Hugh Grant "Dreaded" Filming Love Actually's Most Iconic Scene
Hugh Grant was reluctant to bust a move in a beloved prime-minister scene.
The Love Actually 20th anniversary reunion special invoked warm nostalgic feelings for those who watch the Christmas classic annually.
The 2003 Christmas-themed romantic comedy written and directed by Richard Curtis has so many powerful and hilarious scenes that it is hard to talk about them all in a one-hour special.
Fortunately, one of the most beloved scenes featuring Hugh Grant's character David cutting a rug to Jump by the Pointer Sisters was given special attention in the interview with Grant. Many fans were surprised to find out that the English actor actually hated the very idea of the scene and did everything in his power to never film it.
The hilarious scene comes after Hugh Grant's character gets chosen Prime Minister and moves to 10 Downing Street. He hears The Pointer Sisters' Jump on the radio and gets his swerve on dancing down a staircase and through the halls of his new residence until his secretary cuts the dance.
Grant told the host of the reunion special, Diane Sawyer, that he hated the very idea of this dance scene and having to practice those dance moves. The creator of Love Actually, Richard Curtis, also remembered how reluctant Grant was to film the scene.
"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,'" the director said with a laugh (via People).
But the day of filming the dance scene came whether Grant wanted it or not. Curtis said Grant was particularly grouchy that day but being under contractual obligation (or "contractual guillotine" as Grant elegantly put it) gave 100 percent on set. Curtis was extremely happy about how the scene turned out and it is understandable considering it became one of the most iconic scenes ever.
The prime minister is so sweet, and his dance moves are so unique that the viewers never get tired of watching the scene again and again for years along with the rest of the film.
Hugh Grant said it was his idea to let the secretary stop his agony by appearing in the background. Her appearance is what makes the scene so complete and embarrassing, the effect the director was surely going for.
"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," Grant joked. "But then some people like it."