Hugh Grant really surprised the audience by playing Oomap Loopma in the new Wonka movie alongside Timothee Chalamet. But honestly, is anyone really shocked? In a recent interview, the actor joked that the unexpected role is just the result of the crazy parts he’s been offered lately.
The seasoned Hollywood A-lister most recently has been seen having a little fun with his roles, Paddington being the most notable example. Thus called his recent phase a bit of a “freak show” and he is for sure handing out tickets for people to come and see the madness firsthand.
Hugh Grant Is Calling This Phase of His Career a “Freak-Show”!
Renowned for his versatility and exceptional talent, Hugh Grant harbors a not-so-secret arsenal of skills, capable of donning various personas with ease. His latest shape-shifting act as Oompa Loompa left fans amazed by his surprising first look in the movie, Wonka. Thus when naturally asked by Access Hollywood about what his thought process was behind embracing this character, he revealed,
“This is what I get offered these days. I’m in the freak show phase of my career. I do baddies, psychopaths, weirdos, perverts and now Oompa Loompas,–I’ve just been offered the part of an orangutan as well.”
Proudly displaying his wide range, the actor jokingly showcased the numerous boxes he had ticked off over the years, and adding Oompa Loompas to his repertoire only heightened his delight. While some detected a hint of melancholy, his true feelings about being selected for the role still cannot be known for sure. Despite the role being an awful experience for him.
Also Read: Hugh Grant Lied and Gave Many Excuses to Avoid “the most excruciating scene ever” in Love Actually
Hugh Grant Hated Playing Oompa Loompa on Screen!
During a press conference with Metro, Hugh Grant candidly shared his discontent while portraying the character, attributing it solely to a single factor, and that is, while filming, the iconic character only demanded Grant’s facial features to be utilized and captured his body language through motion capture, leaving him completely in the dark about how to bring that essence alive. Speaking about his experience, he said,
“It was like a crown of thorns, very uncomfortable– made a big fuss about it,–I couldn’t have hated the whole thing more.”
He further revealed that he was uncertain throughout the process, questioning whether he was supposed to “act with my body or not,” and lamented that he never received a satisfactory answer. However, Grant also admitted,
“And frankly, what I did with my body was terrible, and it’s all been replaced with an animator.”
Ultimately, he clarified by stating that the issue wasn’t with any of the films or his characters.
“I slightly hate [making films] but I have lots of children and need money.”
Now, whether his words align with reality or merely reflect his sense of humor remains the question at hand.
