Career Timeline of Hugh Grant: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Hugh Grant built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Hugh Grant is a celebrated English actor renowned for his early career portrayals of charming and vulnerable romantic leads. He has since evolved into a character actor, earning a British Academy Film Award and a Golden Globe Award, along with Primetime Emmy Award nominations. Grant received an Honorary César in 2006. Time Out magazine recognized him as one of Britain's 50 greatest actors. His films have collectively grossed over $4 billion worldwide as of 2025.
1917: Starred in The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain
In 1917, Hugh Grant starred as a cartographer in Wales in 'The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain'.
1982: Feature Film Debut
In 1982, Hugh Grant made his feature film acting debut in 'Privileged'.
1982: Starred in Privileged
In 1982, Hugh Grant starred in his first film, 'Privileged', produced by the Oxford University Film Foundation.
1982: Debut in Privileged and varied jobs
In 1982, after making his debut in 'Privileged', Hugh Grant worked various jobs including groundsman, tutor, and writing comedy sketches.
1984: Offered a Role in The Bounty
In 1984, Hugh Grant was offered a role in 'The Bounty', but he couldn't take it because he didn't have an Equity card.
1985: The Jockeys of Norfolk form
In 1985, Hugh Grant created sketch-comedy group The Jockeys of Norfolk.
1986: Played Eric Birling in An Inspector Calls
In 1986, Hugh Grant played Eric Birling in a production of 'An Inspector Calls' at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, receiving an "outstanding" review.
1987: Acclaim for Maurice and Volpi Cup Win
In 1987, Hugh Grant gained acclaim for his role in the romantic drama 'Maurice', also winning the Volpi Cup for Best Actor.
1987: Leading film role in Maurice
In 1987, Hugh Grant had his first leading film role in 'Maurice' and shared the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival with James Wilby.
1987: Acted in White Mischief
In 1987, Hugh Grant played Hugh Cholmondeley in 'White Mischief', a BAFTA Award-nominated film.
1988: Acting in Remando Al Viento
In 1988, Hugh Grant played Lord Byron in the Spanish production 'Remando Al Viento'. It was during this time that he met Elizabeth Hurley, who was cast in a supporting role.
1988: Roles in The Dawning and The Lair of the White Worm
In 1988, Hugh Grant played supporting role in 'The Dawning' and leading role in 'The Lair of the White Worm'.
1989: Portrayed Charles Heidsieck
In 1989, Hugh Grant portrayed Charles Heidsieck in the television film 'Champagne Charlie'.
1990: Role in The Big Man
In 1990, Hugh Grant had a role in 'The Big Man', where he used a Scottish accent.
1991: Starred in Impromptu as Frederic Chopin
In 1991, Hugh Grant starred in 'Impromptu' as Frederic Chopin, opposite Judy Davis as George Sand.
1993: Acted in The Remains of the Day
In 1993, Hugh Grant acted in the successful period drama 'The Remains of the Day'.
1993: Supporting role in The Remains of the Day
In 1993, Hugh Grant had a supporting role in Merchant-Ivory drama 'The Remains of the Day'.
July 1994: Signed Production Deal with Castle Rock Entertainment
In July 1994, Hugh Grant signed a two-year production deal with Castle Rock Entertainment.
1994: Release of Four Weddings and a Funeral
In 1994, 'Four Weddings and a Funeral' was released, becoming the highest-grossing British film to date and making Hugh Grant an international star.
1994: Breakthrough with Four Weddings and a Funeral
In 1994, Hugh Grant emerged as a star with Richard Curtis's romantic comedy 'Four Weddings and a Funeral', winning the Golden Globe and BAFTA Award for Best Actor.
1995: Reunited with Mike Newell for An Awfully Big Adventure
In 1995, Hugh Grant reunited with Mike Newell for the film 'An Awfully Big Adventure', portraying the director of a repertory company.
1995: Starred in Sense and Sensibility and Restoration
In 1995, Hugh Grant starred in successful period dramas 'Sense and Sensibility' and 'Restoration'.
