1987). He and his co-star, James Wilby, won an award at the Venice Film Festival for their acting. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he continued to act in various films and TV shows.
Becoming a Star with Four Weddings
Hugh Grant was about to quit acting when he read the script for Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994). He found it very funny. The movie became a huge success, earning over $244 million worldwide. This made Hugh Grant an international star overnight.
The film was nominated for two Academy Awards. Hugh Grant won a Golden Globe Award and a BAFTA Award for his role as Charles, a charming but awkward bachelor. This movie made him famous for playing similar characters. He later said that while he was thankful for the film, people often thought he was exactly like his character, which wasn't true.
After Four Weddings, he made other movies like An Awfully Big Adventure (1995) and The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain (1995). He also starred in the Hollywood comedy Nine Months (1995) and the award-winning film Sense and Sensibility (1995).
More Romantic Comedies and New Roles
In 1999, Hugh Grant starred with Julia Roberts in Notting Hill. This movie was an even bigger hit than Four Weddings and a Funeral, earning $363 million worldwide. It became a classic romantic comedy.
In 2001, he played Daniel Cleaver in Bridget Jones's Diary. This role showed a different side of him, playing a charming but tricky character. The film was a big international success.
In 2002, Grant starred in About a Boy, based on a popular novel. He played Will Freeman, a man who learns to grow up. Critics praised his performance, saying he showed more depth. This movie also marked a change in his look, as he appeared older and more mature.
He then starred with Sandra Bullock in Two Weeks Notice (2002). In 2003, he played the British Prime Minister in the popular Christmas movie Love Actually. He also returned as Daniel Cleaver in Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004).
In 2006, he appeared in the comedy American Dreamz, where he played a TV show host. In 2007, he starred with Drew Barrymore in Music and Lyrics, playing a former pop singer.
Trying Different Characters
In 2012, Hugh Grant took on very different roles in the science fiction film Cloud Atlas, where he played six different characters. He also lent his voice to the animated movie The Pirates! Band of Misfits.
He reunited with director Marc Lawrence for The Rewrite (2014). In 2015, he had a supporting role in the spy film The Man from U.N.C.L.E..
In 2016, Grant received great praise for his role in Florence Foster Jenkins, starring alongside Meryl Streep. Many critics called it one of his best performances. He was nominated for several awards for this role.
His next big role was as the villain Phoenix Buchanan in Paddington 2, which was a huge success. Critics loved his performance, calling it "scene-stealing."
Recent Roles and Success
In 2018, Hugh Grant returned to TV in the miniseries A Very English Scandal. He played a real-life politician, Jeremy Thorpe. His performance was highly praised, and he received Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.
In 2019, he played a private investigator in Guy Ritchie's film The Gentlemen. In 2020, he starred with Nicole Kidman in the HBO miniseries The Undoing, where his performance was also widely acclaimed.
In 2023, Grant appeared in the action film Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre and the fantasy adventure Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. He also played an Oompa-Loompa in the movie Wonka, which was a fun and memorable role.
In 2024, he had a guest role in the HBO series The Regime and appeared in the comedy film Unfrosted. He also starred in the horror film Heretic (film), which earned him another BAFTA nomination. Hugh Grant will return to romantic comedy in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, set for release in 2025.
Awards and Recognition
Throughout his career, Hugh Grant has received many awards. These include a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Volpi Cup for Best Actor. He has also been nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards and four Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Hugh Grant's Acting Style
Hugh Grant started as a character actor, playing many different types of roles. But after becoming famous with Four Weddings and a Funeral, he was often cast in romantic comedies. He has said that as he got older, he became "not appropriate for romantic comedy films anymore," which he sees as a good thing because it allowed him to explore new types of characters.
Some critics have said that his early romantic comedy roles were similar. However, others have praised his ability to play charming and sometimes awkward English characters. In his later films, his characters often became more cynical or complex.
Hugh Grant is known for being very detailed in his acting. He works hard to make his performances look natural and easy. Even though he has had a long and successful career, he has often said that acting wasn't his first choice. However, he has mentioned that he now enjoys acting more, especially since taking on more varied roles.
Personality and Views
Hugh Grant is known for being a private person. He doesn't enjoy the constant attention that comes with being a celebrity. He has described himself as a "reluctant actor" and has often hoped that his film career would be a temporary phase.
People who have worked with him describe him as intelligent and witty. He is also known for being a perfectionist on set, often asking for many takes until he feels the scene is just right.
Speaking Out on Media
Hugh Grant has been a strong critic of certain media practices. In 2011, he spoke out about the News International phone hacking scandal. He revealed information about how some journalists illegally accessed people's phone messages. He even secretly recorded a conversation with a former journalist to expose these practices.
His actions brought a lot of attention to the issue. In 2018, a newspaper group apologized for its actions towards Grant and other public figures. He donated the money he received from a legal settlement to a group that campaigns for better press standards.
Personal Life
Relationships and Family
In 1987, Hugh Grant met actress Elizabeth Hurley while filming a movie. They were in a well-known relationship until 2000. Hugh Grant is the godfather to Elizabeth Hurley's son, Damian.
Hugh Grant has five children with two different women. His first child, a daughter, was born in 2011 with Tinglan Hong. In 2012, his second child, a son, was born with Swedish TV producer Anna Eberstein. Later that year, Tinglan Hong gave birth to his third child, another son.
He had two more daughters with Anna Eberstein in 2015 and 2018. Hugh Grant and Anna Eberstein got married on May 25, 2018.
Political Interests
Hugh Grant has shown interest in politics, especially regarding media issues. He has supported different political parties in the UK, including the Liberal Democrats, Labour, and Green Party. He often encourages people to vote for candidates he believes will put the public first.
Sports and Hobbies
When he was younger, Hugh Grant played rugby and football in school. He is a big fan of the Fulham Football Club and still follows them closely. He also enjoys tennis and snooker.
Helping Others
Hugh Grant is involved with several charities. He supports DIPEx Charity, which provides health information online. He also helps the Fynvola Foundation, named after his late mother, which supports a home for adults with learning disabilities.
Since his mother passed away in 2001, he has been an ambassador for Marie Curie Cancer Care, which helps people with terminal illnesses. He also supports Pancreatic Cancer Action. In 2023, he spent Christmas Day serving dinner to elderly people in London to help prevent loneliness.
Investments
Hugh Grant has also made some smart investments. In 2001, he bought a famous artwork called "Liz" by Andy Warhol for £2 million. He later sold it in 2007 for £13 million.
See also
In Spanish: Hugh Grant para niños
