Wonka’s Hugh Grant reveals he HATED his controversial Oompa Loompa role but took the role because ‘I have lots of children and need money’
Hugh Grant has revealed the real reason he took on the controversial role of an Oompa Loompa in Wonka, despite “hating” the role.
The 63-year-old actor was criticized for his role in the film, and his casting was criticized by an actor with dwarfism, who argued that the role should have been offered to an actor with the condition as there are not enough suitable roles for dwarfs. .
Now Hugh, whose net worth is estimated at $150 million, has revealed that he didn’t even want the role but took it due to financial constraints caused by his parenting responsibilities.
The Golden Globe winner, who has five children aged 13 to five, admitted that metro: “I kind of hate (making films), but I have a lot of kids and I need money.”
He went on to lament the filming process for Wonka, which involved CGI transforming him into a small, piccolo-playing, orange Oompa-Loompa.
Hugh Grant has revealed the real reason he took on the controversial role of an Oompa Loompa in Wonka despite ‘hating’ the role.
Of the array of cameras and filming equipment needed to create the effect, he complained: “It was like a crown of thorns, very awkward.”
“I made a big fuss about it. I couldn’t hate it more… and honestly, what I did to my body was terrible, and it was all replaced by an animator.”
Hugh and his wife Anne Eberstein’s first child, John, was born in September 2012. They gave birth to their second child in December 2015, and their third in March 2018.
The couple has not revealed the gender or names of their youngest children.
In addition to his three children with Anna, Hugh also has two children with ex Tinglan Hong: daughter Tabitha, 13, and son Felix, 11.
Hugh’s role in Wonka was not without controversy.
Oompa Loompas were played by actors with dwarfism in two previous films based on the iconic children’s book by Roald Dahl.
George Coppen, a 3ft 10in actor whose father played an Ewok in Star Wars, told the BBC: “A lot of actors (with dwarfism) feel like we’re being pushed out of the industry we love,” he said.
Hugh was criticized for his role in the film, and his casting was criticized by an actor with dwarfism, who argued that the role should have been offered to an actor with the condition
“Many people, including myself, argue that dwarves should be offered everyday roles in dramas and TV series, but we are not offered such roles.
“They close one door, but forget to open the next.”
In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the Oompa-Loompas are small workers in a factory that Wonka imported from Loompaland.
The new Wonka film tells the story of a chocolatier, played by Timothée Chalamet, before he opens his chocolate factory and is receiving rave reviews.
Speaking at the film’s premiere last week, Hugh admitted that he expected to cry while watching the film because he is extremely emotional at the moment.
He said: “I cry at every movie now, so I’m going to cry tonight, I’m almost crying already.”
Hugh also admitted that this was the first film premiere he attended without having seen the film beforehand.
He added: “I didn’t see it. I’ve never been to a premiere of a movie I’ve been to where I’ve never seen it before. I think this is the first time.
“I live here so being in London isn’t that exciting, but I love the film, I love the people who made it. I made Paddington 2 with them.
“There’s no one I hate, which is very rare: the cast, the crew, the producers, maybe a couple of executives that I don’t really like. But otherwise they are great company.
Hugh looked in good spirits that evening as he joined his wife Anna Elisabeth Eberstein, 40, on the red carpet.
The couple married in 2018 at Chelsea register office near their £10 million home in west London after dating for six years.
Hugh was once famous for his reluctance to marry. In 2000, he split from his actress girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley after 13 years of marriage.
In 2015, he told People magazine: “I don’t really believe in marriage. I’ve seen very few good examples in my life, maybe five, but I think otherwise it’s a recipe for mutual unhappiness.”
Speaking about his wedding to Anna, Hugh admitted on Chris Evans’ Virgin Radio show: “It was a very small fling, that’s all.
“It was very nice to get married. This was another thing I had put off for too many decades. Very good. It’s very nice to be married.
Hugh said he agreed to participate because “I have a lot of children and I need money.” He has three children with his wife Anna Eberstein (pictured) and two with his ex-partner.
When Chris asked why he put it off for so long, the actor replied that he was simply “wrong” because he didn’t want children either.
Well, I was simply wrong. I was wrong. And the kids, you know, I rolled my eyes. People said, ‘Oh, Hugh, you don’t understand it,’ but they were right,” he explained.
Chris retorted, playing on the actor’s love of golf: “And that’s why you played golf for so long.”
‘Yes, sure. Sad and angry, old golfer,” Hugh replied.
Wonka hits theaters on December 8th.