Hugh Grant describes iconic Love Actually scene as ‘absolute hell’
Actor said famous sequence had the ‘power to be the most excruciating scene ever committed to celluloid’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Hugh Grant has revealed that one of the most iconic scenes in Love Actually was “absolute hell” to film.
The actor was discussing the hit 2003 rom-com in the forthcoming documentary Hugh Grant: A Life on Screen, alongside his co-star Colin Firth and director Richard Curtis.
In a first-look clip, Grant described his famous prime ministerial dance as “absolute hell” and insisted he did not rehearse for the scene.
“I thought, ‘That’s going to be excruciating, and it has the power to be the most excruciating scene ever committed to celluloid,'” he said
Curtis, however, joked that because of the actor’s “dirty behaviour in discos across London” he was “quite good at dancing”.
Firth, meanwhile, added that Grant “made a terrible fuss” about the scene.
The scene in question, which produced countless internet memes, sees Grant dancing through 10 Downing Street to the Pointer Sisters’ “Jump (For My Love)”.
Another Love Actually scene made headlines this week when Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s released a video parodying the sequence in which Andrew Lincoln’s character knocks at Keira Knightley’s door and holds up a series of cards admitting his feelings for her.
In the Conservative Party’s version, Johnson flashed messages about the Brexit aims he wants to deliver.
Grant was not a fan, noting the card in the film that read “And at Christmas you tell the truth” was absent from the election video. “I just wonder if the spin doctors thought that card wouldn’t look too great in Boris Johnson’s hands,” he said.
Hugh Grant: A Life on Screen airs on 23 December on BBC2.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments