From a dancing PM to a cockney PI: Hugh Grant’s 6 best acting roles

By MiNDFOOD

From a dancing PM to a cockney PI: Hugh Grant’s 6 best acting roles
Hugh Grant has had quite the career revival in recent years.

Once considered an actor who could only play one character – albeit a hilarious and loveable one – Grant has revealed himself to be a performer with depth, nuance and range with a series of grittier roles of late.

We break down the best work by the beloved Brit actor.

The Undoing

Everybody was talking about The Undoing after its release in late 2020, and the thrilling crime drama was made all the better with Grant’s brilliant performance. To describe the character would be too much of a spoiler for those that haven’t watched the show, so you’ll have to take our word for it and see it for yourself.

The Gentlemen

We encountered a Hugh Grant that we had never seen before in The Gentlemen, with the actor adopting a thick cockney accent. This film was an audience favourite and many cited Grant’s role as being one of the highlights of the Guy Ritchie film.

A Very English Scandal

After a more than 25-year hiatus from TV work, Grant returned to the small screen with a triumphant portrayal of British politician Jeremy Thorpe in A Very English Scandal. The mini-series depicted the ‘Thorpe Affair’ in which Thorpe was accused of trying to have his former lover, Norman, murdered amid fears their homosexual relationship would be exposed and his political career ended. Grant was nominated for a number of major acting awards for his outstanding performance.

Paddington 2

Paddington 2 was praised by critics and audiences alike, and Grant stole the show as the film’s villain, an ageing actor by the name of Phoenix Buchanan. The actor said of the movie, “I genuinely believe it may be the best film I’ve ever been in.”

Florence Foster Jenkins

We know that Grant is an expert at turning on the charm, and his performance in Florence Foster Jenkins is no exception. But his turn as the doting companion to Meryl Streep’s rather deluded New York heiress offers more than his rom-com allure we were previously accustomed to – this is a memorable performance for which he deserved his slew of acting award nominations.

Love Actually

We can’t list Hugh Grant roles without acknowledging his Richard Curtis roots. While we loved Grant in Notting Hill and Four Weddings and a Funeral, Love Actually takes the cake purely for that unforgettable dance scene.

 

SHARE THIS ARTICLE

Print Recipe

BECOME A MiNDFOOD SUBSCRIBER TODAY

Let us keep you up to date with our weekly MiNDFOOD e-newsletters which include the weekly menu plan, health and news updates or tempt your taste buds with the MiNDFOOD Daily Recipe. 

Member Login