Question:You hadnt done television in a long time, before doing this.
What was it about this show that made you want to go back to television?
HUGH GRANT:I was snobby.
I was the last of the snobs to get over the difference between film and TV.
The book upon which it was based was so cleverly blackly comedic.
And then, there was Stephen Frears, Ben Whishaw and Alex Jennings.
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And I loved the tone.
Its dramatic, but its also irreverent and even slightly camp.
Is there anything that youre currently binge-watching?
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Do you have any favorite shows?
GRANT:One of the reasons I was snobby about television is because I was behind the times.
I didnt really understand how it works anymore because I only ever watch motor racing or tennis.
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I hadnt seen anything, at all.
Im the man who hasnt seenThe Sopranos.
Theres something wrong with me.
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Ive watchedThe Crown, and I thought it was sublime.
I just watchedBig Little Lies, and I thought that was equally good.
Can you talk about the working relationship that you have with Ben Whishaw?
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Do you feel like you just cant get away from him, at this point?
GRANT:He has to die.
I havent quite managed to kill him yet, but I will.
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Its bizarre that we keep working together, and that I always seem to want to kill him.
Im lucky because hes incredibly good.
GRANT:Everyone in Britain loved it.
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It was just such juicy stuff.
He was this prominent member of the British establishment, in his beautiful suits.
Hed been to the best schools, and he was famously debonair, witty, charming and well-connected.
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We all loved it.
There were thousands of excellent jokes going around, that were actually pretty disgusting.
Join the liberals and widen your circle, I remember that one.
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That was hilarious to schoolboys like me.
Since were in a different time now, what do you hope people will take from watching this?
Do you hope that society has changed, in its reaction to homosexuality?
GRANT:Its astonishing, whats happened in our lifetime, really.
That was the attitude in the 60s, and early 70s.
Its amazing how far weve come.
I think that was one of the big interests for him, with this project.
But, it didnt feel any different.
A gay love scene isnt any more awkward than doing a straight one.
At 8 oclock in the morning, Id say, Hello, Ben, how are you?
How was your breakfast?
And then, Id have my tongue down his throat.
So, I licked his nipples.
Afterwards, it was, So, what are you having for lunch?
It was quite weird.
Did your own sympathies for Jeremy change, from your childhood views of him when the scandal was happening?
GRANT:The whole fun of him, for me, was that he was both things.
In many ways, he was an appalling, terrible narcissist who would do almost anything for his career.
To order a murder is a pretty big thing.
In many ways, he was a monster.
I also think that his narcissism was so extreme that thats a kind of tragedy, as well.
You cant really engage with other people, if youre so obsessed with yourself.
So, I definitely had sympathy for Thorpe, even though, on paper, he is a monster.
Would you have preferred hed been found guilty?
GRANT:In some ways, the verdict was almost more tragic than a guilty verdict.
The verdict that he got, of not guilty, was like the OJ verdict.
Thorpe was never employable again, in any capacity, anywhere.
He also got ill. What was your process for deciding how you wanted to play this guy?
I always go through it with a thoroughness, for every single line.
Why does he say that one?
Whats the story, when he says this?
I create these vast biographies that are pages and pages and pages, with more and more detail.
I dont even know if that helps, but Ive got a suspicion that it does.
You just get to know the character, inside and out.
He was very keen on his lips and tongue, and used them a lot.
He was a wonderful speaker.
When I got that, a lot of other things fell into place.
Did you make a conscious decision to lean into darker roles like this?
GRANT:I suppose I did, up to a point.
Different stuff comes across my desk now, now that Im old and wrinkly.
I thought, Really?!
And then,Florenceturned out pretty well.
Its a dream part.
Its very, very difficult to find something like that.
This was A+ for me, in terms of the sort of project I want to do.
Youre pretty much the king of romantic comedies.
Whats it like to do romantic comedies versus something like this?
How do those experiences compare?
But Im also very pleased to be through them, I have to say.
Some of the stuff that I get offered to do now is fractionally more challenging and interesting.
Would you ever go back?
GRANT:I dont know.
It depends on the story.
It was great for 10 pages.
But then, I just didnt know how Daniel Cleaver would react to that.
I thought he would have run away from the situation, and then, youre not in the film.
Its the 15thanniversary ofLove Actually.
Why do you think thats still such a beloved movie?
Do you have a favorite fond memory from that set, that you’re able to share?
GRANT:Do I remember anything, at all?
Its possible that I dont.
It was a very difficult scene to do.
But, I dont know why its still so popular.
I didnt realize it was here [in the States].
I knew it was in England.
Everyone watches it at Christmas.
But, I didnt know that was the case here.
Do you think the cast will get together again, like you did for Red Nose Day?
GRANT:Not like that.
But, I think were gonna do aFour Weddingssequel-ette for Comic Relief.
That seems to be the plan.
Youve said that, in your fantasy life, youd like to do a Martin Scorsese film.
Now that youve stated that publicly, have you heard anything from him?
GRANT:Im astonished that he hasnt asked me to do anything.
I dont know whats wrong with him.
GRANT:I do sometimes see her at a playgroup in London.
GRANT:Yes, it is cute.
We have a chat while our children kill each other.
Id be absolutely delighted to do anything with her.
Would you ever allow your children to go into your profession?
Is that something youve thought about yet?
GRANT: It hasnt crossed my mind.
Out of all of your films, do you have a favorite?
GRANT:There are some that I can look at more squarely in the face than others.
This one, for sure, Im really proud of.
Before that, I thinkAbout a Boyis a film that was good.
Do you have any interest in writing or directing?
Part of my problem is just lack of time.
I have five small children, and life is total chaos.
A Very English Scandalis available to stream at Amazon Prime.
