Top 10 Coolest Things About Hugh Grant

Hugh Grant has spent decades moving from rom-com lead to versatile character actor, stacking up memorable roles across film and television along the way. Here are ten screen highlights that show how he’s done everything from love stories to prestige dramas, crime capers, and family favorites—each with a specific, concrete reason it stands out.

‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’ (1994) – the breakout that won major awards

Grant plays Charles, a perennial wedding guest who stumbles into love in Richard Curtis’s romantic comedy directed by Mike Newell. The role turned him into a global star and earned him both a BAFTA and a Golden Globe for Best Actor. The film’s success also kicked off a long-running creative link between Grant and Curtis. It remains a key early example of his quick, self-deprecating comic rhythm on screen.

‘Notting Hill’ (1999) – the bookstore meet-cute opposite Julia Roberts

As William Thacker, Grant anchors Roger Michell’s London-set romance written by Richard Curtis. He plays a small bookshop owner whose life collides with the world’s biggest movie star, played by Julia Roberts. The film blends grounded, everyday detail with Hollywood scale, and uses Grant’s dry timing to carry both. Its supporting ensemble and London neighborhood setting became central to its charm.

‘Bridget Jones’s Diary’ (2001) – the charming cad who complicates everything

Grant’s Daniel Cleaver is the flirtatious boss who ignites Bridget’s office romance and rivalry with Mark Darcy. Based on Helen Fielding’s bestseller, the film pairs him with Renée Zellweger and Colin Firth in a sharply drawn triangle. Grant returned as Cleaver in the sequel ‘Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason,’ extending the character’s arc. His performance leans into wit and duplicity that play perfectly against Firth’s restraint.

‘Love Actually’ (2003) – the dancing prime minister of a holiday ensemble

Grant portrays a newly elected British prime minister whose storyline intertwines with a Downing Street romance. Written and directed by Richard Curtis, the film weaves multiple tales, and his segment includes the famous Downing Street dance to The Pointer Sisters’ ‘Jump (For My Love).’ The role showcases his ability to carry a full subplot while sharing space with a large ensemble. It also cemented one of his most recognizable screen personas.

‘Cloud Atlas’ (2012) – one actor, many lives across eras

In the Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer’s adaptation of David Mitchell’s novel, Grant plays multiple distinct characters spanning different time periods and genres. The project uses extensive makeup and prosthetics to transform the cast across interconnected stories. His set of roles ranges from aristocrat to villain, revealing range beyond contemporary comedy. The film’s cross-cut structure highlights how he shifts voice, posture, and energy from segment to segment.

‘Paddington 2’ (2017) – a gleeful villain with awards recognition

Grant steals scenes as Phoenix Buchanan, a vain actor whose schemes land Paddington in trouble. His performance earned a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor and widespread praise for precision comedy. The film builds to Buchanan’s showstopping prison-musical sequence, letting Grant combine slapstick, song, and theatrical flourish. It’s a rare children’s adventure that gives the antagonist a fully realized, performance-driven arc.

‘A Very English Scandal’ (2018) – a real-life political scandal, reexamined

Grant plays Jeremy Thorpe in the limited series created by Russell T Davies and directed by Stephen Frears. The drama revisits the Thorpe affair with careful period detail and an emphasis on character. Grant received major nominations across the Emmys, Golden Globes, and BAFTA Television Awards for the role. His interplay with Ben Whishaw, who portrays Norman Scott, drives the series’ legal and personal tensions.

‘The Gentlemen’ (2019) – a Guy Ritchie crime caper told through his raconteur

As Fletcher, a shameless private investigator and would-be blackmailer, Grant narrates chunks of the story directly to another character. Guy Ritchie’s film frames much of its plot through Fletcher’s embellished retelling, letting Grant switch registers between menace and comic patter. The ensemble includes Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, and Michelle Dockery, giving him plenty of sparring partners. It marked a stylish pivot into more character-forward, morally slippery parts.

‘The Undoing’ (2020) – a glossy whodunit that sharpened his dramatic edge

Grant stars opposite Nicole Kidman in an HBO limited series created by David E. Kelley and directed by Susanne Bier. He plays Jonathan Fraser, a respected doctor whose life unravels after a murder accusation. The part brought him fresh nominations at the Emmys and Golden Globes, underscoring his late-career shift into darker material. The series keeps viewers uncertain about Fraser’s reliability, and Grant sustains that ambiguity through precise choices.

‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ (2023) – fantasy heist villainy with comic bite

Grant appears as Forge Fitzwilliam, a conman whose schemes power the film’s heist structure. Directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, the adventure pairs him with an ensemble led by Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, and Regé-Jean Page. The role uses his comic timing for reversals, double-crosses, and self-serving speeches. It shows how he adapts his screen persona to genre worlds while keeping character motivations clear.

Share your favorite Hugh Grant screen moment in the comments and tell us which role you’d add to the list!