Saturday 26 November 2022 03:50 PM Hugh Grant reveals it was 'excruciating' filming his iconic dancing scene in ... trends now
Hugh Grant has revealed that he found it 'excruciating' filming his iconic dancing scene as Prime Minister in Love Actually.
The actor, 62, said he saw the dance part in his script and immediately thought 'I'll hate doing that!'.
While speaking Diane Sawyer's for ABC's The Laughter & Secrets of Love Actually: 20 Years Later, Hugh said he was even 'out of time' with his wiggle in the final edit.
Funny: Hugh Grant has revealed that he found it 'excruciating' filming his iconic dancing scene as Prime Minister in Love Actually
The famous scene saw him as PM dancing around 10 Downing Street to The Pointer Sisters' song Jump before realising someone was watching him and quickly stopping.
Hugh explained: 'I saw it in the script and I thought, ''Well, I'll hate doing that''. I didn't fancy doing the dance at all, let alone rehearsing it.'
'He kept saying no,' writer and director Richard Curtis - who appeared alongside him in the interview - then joked.
'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.'
Oh no! The actor, 62, said he saw the dance part in his script and immediately thought 'I'll hate doing that!'
Richard went on to say that Hugh was 'grumpy' the day they filmed the dance scene, but 'it was a contractual obligation' that he follow through.
Hugh then quipped: 'A contractual guillotine, yes! And I'm out of rhythm, by the way, especially at the beginning when I wiggle my ass.'
Richard added that he was pleased with how Hugh really committed to the scene, joking: 'I thought, ''That's agonizingly embarrassing. He's just perfect.'''
Hugh later said that he came up with the idea of having the Prime Minister's secretary catch him dancing around.
LOL: While speaking Diane Sawyer's for ABC's The Laughter & Secrets of Love Actually: 20 Years Later, Hugh said he was even 'out of time' with his wiggle in the final edit
'And to this day, there's many people — and I agree with them — who think it's the most excruciating scene ever committed to celluloid.
'But then some people like it!'
Love Actually stars are reuniting to celebrate the beloved Christmas comedy's 20th anniversary.
The hour-long special will air on ABC November 29, with no current UK transmission date, and will feature Emma Thompson, 63, Hugh, Bill Nighy, 72, and Laura Linney, 58, who all memorably started in the movie.
Classic: The famous scene saw him as PM dancing around 10 Downing Street to The Pointer Sisters' song Jump before realising someone was watching him and quickly stopping
Reaction: Hugh explained: 'I saw it in the script and I thought, ''Well, I'll hate doing that''. I didn't fancy doing the dance at all, let alone rehearsing it'
The Laughter & Secrets of Love Actually: 20 Years Later sees journalist Diane interview the actors as well as writer and director Richard Curtis.
The one-off special will 'look at how the film became a beloved Christmas tradition and a global sensation, with new insight into behind-the-scenes secrets and iconic scenes'.
The trailer shows the stars all speaking with Diane as they reminisce about their time making the famous film.
Hugh, who played David in the movie, admits he was unsure he would be able to complete the now famous Downing Street dancing scene.
Back again: Love Actually stars are reuniting to celebrate the beloved Christmas comedy's 20th anniversary (Dame Emma Thompson pictured)
Meanwhile Dame Emma, who plays downtrodden wife Karen, reveals that Hugh asked following the movie's premiere 'Is that the most psychotic thing we've ever been in?'.
The movie follows eight London couples as they try to deal with their relationships in different ways, it also starred Liam Neeson and Colin Firth.
Thomas Brodie-Sangford, now 32, played Liam Neeson's son Sam in the flick and recently reflected on the lasting enormity of movie.
Beloved: The one-off special will 'look at how the film became a beloved Christmas tradition and a global sensation, with new insight into behind-the-scenes secrets and iconic scenes' (Bill Nighy pictured)
Speaking to People he said: 'I remember already having the part and going into the read-through and not knowing who else was in it,'
He continued: 'I'd just go, 'Oh, it's another job. Great. I'm on another job.'
'And then all these faces started walking in through the door and I realised that this is probably quite big.'
The Cast of Love Actually where are they now ....
SAM (THOMAS BRODIE-SANGFORD)
Thomas was 12 when he filmed his role as lovesick Sam, opposite Liam Neeson as his stepdad
Thomas Brodie-Sangster played Jojen Reed in several episodes of the HBO hit series Game Of Thrones
Game of Thrones fans might have noticed a familiar face beyond the Wall in early series of the monster hit show.
