Why Richard Curtis Nearly Passed on Hugh Grant for Four Weddings
Hugh Grant shared on The Graham Norton Show that Richard Curtis was set against him landing the lead in Four Weddings and a Funeral, even though Grant ultimately took the role and shot to international fame.
Back in the '90s, Hugh Grant was everywhere. With his trademark floppy hair and a knack for playing the charming bloke, he became a staple of British cinema. He had that easy-going style, a bit of cheek, and never seemed to take himself too seriously. Even with a few bumps in his personal life, he’s managed to stay a favourite with punters for decades.
One role that really put Grant on the map was Charles in Four Weddings and a Funeral. The character was smooth, a bit awkward, and always seemed to find himself in a spot of bother. It’s hard to imagine anyone else in the part, but as Grant revealed on The Graham Norton Show, he wasn’t the obvious pick. He set the record straight, saying he had to audition just like everyone else.
“I was very much unwanted,”
he admitted.
“Richard Curtis did everything in his power to stop me getting the part after the audition.”
Behind the Scenes: Casting Doubts
Many reckon Curtis directed Four Weddings, but he actually just wrote the script and got involved in casting. The story drew on his own experiences at weddings, with the main characters inspired by his own fleeting romances. Curtis wanted the lead to be relatable, not a classic heartthrob. As he put it,
“The absolutely key thing for that film when I was writing it was that the person who was playing the lead would not be good looking. That was the absolute starting thesis of the film.”
When it came time to choose who’d play Charles, it was down to a vote between Curtis, director Mike Newell, and producer Duncan Kenworthy. Grant only got the role because the other two backed him. Curtis himself voted for someone else. Alex Jennings was first cast, but funding issues meant he had to step aside. Jennings later got his own go at the story in a TV version years down the track. Curtis’s top pick was Alan Rickman, who turned down the offer, leaving the door open for Grant.
Grant’s Unexpected Break
Despite Curtis’s reservations, Grant ended up as Charles, and the rest is history. He’d been thinking about giving acting the flick until he read the script. If things had gone differently, we might never have seen him in roles like Paddington 2. Over time, Curtis and Grant worked together on more hits, including Notting Hill and Love Actually. It’s funny how things work out when you give someone a fair go.