Hugh Grant is experiencing a career resurgence, and he’s reflecting on the film that reignited his career. In 2012, Grant appeared in the Wachowskis’ Cloud Atlas, an epic science fiction film that is divided into six interconnected stories that span centuries and continents. In it, Grant portrays six different characters. The film followed 2009’s Did You Hear About the Morgans? The Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker rom-com received mostly negative reviews, with critics slamming the film for a predictable plot and stereotypical characters. While speaking with Vanity Fair about how the film saved his career, he shared:
“I was completely marooned. The Wachowskis offered me just a few small little parts in
Cloud Atlas
, and to be honest, I was probably only offered that because some of their international distributors had said, ‘We need some more recognizable names. Cram someone recognizable in here.’ They would’ve thought, ‘Oh, we don’t really want Hugh Grant, but we’ll give him some tiny parts.’ They will deny that but I think it’s partly what happened.”
Despite garnering mixed reviews from critics, and failing to meet expectations at the box office, Cloud Atlas accrued award nominations and several wins. For Grant, it showed the versatile actor in a different light than the romantic lead he usually portrayed in films. Cloud Atlas showcased his ability to play a wide range of characters, from the innocent and idealistic to the cynical and disillusioned.
“I thought, Oh yeah, I used to really enjoy doing characters—in fact, I almost used to enjoy acting. I started out doing silly voices, odd people, making people laugh at university, and then doing this comedy show in London. It was doing characters. Then through sheer chance, maybe because of the way I looked, I got drawn into the leading romantic hero. It went fine, but it’s not what I think I’m best at—partly because it’s less fun,” Grant shared.
Hugh Grant’s Career Shift
Grant has benefited from that opportunity to shift his career path, as critics and audiences have enjoyed watching him in more complex, and sometimes villainous, roles. In recent years, Grant has impressed in Wonka, The Gentlemen, Paddington 2, and Dungeons and Dragons: Honour Among Thieves, none of which echo his early career roles.
Grant is currently earning acclaim for his role in A24’s horror Heretic. His performance as manipulative religious leader Reverend John Corwin (who he calls a “brilliantly complicated, fucked-up character”), has been described as “reptilian,” “smug,” and “deliciously provocative,” and yes, those are all good things. This is Grant’s first horror film, but with such a successful outing, we hope to see him in others.
“On a big screen, over 90 minutes, unless there’s a sense of the quivering jelly—the damaged bit inside—it’s going to be boring and just be a mustache-twirling baddie. You’ve got to get to the jelly,” he said.
Grant will next make his anticipated return to the Bridget Jones franchise, reprising the role of Daniel Cleaver. Although Grant tells the publication that his role in Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy is small, he is excited about the movie, as it’s based on what he considers the best book in the series.
Heretic
is currently playing in theaters.
Cloud Atlas
is streaming on Apple TV+.