The harsh reality hit Hugh Grant when he woke up one morning with a sudden realization that shook him to his core, as he thought, “What have I done? I can’t sing. I can’t dance.”
As they say, never say never. Hugh Grant could not sing or dance, but a movie role in “Music and Lyrics” in 2007 changed his perspective and taught him otherwise.
It seems that once he settled from the shock of agreeing to act in a movie that required singing, dancing, and playing piano, Grant began to like the idea and even does it as a hobby now.
From Singing in the Shower to the Big Screen Performance
If you ask Hugh Grant himself, he would never sing to you. In fact, he would be the first to admit that he was miscast for his role, with no singing experience or knowledge of pop culture.
You can see his reaction to being asked to sing in this interview, using the YouTube link below.
While he does not claim to be musically inclined, he played a has-been pop star in the 2007 romantic comedy, “Music and Lyrics,” and sang, danced, and played the piano through the entirety of the film. However, there is a lot more work that was put into this film off screen than one would recognize.
Grant took several lessons from a professional vocal coach to improve his voice for the role, and used computer programs to help his sound in the film when he was not able to do so himself. By the end of the film, it turned out that–despite his lack of experience–Hugh Grant actually has a good singing voice.
In an interview after the film was released, Grant even admits that, “The funny thing is, by the end of the film I quite liked my singing voice. I sing for pleasure now.”
However, while he might have picked up a new hobby in singing, he did not feel the same about dancing. No matter how many dance lessons or brilliant choreographers worked with him, Grant was unable to master the dance moves of a pop star.
Instead, he resorted to other measures. Despite all creative efforts to help him dance, Grant admits that he relied on his 7-up bottle, which was actually filled with whiskey.
Aside from the dancing, his newfound talents of singing and playing the piano were all due to his tireless efforts to perfect his role.
Missed Opportunity?
While Grant held his own in “Music and Lyrics,” he has not transitioned to a career in theatre. In fact, he has claimed that he does not like it.
Since “Music and Lyrics” came out in 2007, Grant has demonstrated his vast skill sets and adaptability through his acting roles in several films, including comedy, drama, romantic comedies, and even animated films.
His impressive talent has fueled his long career, spanning almost three decades as an international star. Still, he is not done yet and it does not appear that he is slowing down either.
After starring in a movie packed with well-known stars in 2019, called “The Gentlemen,” Grant has at least one new roles coming in 2020–a drama miniseries called “The Undoing.”
While he will not be doing his own advertising via Instagram, there are plenty of fans who are excited to see what role he will play next, as shown in the link provided below.
Off the Screen
With such a hectic schedule, it is shocking that the 59-year-old British actor has any time for hobbies. Surprisingly enough, with such an outgoing persona on the screen, Grant seems to keep his private life on a fairly low profile.
Still, you can learn more about the actor in his documentary, “Hugh Grant: A Life On Screen,” where he reflects on his career and the pivotal moments that have helped shape him into who he is today.