Hugh Grant's bitter feud with Julia Roberts over harsh comments about kiss

01 December 2023 , 19:45

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Julia reportedly became sick of Hugh's rude remarks (Image: Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP)

Notting Hill is widely regarded as one of the most beloved, and of course, romantic, romcoms of all time, and few could imagine that Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts are apparently locked in a bitter feud over their passionate kissing scenes.

Dreamy-eyed movie fans will of course recall the story of quintessential Richard Curtis movie Notting Hill, which sees ordinary bookshop owner Will Thacker fall head over heels for Hollywood superstar Anna Scott. A love affair blossoms after glamorous Anna spontaneously kisses Will, sparking a chain of events that ultimately changes both their lives forever.

Away from set, however, fans may be disappointed to learn that Hugh and Julia are anything but loved-up, and are understood to have a somewhat frosty relationship.

Things weren't quite so romantic behind the scenes (Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock)

During a 2016 appearance on Watch What Happens Live, Hugh was asked by a caller whether or not he and Julia were still in touch, to which he shook his head to indicate they were not. Hammersmith-born Hugh admitted: "I mean, I would be, I suppose, but I've probably made too many jokes about the size of her mouth. She might hate me by now."

The now 63-year-old went on to claim that it was hard to kiss Julia because of the size of her mouth, quipping that he 'was aware of a faint echo' during their on-camera smooched. Offering some words of kindness, however, he added: "She is actually… she was great and very, very beautiful."

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In the same interview, Hugh declared that he gets frustrated by the overly polite image people have of him on account of his best-known roles, revealing: "I get very annoyed when people think that I'm sort of nice or diffident or [a] polite English gentleman — all those phrases make me gnash my teeth. I'm a nasty piece of work and I think people should know that. It's enraging."

Hugh has been much more complimentary when it comes to his former Bridget Jones Diary co-star Renée Zellweger, who he's previously praised as a 'top snogger'. During a 2014 interview with the Mail Online, Hugh claimed to be engaged in 'competitive snogging' in a bid to beat onscreen love rival Colin Firth, remarking: "You will have to ask Renee who she preferred. I think Colin tried too hard."

Julia Banim