Hugh Grant SaysCloud AtlasSaved His Career, Made Him 'Enjoy' Acting Again After Feeling 'Completely Marooned'

Mar. 15, 2025

Hugh Grant in 2012’s Cloud Atlas.Photo:Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock

Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock

Hugh Grantis recalling a moment when his career was reinvigorated.While speaking withVanity Fairabout his new horror filmHeretic, the actor, 64, said his career changed with 2012’sCloud Atlas. He said the directors of his latest movie, Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, citedCloud Atlasas a movie that made them want to work with Grant.“I was completely marooned,” he recalled of the period of his career following his 2009 movieDid You Hear About the Morgans?WhenCloud Atlascame along, theWachowski siblingsoffered Grant “just a few small little parts” in the movie, he said.“To be honest, I was probably only offered that because some of their international distributors had said, ‘We need some more recognizable names. Cram someone recognizable in here,' " Grant recalled.“They would’ve thought, ‘Oh, we don’t really want Hugh Grant, but we’ll give him some tiny parts.’ They will deny that but I think it’s partly what happened.”Hugh Grant in 2012’s Cloud Atlas.Warner Bros/Kobal/ShutterstockNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Grant ultimately played six different characters inCloud Atlas, a sci-fi epic that also starredTom Hanks,Halle BerryandBen Whitshaw, and he toldVanity Fairhe really enjoyed playing multiple parts.“I thought, oh yeah, I used to really enjoy doing characters — in fact, I almost used to enjoy acting,” he said. “I started out doing silly voices, odd people, making people laugh at university, and then doing this comedy show in London. It was doing characters.““Then through sheer chance, maybe because of the way I looked, I got drawn into the leading romantic hero. It went fine, but it’s not what I think I’m best at — partly because it’s less fun.”Hugh Grant on Dec. 10, 2023.Eric Charbonneau/GettySinceCloud Atlas, Grant noted that he has more often played villains than protagonists, and that continues withHeretic. In the film, Grant plays a man named Mr. Reed, who kidnaps two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) and holds them hostage in his home after they happen to knock on his door.“On a big screen, over 90 minutes, unless there’s a sense of the quivering jelly — the damaged bit inside — it’s going to be boring and just be a mustache-twirling baddie,” he told the outlet of playing villains. “You’ve got to get to the jelly.”Hereticis in theaters Nov. 15.

Hugh Grantis recalling a moment when his career was reinvigorated.

While speaking withVanity Fairabout his new horror filmHeretic, the actor, 64, said his career changed with 2012’sCloud Atlas. He said the directors of his latest movie, Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, citedCloud Atlasas a movie that made them want to work with Grant.“I was completely marooned,” he recalled of the period of his career following his 2009 movieDid You Hear About the Morgans?WhenCloud Atlascame along, theWachowski siblingsoffered Grant “just a few small little parts” in the movie, he said.

“To be honest, I was probably only offered that because some of their international distributors had said, ‘We need some more recognizable names. Cram someone recognizable in here,' " Grant recalled.

“They would’ve thought, ‘Oh, we don’t really want Hugh Grant, but we’ll give him some tiny parts.’ They will deny that but I think it’s partly what happened.”

Hugh Grant in 2012’s Cloud Atlas.Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Grant ultimately played six different characters inCloud Atlas, a sci-fi epic that also starredTom Hanks,Halle BerryandBen Whitshaw, and he toldVanity Fairhe really enjoyed playing multiple parts.

“I thought, oh yeah, I used to really enjoy doing characters — in fact, I almost used to enjoy acting,” he said. “I started out doing silly voices, odd people, making people laugh at university, and then doing this comedy show in London. It was doing characters.”

“Then through sheer chance, maybe because of the way I looked, I got drawn into the leading romantic hero. It went fine, but it’s not what I think I’m best at — partly because it’s less fun.”

Hugh Grant on Dec. 10, 2023.Eric Charbonneau/Getty

Eric Charbonneau/Getty

SinceCloud Atlas, Grant noted that he has more often played villains than protagonists, and that continues withHeretic. In the film, Grant plays a man named Mr. Reed, who kidnaps two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) and holds them hostage in his home after they happen to knock on his door.

“On a big screen, over 90 minutes, unless there’s a sense of the quivering jelly — the damaged bit inside — it’s going to be boring and just be a mustache-twirling baddie,” he told the outlet of playing villains. “You’ve got to get to the jelly.”

Hereticis in theaters Nov. 15.

source: people.com