Hugh Grant Steals The Show With Hilarious BAFTAs Appearance

Hugh Grant took centre stage at the BAFTAs, stealing the spotlight as he stepped up to present the coveted Best Director award. Having garnered attention for his portrayal of an Oompa Loompa in last year’s Wonka, alongside Timothée Chalamet, Grant’s appearance at the Sunday night BAFTA ceremony was met with eager anticipation.

Embracing his self-deprecating charm, the former BAFTA winner playfully acknowledged both his infamous media persona and his recent cinematic venture. Grant’s seamless blend of wit and humility charmed the audience, making for a memorable moment during the prestigious event.

Hugh Grant “wins” BAFTAS 2024

Hugh Grant at the BAFTAs 2024 | Getty Images

The former Bafta winner role as an Oompa Loompa in the musical Willy Wonka origin story has made no secret of the fact that it wasn’t exactly a high-point of his lengthy film career.

During Sunday night’s Bafta ceremony, Hugh introduced the Best Director award while simultaneously sending up his grumpy media persona and his recent big-screen role.

After taking to the stage, he delivered a rhyme in keeping with his character as he presented the award for best director. “Oompa-loompa, doompity-dee, now the best director categor-ee, Oompa Loompa doompity-dong, most of these films were frankly too long, Oompa Loompa doompity daa, but for some reason, the nominees are…”

Grant hated playing the Oompa Loompa

Grant has openly shared his disdain for the motion-capture process required to bring his character, Lofty the Oompa-Loompa, to life on screen.

Speaking at a press conference for the film’s launch last year, Grant candidly revealed the challenges he faced during the filming, expressing his strong dislike for the motion-capture technology. He recounted the discomfort of having multiple cameras focused on his face throughout the process, likening it to “a crown of thorns” and describing it as “very uncomfortable.”

The actor didn’t mince words about his dissatisfaction, admitting that he made quite a fuss due to his discomfort with the process. “I couldn’t have hated the whole thing more,” Grant remarked, according to reports.

Grant further elaborated on the confusion he experienced during filming, noting the uncertainty about whether he should act with his entire body or solely focus on facial expressions. Despite seeking clarity, he admitted to never receiving a satisfactory answer. Moreover, Grant lamented that his physical performance was ultimately replaced entirely by an animator, leaving him feeling disconnected from the final product.

When asked if seeing the completed film made the arduous process worthwhile, Grant responded with a shrug and a dry remark, indicating that it did not, much to the amusement of his co-stars.

Regarding the dancing scenes in the film, Grant disclosed that while they should have been enjoyable, they were entirely executed by the animator, further contributing to his detachment from the filming process.

Reflecting on the prevalence of CGI in modern filmmaking, Grant expressed his bewilderment at the blurring lines between reality and animation. Recalling an incident during Paddington 2, where his father questioned whether a bear was real or CGI, Grant highlighted the confusion surrounding contemporary film techniques.

In a light-hearted moment, Grant quipped about his general sentiment towards filmmaking, confessing that he doesn’t particularly enjoy it but is motivated by the financial necessity, especially considering his responsibilities as a parent. However, he did acknowledge that there were moments of fun amidst the challenges, particularly when experimenting with new lines and improvisations on set.