Wonka director Paul King interestingly wrote a letter urging Hugh Grant to take on the role of Oompa Loompa. King believed that Grant’s funny and sarcastic nature perfectly matched the character description in the books. However, Grant hated filming the role, especially with all the motion capture involved in making his character. The Love Actually actor revealed that financial motivations drove him towards taking up the difficult role.
Despite Grant’s indifference, audiences have responded positively to his portrayal since the release of the film’s trailer. They look forward to seeing the chemistry between Timothée Chalamet’s Willy Wonka and Hugh Grant’s Oompa Loompa.
Hugh Grant Hated His Wonka Role But Took It On For Financial Reasons
During a press conference, Hugh Grant revealed that he was not a fan of his role as Oompa Loompa in Wonka. Metro U.K. reported that when Grant was asked about his experience working on the fantasy film, he referred to the role as “drivel”. The Notting Hill actor found the experience of wearing motion capture apparatuses and mounting cameras on himself extremely uncomfortable.
Grant admitted that he made his frustrations very clear on set. He recalled feeling confused about what to do with his body, as it would be replaced by an animator. He further added that the new CGI filming technique was not his cup of tea, stating that he hated the whole process. Grant detailed his unpleasant experience in the press conference (via Metro):
“It was like a crown of thorns, very uncomfortable. I made a big fuss about it. I couldn’t have hated the whole thing more. And frankly, what I did with my body was terrible, and it’s all been replaced with an animator. It’s very confusing, with CGI now, you can’t tell what’s going on.”
Grant’s issue is not just with the CGI films. He expressed his aversion to making films at an age when he could have been enjoying retirement. The Two Weeks Notice actor further revealed that he had to keep making money to support his children. Grant shared, “I slightly hate [making films] but I have lots of children and need money.” However, Grant’s experience was not all bad, as he shared having fun and messing around with the cast and crew of Wonka.
Hugh Grant’s $150 Million Fortune Is Not Enough To Support His Five Children
The king of romantic comedies has a net worth of $150 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. His little fortune was majorly built on his successful film career, both as an actor and a film producer. Grant reportedly got a paycheck of $10 million for his Wonka role. Interestingly, reports also suggested that his salary was more than the lead Timothée Chalamet, who was paid $9 million.
However, the Mickey Blue Eyes actor may be spending a considerable part of his fortune on his five children from different relationships. He had his first child, Tabitha, with his girlfriend Tinglan Hong, who is also the mother to his third child, Felix, when they briefly reunited in 2012. He had a son and two daughters with Swedish TV producer Anna Eberstein, whom he married in 2018.
Grant reportedly is generous towards his children’s mothers. He paid for a £3 million mansion for Ebersten and a £1.2 million property for Hong. Grant’s Wonka money proved necessary given his complicated financial situation. Wonka is set to hit theaters on Friday.
Also Read: Hugh Grant Lied and Gave Many Excuses to Avoid “the most excruciating scene ever” in Love Actually
