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 his controversial role as Oompa Loompa in Wonka despite 'hating' the role.
The actor, 63, has come under fire for his role in the film, with his casting criticized by an actor with dwarfism, who argued that the role should have been offered to an actor with the condition because there is a lack of appropriate roles for dwarves. .
Now Hugh – who is estimated to have a net worth of $150 million – has revealed that he didn't even want the role, but took it due to the financial constraints caused by his parental duty.
The Golden Globe winner, who has five children between the ages of 13 and five, admitted this Subway: 'I kind of hate (making films) but I have a lot of children and I need money.'
He then complained about the filming process for Wonka – in which he was transformed via CGI into a small, piccolo-playing, orange Oompa Loompa.
Hugh Grant has revealed the real reason he took on his controversial role as Oompa Loompa in Wonka despite 'hating' the role
Of the many cameras and film equipment needed to create the effect, he moaned: 'It was like a crown of thorns, very uncomfortable.
'I made a big fuss about it. I couldn't have hated the whole thing more… and honestly, what I did to my body was horrible, and it's all been replaced by an animator.”
Hugh and wife Anna Eberstein's first child, John, was born in September 2012. They welcomed their second child in December 2015 and a 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 shares two children with ex Tinglan Hong: daughter Tabitha, 13, and son Felix, 11.
Hugh's role in Wonka has not been without controversy.
The Oompa Loompas were played by actors with dwarfism in two previous films based on Roald Dahl's iconic children's book.
George Coppen – a 6ft 4in 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 has come under fire for his role in the film, with his casting 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 soaps, but we are not offered those roles.
“One door is closed, but they forgot to open the next.”
In Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, the Oompa Loompas are the small workers in the factory that Wonka imported from Loompaland.
The new Wonka film tells the story of the chocolatier – played by Timothée Chalamet – before he opens his chocolate factory to critical acclaim.
At the film's premiere last week, Hugh confessed that he expected to cry when watching the film because he is extremely emotional these days.
He said: 'I cry at all movies now, without exception, so I will cry tonight, I'm almost crying already.'
Hugh also admitted that it was the first movie premiere he had attended without seeing the movie beforehand.
He added: 'I haven't seen it. I've never been to a movie premiere where I've never seen it before. I think it's a first.
'I live here, so it's not that exciting to be in London, but I love this film, I love the people who made this film. I made Paddington 2 with it.
“There's no one I hate, which is very rare: cast, crew, producers, maybe a few executives I don't really like. But other than that they're a lovely couple.'
Hugh looked in good spirits that evening as he hit the red carpet with his wife Anna Elisabet Eberstein, 40.
The couple married in 2018 at Chelsea registry office, near their £10million home in west London, after dating on and off for six years.
Hugh was once famous for his unwillingness to marry. He split with his actress girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley in 2000 after 13 years together.
He told People magazine in 2015: “I don't really believe in marriage. I've seen very few good examples in my life, maybe five, but otherwise I think it's a recipe for mutual misery.'
Speaking about his marriage to Anna, Hugh admitted on Chris Evans' Virgin Radio show: 'It was a very small affair, that's all.
'It was really nice to get married. It was something else that I put off for too many decades. Very nice. Very nice to be married.
Hugh said he took on the role because “I have a lot of children and I need money.” He has three children with wife Anna Eberstein (photo) and two with an ex-partner
When asked by Chris why he put it off for so long, the actor said he was just 'wrong' as he also planned not to have children.
Well, I was just wrong. I was wrong. And kids, you know, I always rolled my eyes. People would say, oh Hugh, you don't understand, but they were right,” he explained.
Chris replied, playing on the actor's love of golf, “And that's why you played golf for so long.”
'Yes of course. Sad, angry, old golfer,” Hugh responded.
Wonka will hit theaters on December 8