Hugh Grant, once synonymous with romantic comedies, recently declared his contentment with being rom-com-free at 63. The actor, best known for classics like Four Weddings and a Funeral and Love Actually, reflects on his journey. He also revealed that his post-rom-com era has been nothing short of "lovely."

The Hugh-aissance era

During a reunion with Drew Barrymore on The Drew Barrymore Show, Hugh Grant discussed his career's positive turn, playfully dubbed the "Hugh-aissance." He attributed his improvement to the joys of marriage and fatherhood, humorously stating, "I got too old and fat and ugly to do romantic comedies obviously."

He continued, "I got a little less bad after I had children, got married, got happier. I got too old and fat and ugly to do romantic comedies obviously, so I got off with more interesting things. “I love those films. I love the fact that people still like them, but I never felt comfortable really doing them. I don’t know about you, but I prefer more of a mask. I want to be someone else. Then it frees me up and then I quite like acting."

Hugh Grant speaks about his evolving career

Grant, now exploring diverse roles, shares insights into his evolving career. He expresses a preference for roles with depth, mentioning his enjoyment of being someone else on screen. Barrymore suggested a reunion in a sequel to their 2007 film Music and Lyrics, signalling a potential return to their on-screen chemistry.

Hugh Grant's life post doing rom-coms

The actor has successfully transitioned from the rom-com genre, embracing action and drama in projects like Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves and HBO's The Undoing, earning him an Emmy nomination. Grant acknowledged the enduring popularity of romantic comedies but admitted feeling more at home behind a metaphorical mask.