Hugh Grant on Why He Thinks His ‘Notting Hill’ Character Is “Despicable” and Doesn’t “Have Any Balls”

Times of discover News: Hugh Grant isn't known as the biggest fan of his past films, but he had specific issues with his character in the 1999 rom-com Notting Hill. The actor recently appeared on Vanity Fair's "Scene Selection," where he revealed why he thinks his character William Thacker is "despicable." Grant stars in the film opposite Julia Roberts.

"When I was at home flipping through the channels after a few drinks and this was on, I just thought, 'Why doesn't my character have any balls?'" he said. "There's a scene in the movie where he's at my house and dad comes to the front door and rings the bell and I think I let him walk past me and open the door. He's horrible."

In this classic rom-com directed by Roger Michell, famous actress Anna Scott (Roberts) falls in love with William, a bookstore owner in Notting Hill. However, the paparazzi's fascination with her complicates their relationship.

"I've never had a girlfriend, or actually I have a wife now, who hasn't said, 'Why don't you stop him?' What's your problem?" Grant continues. "And I don't really have an answer to that - it's just the way it's written. And I think it's really disgusting."

Having starred in a number of beloved rom-coms in the '90s and early 2000s, including Four Weddings and a Funeral, Nine Months, the Bridget Jones films, Two Weeks Notice and True Love, Grant is best known among rom-com fans for his special appreciation for the film. But the feeling isn't necessarily mutual as the actor doesn't always have the best memories of past projects.

"I've read that I hate all my movies. That's not true, the movies are usually great. I hate me," he said at the time. "I always thought, 'Oh, you're crazy.' You never feel good about your stuff. It's like the old answering machine message, you always feel nauseous when you hear your own voice, just 50 times louder than you do.