BIOGRAPHY:

Hugh Grant, one of Britain's best known faces who has been equally entertaining on-screen as well as in real life, and had enough sense of humor to survive a media frenzy, is best known for his roles in Notting Hill (1999), opposite Julia Roberts (I), and in Music and Lyrics (2007), opposite Drew Barrymore (I), among his other works.

He was born Hugh John Mungo Grant on September 9, 1960, in Hammersmith, London, United Kingdom. His father, James Grant, was an artist and a carpet salesman. His late mother, Finvola Grant, was a teacher of Scottish ancestry. His grandfather was in the British military service during WWII. Young Grant was fond of literature and acting. He won a scholarship to Oxford, going up to New College in 1979. There he was involved in student drama, and considered a career as an art historian. After Oxford, he turned down a scholarship to do postgraduate studies in Art History at the Courtauld Institute in London, and focused on his acting career. In 1982, while still a student, Grant made his big screen debut in Privileged (1982) by director Michael Hoffman (I).

Grant's breakthrough came with the leading role as Charles in Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), opposite Andy MacDowell, a role which won him a Golden Globe Award, as well as a BAFTA Film Award for Best Actor. During the 1990s Grant established himself as a very original and resourceful actor. He played a string of characters projecting a positive mindset, showing how do you stay optimistic when you are actually worried about a cascade of troubles. Grant had his own experience as a survivor of an unfortunate episode in his private life, which he managed to overcome thanks to having a pretty damn good outlook on life.

His forte is playing characters projecting warmth and sincere happiness, with his hallmark stuttering, albeit some accused him of reprising the same character he has been playing for the past two decades. Grant's ability to show his character development within a limited screen time shines in Love Actually (2003), with his witty portrayal of a Prime Minister whose personal insecurities become intertwined with his country's international affairs, a performance that earned him a nomination for European Audience Award. His screen presence and skillful understatement takes his characters beyond the written script, thanks to his mastery of timing and effortless style.

Outside of his acting profession, Grant has been a good athlete, he played cricket and football in his younger years. He currently enjoys playing golf, frequently taking part in Pro-Am tournaments. He has been an avid art lover since his younger years, and has been collecting fine art, a passion he inherited from his father.

TRIVIA:

Voted fourth in the Orange 2001 Film Survey of Greatest British film actors.
Graduated from Oxford University with a degree in English (1982)
Was originally cast as Gilderoy Lockhart in _Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)_ (qv), but was forced to withdraw at the last moment because of scheduling conflicts.
Got his start by performing in a British comedy sketch group, The Jockeys of Norfolk.
(September 2000) Back together with former girlfriend 'Elizabeth Hurley (I)' (qv).
On the set of _Mickey Blue Eyes (1999)_ (qv), 'James Caan (I)' (qv) gave Hugh the nickname of Whippy, because Caan said he worried about everything like "the little whippet dogs that get nervous and you got to put a sweater on them when they're cold".
In 2001, he purchased an 'Andy Warhol' (qv) painting of 'Elizabeth Taylor (I)' (qv) for just under $4 million. He later sold it in 2007 for $23.5 million.
Turned down a place at the Courtauld Institute to do post graduate studies in Art History

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