Anna Eberstein and Hugh Grant in December 2016.Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty
Hugh Grantand wifeAnna Ebersteinrecently sat down to watch his beloved Christmas rom-com — and took note of its elements of “pain” and “suffering.”
During the ABC News specialThe Laughter & Secrets of Love Actually: 20 Years Laterthat aired Tuesday night, Grant, 62, told host Diane Sawyer that he and Anna “drunkenly” watchedLove Actuallynot too long ago.
“It comes from the heart — it’s true,” he said of the movie’s themes. “And I did drunkenly watch a bit ofLove Actuallya few months ago with my wife, and she was the one who said, ‘Oh look, it’s all about pain; it’s all about suffering.’ "
Sawyer, 76, then said, “… and about awkwardness and little rejections and little disappointments in yourself.” Grant agreed, “Yes.”
Writer/director Richard Curtis also worked with Grant on 1994’sFour Weddings and a Funeral, 1999’sNotting Hilland 2001’sBridget Jones’s Diary. Curtis, 66, told Sawyer that Grant is “my luckiest break.”
“I don’t even know if I’d have a career without Hugh, so I’m very grateful he came along,” said Curtis, adding, “His crankiness isn’t just pretend. He’s often cranky and often unhappy, but he’s also the only person in the world who’s never sent me a text that hasn’t made me laugh.”
Grant complimented Curtis' writing, telling Sawyer thatLove Actually"is a bit psychotic” and is “Richard on steroids.” He added, “But the thing is with him, what you have to remember is when he writes about love, he means it. And that is quite rare.”
Hugh Grant inLove Actually(2003).Universal/Dna/Working Title/Kobal/Shutterstock
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The hourlong special, which is available to stream on Hulu starting Wednesday, features cast membersEmma Thompson(Karen), Grant (David/the prime minister),Laura Linney(Sarah),Bill Nighy(Billy Mack),Thomas Brodie-Sangster(Sam),Olivia Olson(Joanna) and more, plus Curtis and a message fromMartine McCutcheon(Natalie).
The 2003 holiday film also starred the lateAlan Rickman,Andrew Lincoln,Keira Knightley,Colin Firth,Chiwetel Ejiofor,Rodrigo Santoro, Lúcia Moniz,Martin Freeman, Kris Marshall, Joanna Page, Heike Makatsch, Abdul Salis, Gregor Fisher andLiam Neeson.
Additionally, the rom-com included cameos fromDenise Richards,Billy Bob Thornton,January Jones,Elisha Cuthbert,Shannon Elizabeth,Claudia SchifferandRowan Atkinson.
In the ABC News special, Grant also admittedhe “hate(d)” the idea of his iconic dance scene. The scene in question sees Grant’s character David, aka the prime minister, getting down throughout his residence at 10 Downing Street to a backing track ofThe Pointer Sisters' “Jump.”
“I saw it in the script and I thought, ‘Well, I’ll hate doing that,’ " he said. “I didn’t fancy doing the dance at all, let alone rehearsing it.”
“He kept saying no,” added Curtis, joking, “I think he was hoping I’d get ill or something and we’d say, ‘Oh, well, what a shame, we’ll have to lose that dancing sequence.’ "
Love Actuallyis now streaming on Peacock.
source: people.com
