Hugh Grant Critiques His Notting Hill Character: “Despicable, Really”

Hugh Grant has taken a critical look back at one of his most beloved roles, labeling his Notting Hill character, William Thacker, as “despicable.” In a candid interview on Vanity Fair’s “Scene Selection,” the actor revealed his frustrations with how the character was portrayed, specifically highlighting his passivity in a pivotal moment.

Grant, 63, reflected on a scene where paparazzi swarm the house of Anna Scott, played by Julia Roberts. Instead of taking charge, William allows Anna to answer the door. “Whenever I see that scene, I think, ‘Why doesn’t my character have any balls?’” Grant said. “It’s awful how I just let her go past me and open the door.”

This lack of assertiveness has even drawn questions from Grant’s personal life. “Every girlfriend or wife I’ve ever had asks, ‘Why didn’t you stop her?’” he confessed, adding, “And I think he’s despicable, really.”

Despite the movie’s enduring popularity, Grant’s critique isn’t entirely surprising. The actor has long been his own harshest critic. “I’ve read I hate all my films. That’s not true; the films are often great. It’s just me I loathe,” he once shared, likening the experience of watching his performances to hearing one’s own voice on an answering machine, but “times fifty.”

Grant acknowledged that much of the character’s passivity was scripted, though he praised Roberts for her authenticity, admitting, “All the time with Julia, you’re just thinking, ‘Oh Christ, she’s really good.’” Roberts herself has admitted to discomfort with Anna’s high-profile celebrity persona, making their performances a shared challenge.

As Grant moves into darker and more complex roles, including an antagonist in Heretic and his return to the Bridget Jones franchise, his reflections highlight the evolving lens through which actors view their past work. Honest and introspective, Grant continues to captivate audiences both on-screen and through his thoughtful critiques of his career.