1995: Starred in 'Nine Months' and 'Sense and Sensibility'
In 1995, Hugh Grant starred opposite Julianne Moore in 'Nine Months', a film that was a box office hit but critically panned. He also starred as Emma Thompson's suitor in 'Sense and Sensibility', which was directed by Ang Lee and won an Academy Award. Additionally in 1995, Grant performed in Restoration, where critics noted his enjoyable performance.
1996: Debut as film producer with 'Extreme Measures'
In 1996, Hugh Grant made his debut as a film producer with the thriller 'Extreme Measures'.
1999: Starred in 'Notting Hill'
In 1999, Hugh Grant starred alongside Julia Roberts in 'Notting Hill'. The film became a major British hit, surpassing 'Four Weddings and a Funeral', and grossed $363 million worldwide. His performance received mixed reviews.
2000: Promoted 'Small Time Crooks' and joined IM Internationalmedia AG
In 2000, Hugh Grant promoted Woody Allen's 'Small Time Crooks' and described himself as "my millennium of bastards". Also in 2000, he joined the supervisory board of IM Internationalmedia AG.
2001: Starred in 'Bridget Jones's Diary'
In 2001, Hugh Grant starred in 'Bridget Jones's Diary' as Daniel Cleaver, a charming but womanising book publisher. The film was an international success, earning $281 million worldwide, and his performance was well received by Variety.
2001: Fundraiser and Ambassador for Cancer Care
Since the death of his mother in 2001, Hugh Grant has worked as a fundraiser and ambassador for Marie Curie Cancer Care. He is also a patron of Pancreatic Cancer Action.
2002: Starred in 'Two Weeks Notice'
In 2002, Hugh Grant starred alongside Sandra Bullock in 'Two Weeks Notice'. While the film made $199 million internationally, it received poor reviews.
2002: Starred in 'About a Boy'
In 2002, Hugh Grant starred in the film adaptation of Nick Hornby's 'About a Boy' as Will Freeman. The film received positive reviews and earned Grant a Golden Globe nomination and other accolades. The film grossed $129 million globally.
2002: Starred in About a Boy and Two Weeks Notice
In 2002, Hugh Grant starred in the movies 'About a Boy' and 'Two Weeks Notice'.
2002: Simian Films closed US office
In 2002, Simian Films closed its US office.
2003: Starred in 'Love Actually'
In 2003, Hugh Grant starred as the British Prime Minister in the ensemble comedy 'Love Actually'. The film, which marked Richard Curtis's directorial debut, grossed $246 million internationally. Grant's characterisation was tempered to be more authoritative.
2004: Acted in Bridget Jones's Diary Sequel
In 2004, Hugh Grant acted in a sequel to 'Bridget Jones's Diary'.
2004: Reprised Role in 'Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason'
In 2004, Hugh Grant reprised his role as Daniel Cleaver in 'Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason', which made over $262 million commercially.
December 2005: Resigned as Director of Simian Films Limited
In December 2005, Hugh Grant resigned as director of Simian Films Limited.
September 2006: Exhibition of Father's Paintings
In September 2006, The John Martin Gallery hosted an exhibition of Capt. Grant's paintings, called "James Grant: 30 Years of Watercolours", organized by his son Hugh Grant for charity.
2006: Grant drops his agent at CAA
In 2006, Hugh Grant dropped his agent, ending a 10-year relationship with CAA, and proclaimed that he does not listen to external views on his career.
2006: Starred in 'American Dreamz'
In 2006, Hugh Grant starred in the black comedy 'American Dreamz' as the acerbic host of a reality show. While the film failed financially, Grant's performance was praised.
2007: Starred in Music and Lyrics
In 2007, Hugh Grant starred in 'Music and Lyrics'.
2009: Starred in 'Did You Hear About the Morgans?'
In 2009, Hugh Grant starred opposite Sarah Jessica Parker in 'Did You Hear About the Morgans?'. The film was a critical failure and box office disappointment.
