When ‘Notting Hill’ ruled the box office worldwide in 1999, it immediately established itself as one of the top romantic comedies. The on-screen chemistry between a small bookstore owner of travel books and the world’s most gorgeous Hollywood star attracted millions of movie lovers.
But in reality, not everything was smooth sailing for the actors. Hugh Grant took fans by surprise with a very unusual statement about Julia Roberts, who played his love interest. It all unfolded when the British actor complained about his famous kiss with Roberts in the scene where her character confessed her feelings.
Hugh Grant Made Blunt Remarks About Julia’s “Big Mouth”
- In 2004, Hugh Grant appeared on ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’ to promote ‘Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.’ When asked what it was really like to share the screen with the beautiful Hollywood star Julia Roberts, he surprisingly abandoned all the typical praise. “She has a very big mouth,” he said, adding, “Physically, there’s a faint echo.”
Related: “A Very Poor Idea”: Why Julia Roberts Turned Down A ‘Notting Hill’ Sequel
- Oprah, who knows her longtime friend Julia really well, came to Julia’s defense and immediately explained to both him and the audience why this description is absolutely wrong. But the actor replied with a hint of sarcasm, “I wouldn’t go quite that far.” This statement became the basis of one of the famous pop-culture anecdotes of the 2000s.
In fact, Grant’s honest and rather impolite comment allegedly provoked a multi-decade feud between the two iconic actors. Over the years, the ‘Love Actually’ actor has never stopped joking about the situation. He even admitted that his many jokes about the size of the smile had ruined any chance of reconciliation. It caused them to lose contact forever after the movie wrapped.
Grant Has Softened His Stance Over The Years
Even though Grant’s joke sounded like an absolute insult, he still makes an effort to make the situation seem less severe in interviews and talk shows. In one episode of ‘Watch What Happens Live,’ he reflected on his controversial statements. He joked, saying, “She might hate me forever. She may absolutely hate me by now.”
In case you missed it: How Julia Roberts’ Tiny Post-It Note Changed Richard Gere’s Mind About ‘Pretty Woman’
He then added a sincere compliment to the discussion, stating that Roberts is still “very, very beautiful” and an absolute professional on set. Interestingly, Roberts has proven her kindness towards her former co-star in this situation. In fact, she eventually forgave Grant and even expressed a desire to work with him in the future.
“I had a blast on Notting Hill. Even though he is cruel about my looks, he is a great talent, so it would be fun. He’s forgiven now,” she said. Julia’s amazing character, despite all the behind-the-scenes drama, makes her a real American sweetheart. Don’t you agree?
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