28 December 2023 , 12:58
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Hugh Grant performed an incredible act of kindness as it's revealed how he spent his Christmas Day this year.
The 63-year-old, who recently appeared as an Oompa Loompa in the hit movie Wonka, made a surprise appearance at the Big H&F Christmas Day Lunch event in west London on Monday. In photos from the annual event, Hugh can be seen serving lunch to some of the 500 elderly residents from the local community of Hammersmith and Fulham, as they were brought together to enable them to socialise on Christmas Day instead of being alone.
Hugh also took selfies with several guests, and spoke to numerous people at the event - which was held at the Novotel hotel - and his visit left council officials gobsmacked. In a statement, a Hammersmith and Fulham council spokesperson said Hugh’s appearance was the “real Love Actually”, referring to the hit 2003 romantic comedy in which the actor played the Prime Minister.
Hugh was seen serving dinner to local residents (KEVIN POOLMAN/H&F COUNCIL)“Thanks to everyone who joined us at the annual Big H&F Christmas Day Lunch - including a very special guest, Hugh Grant. Hugh helped us serve lunch to 500 local older people who otherwise would have celebrated alone. This was the real Love Actually,” it read.
The 500 attendees were treated to a two-course Christmas lunch, which was served by the Notting Hill star and accompanied by live music, and they left with gift bags packed full of “festive goodies”. Councillor Ben Coleman thanked Hugh for attending the festive event, which was only held after local business and crowd-fudning raised the £40,000 needed to make it happen.
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The Hollywood A-lister smiled as he helped out at the annual event (KEVIN POOLMAN/H&F COUNCIL)“Massive thanks to Hugh Grant for his surprise appearance serving guests at our Big H&F Christmas Day Lunch,” he said. “We were all delighted to see him. He made an already fun occasion even more special.” The event was sadly cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, and the annual Christmas Day lunch is completely funded by donations.
Hugh even took selfies with guests (KEVIN POOLMAN/H&F COUNCIL)Hugh, who currently stars opposite Timothee Chalamet in the festive blockbuster Wonka, has previously admitted to “softening” over the years after becoming a father. The actor is dad to five children - Tabitha and John with ex Tinglan Hong, and three children with wife Anna Eberstein - and in an interview with Drew Barrymore, he confessed he “got a little less bad” after having kids and getting married.
“I got a little less bad after I had children, got married, got happier. I got too old and fat and ugly to do romantic comedies obviously, so I got off with more interesting things,” he quipped.