Easier? Why? Grant slips into a "DeNiro-esque” street twang for this answer.  "Well, you know Americans are kinda looser, you know. 'Hey- you' fuck my wife?' It's a more physical, a kind of easier thing.   Rather than 'would you like a cup of tea?' That's not very relaxed.  It's difficult for us Brits to get that relaxed. And relaxation is the key, I think, to good film acting." We both pause, and look at each other. Is there more to this theory? After a moment, Grant breaks into laughter. "That answer may be complete bullocks, actually."

How did he get started then? "We made this student film, Privileged, for twenty thousand pounds or something and we didn't think much of it. But when it was previewed, it got this terrific response. And suddenly we were all professionals. I assumed I would automatically be a film star, which is of course not how it really works. Especially in England; to even do it professionally you have to get a union card, to get a union card you have to do theater for ages and ages. So, I spent months in Nottingham Playhouse playing trees blowing in wind, and fourth angry peasant and stuff like that. Four years later, my agent said go and meet James Ivory, for Maurice. I said oh well, he won't want me. I met him for Room With a View and he didn't want me then, he won't want me now. But he did. After that, I made a lot of appalling choices. I did just what you're not supposed to do and took every offer that came.  I thought ‘crikey yes, if it's that much money and got those girls in it and it's in northern Spain... absolutely I'll do it. I mean the script's a piece of shit, but definitely.’  So I did four or five Euro-puddings, and some American mini-series of dubious quality. Then, when my career was completely finished, rather barren actually, I began to rebuild it.

The few people I talked to before interviewing Hugh Grant said they had always wanted to ask a star (rising or otherwise) if acting was all they had expected it to be. Grant doesn't hold back. "Oh no! It's a miserable profession, really. My mother calls it prostitution, and I think she's got it about right. I know darling Tony Hopkins, and darling Emma (Thompson) and it's hard to describe them as happy. Well, actually, Emma's quite happy. But they're all screwed up. I don't think it's a good job for anyone."

Uh, Hugh? This isn't exactly a job you're running away from? "Only because it's going well at the moment. If I have another slough in my career," Grant stops and looks confused. "Do you say slough here? If I have another slough I might well get out, because it's rather a brainless job. Especially film work. You're really sitting in a mobile home all day, waiting to be wheeled on.  Then you say your lines, and you're wheeled off again.  Someone else cuts you about, someone else lights you, and someone else has written a script. I feel powerless. I'd like more power. I'd just have to jolly well get up, find some drive and go back to writing my own stuff.  I'd only direct or produce my own stuff I'm not into anyone else's. I just think it's an odd thing to do, to direct someone else's text. I think you should always try to keep the vision as singular as you can." MM