Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson Reflect on Their Iconic Film and Its Unforgettable Moments

Hugh Grant (left) and Emma Thompson on ‘The Graham Norton Show’.
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Need to Know

• Emma Thompson discussed which film with Hugh Grant he referred to as their ‘most psychotic.’
• Thompson noted she has collaborated with Grant more than any other actor, particularly in Sense and Sensibility, Love Actually, and The Remains of the Day.
• Thompson indicated that time has proven Grant’s comment was misplaced.

Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson have shared the screen in many films, but one particular project elicited a remark from Grant about being their “most psychotic.”

In a recent video released by GQ on December 9, Thompson, 66, reflected on her career, including memories of Love Actually, the 2003 holiday ensemble popularized by director Richard Curtis. In the film, Thompson portrayed Karen, married to Alan Rickman’s character, Harry, who is the brother of Grant’s David, the British Prime Minister.

“It’s the ultimate ensemble, isn’t it?” Thompson remarked, recalling the film’s unique nature. “We did sort of get flung into our pieces, one by one.”

She recalled a conversation with Grant, 65, at the film’s New York opening: “I do remember I was coming from Wit with Mike Nichols, which is not a romcom at all, and something very serious, you know, and sad,” she said, referring to her role as a woman battling ovarian cancer.

From left: Martine McCutcheon, Hugh Grant, and Emma Thompson in ‘Love Actually’.

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“And I went to the opening of that and then the opening of Love Actually, and Hugh Grant came up behind me and said, ‘Is that the most psychotic thing we’ve ever made?’” Thompson recalled with a laugh. “And I said, ‘Well, you know, time will tell. Time will tell.’”

She reflected, “And time has told. It holds up because it’s so full of Richard’s deep love for humanity.” Despite ongoing debates about its themes, Love Actually continues to be a holiday staple for many viewers. Grant, however, has previously expressed uncertainty about the film’s enduring popularity.

Thompson mentioned that she believes she has collaborated with Grant more than anyone else. “He’s been my brother, my lover, my sort of husband person, somebody I’ve served as a servant in The Remains of the Day,” she elaborated. “We’ve done so many things together… and it’s always been a completely different relationship.” Their on-screen romance in 1995’s Sense and Sensibility and their participation in 2025’s Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy further exemplify their versatile collaborations.

Thompson also discussed a poignant moment from Love Actually, where her character Karen realizes her husband has bought jewelry for another woman while giving her only a Joni Mitchell CD. “I knew what being heartbroken felt like,” she said of that scene, recalling it as a relatable expression of concealed sorrows, especially for women.

Hugh Grant (left) and Emma Thompson in ‘Sense and Sensibility’.

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