Jojen Reed was played by Thomas Brodie-Sangster, the child star who played grieving Liam Neeson's stepson Sam in Love Actually.
Sangster, who runs through the airport to tell his schoolgirl crush he loves her during the film's big finale, had a recurring role in the HBO series, as a young heir tasked with helping to protect Bran Stark.
The has gone on to star in the hit sci-fi adaptation Maze Runner and in 2017 he starred in a 15 minute sequel to Love Actually, shown on the BBC as part of Comic Relief's Red Nose Day.
The actor has enjoyed film success in Nanny McPhee, Nowhere Boy - in which he played a young Paul McCartney - and Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. Thomas has frequently been spotted spending time with his Australian photographer girlfriend Gzi Wisdom in Venice, Los Angeles.
JOANNA (OLIVIA OLSON)
Olivia Olson captured viewers' hearts with her incredible singing in the hit movie, and her singing was so good that director Richard Curtis was reportedly worried the audience wouldn't believe it was her own voice
Olivia' incredible singing voice saw her release her first EP 'Beauty is chaos' in 2013, before releasing album Nowhere Land in June 2018 (pictured in 2018)
She was 11 when she starred as the adorable schoolgirl who stole her classmate Sam's heart - and stunned viewers with her powerful rendition of Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas is You.
At the time, her singing was so good that director Richard Curtis was reportedly worried the audience wouldn't believe it was her own voice, and trained her to make it sound 'more believable'.
Flashback: Schoolboy Sam will go to any lengths to get Joanna to notice him in the festive favourite
Olivia' incredible singing voice saw her release her first EP 'Beauty is chaos' in 2013, before releasing album Nowhere Land in June 2018.
The LA-based actress and singer has also been part of the cast behind two animated series - the Cartoon Network's Adventure Time, in which she voiced Marceline the Vampire Queen, and Disney's Phineas and Ferb, in which she voiced Vanessa Doofenshmirtz.
COLIN FRISSELL (KRIS MARSHALL)
Kris Marshall played Colin Frissell, who famously travelled to the US in search of love in the Christmas rom com Love Actually (pictured)
Most recently, Marshall has been showing off his acting chops in the ITV adaptation of Jane Austen's Sanditon. Pictured far right as character Tom Parker with the rest of the cast
Aside from his memorable turn as would-be ladies' man Colin Frissell in Love Actually, Kris Marshall, now 49, is perhaps best known for playing Nick Harper in the comedy series My Family.
Optimistic geek Colin travels to Wisconsin in Love Actually, in search of American women who will appreciate that 'Stateside, I am Prince William'.
Since then Marshall has appeared in the BBC film Heist, the independent British rom-com Sparks & Embers in 2015, and starred in a long-running ad campaign for BT.
He played lead detective DI Humphrey Goodman in the BBC drama Death in Paradise from since 2014 to 2017, citing pressures placed on his family.
Most recently, Marshall has been showing off his acting chops in the ITV adaptation of Jane Austen's Sanditon.
He shares two children with wife Hannah Dodkins, who he married in 2012.
MARK (ANDREW LINCOLN)
Mark confesses his true feelings for Juliet in a scene from the Christmas classic Love Actually
Lincoln, 49, starred as sheriff's deputy Rick Grimes in the US show The Walking Dead
Lincoln has received various awards and nominations for his portrayal of Rick Grimes; including Saturn Award for Best Actor on Television in 2015 and 2017 (seen at a Walking Dead photocall last year)
Young Sam had competition in the broken heart stakes from camera man Mark, who struggles to be around his best friend's wife Juliet [played by Keira Knightley] after falling in love with her himself.
One of Love Actually's most famous scenes shows Mark standing outside the couple's house in the snow to finally tell Juliet how he feels - via a series of hand-scrawled cardboard signs, and to a soundtrack of carolers singing Silent Night.
Since then, Andrew has gone on to enjoy success Stateside, where he stars as sheriff's deputy Rick Grimes in the hugely popular AMC series The Walking Dead.
Lincoln has received various awards and nominations for his portrayal of Rick Grimes; including Saturn Award for Best Actor on Television in 2015 and 2017.
He has two children, Matilda and Arthur, with Gael Anderson,