April 2011: Grant publishes article on phone hacking scandal
In April 2011, Hugh Grant published an article in the New Statesman titled "The Bugger, Bugged", detailing a conversation with a former journalist about phone hacking and the involvement of senior politicians and media executives.
July 2011: Hugh Grant Appears on Question Time
In July 2011, Hugh Grant appeared on BBC television's Question Time, becoming a spokesman against Murdoch's News Corporation amidst the News of the World phone-hacking scandal. This was a significant moment where Grant felt he was dealing with 'real life' instead of his usual 'synthetic life'.
2011: Attends Liberal Democrats Conference
In 2011, Hugh Grant attended the Liberal Democrats' conference, discussing the News International phone-hacking scandal and briefly meeting Nick Clegg. He expressed that the Liberal Democrats had a "good bill of health" compared to other parties regarding their relationship with the media.
2012: Acted in Cloud Atlas
In 2012, Hugh Grant acted in the science fiction film 'Cloud Atlas'.
2012: Grant plays multiple roles in 'Cloud Atlas'
In 2012, Hugh Grant played six characters in the epic drama film "Cloud Atlas", a positive experience for him.
2012: Featured in 'Cloud Atlas' and 'The Pirates! Band of Misfits'
In 2012, Hugh Grant was featured in 'Cloud Atlas', playing six different dark characters. In the same year, Grant lent his voice to the stop motion animation 'The Pirates! Band of Misfits'.
2014: Reunited with Marc Lawrence for 'The Rewrite'
In 2014, Hugh Grant reunited with Marc Lawrence for the dramedy film 'The Rewrite', starring opposite Marisa Tomei. The film received mixed-to-positive reviews, and Grant's performance was praised.
2014: Grant stars in 'The Rewrite'
In 2014, Hugh Grant starred in the dramedy "The Rewrite", where romantic comedy is a minor element.
2015: Supporting Role in 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'
In 2015, Hugh Grant had a supporting role as Alexander Waverly in Guy Ritchie's crime thriller 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'. His performance was described as "the only bit of fun" in the film by Entertainment Weekly.
2015: Supports Liberal Democrat MP and Labour Candidates
In 2015, Hugh Grant supported Liberal Democrat MP Danny Alexander and later hosted a dinner for the Liberal Democrats. He also endorsed Labour candidates Tom Watson and Michael Foster. Grant described himself as recognising 'political guts' rather than aligning with any specific party.
2016: Nomination for Florence Foster Jenkins
In 2016, Hugh Grant earned a BAFTA Awards nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as St. Clair Bayfield in 'Florence Foster Jenkins'.
2016: Starred in 'Florence Foster Jenkins'
In 2016, Hugh Grant played St. Clair Bayfield in the film 'Florence Foster Jenkins', directed by Stephen Frears and starring Meryl Streep. His performance was highly praised by critics, earning him several award nominations.
2016: Reflected on 'Nine Months' performance
In a 2016 interview, Hugh Grant reflected negatively on his performance in the 1995 film 'Nine Months', stating that he felt he ruined it by overacting due to the pressure of the large-scale production and his increased salary.
2017: Nomination for Paddington 2
In 2017, Hugh Grant earned a BAFTA Awards nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in 'Paddington 2'.
2018: Emmy Nomination for A Very English Scandal
In 2018, Hugh Grant earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Actor for his role as Jeremy Thorpe in the BBC miniseries 'A Very English Scandal'.
2018: Grant returns to television in 'A Very English Scandal'
In 2018, Hugh Grant returned to television after 25 years in the BBC One miniseries "A Very English Scandal", playing Jeremy Thorpe. The miniseries, which marked his second collaboration with director Stephen Frears, received widespread praise, and Grant was nominated for several awards.
2019: Campaigns for Tactical Voting
During the 2019 general election, Hugh Grant campaigned for tactical voting to prevent a Conservative majority and Brexit. He was seen canvassing with Liberal Democrats, Labour candidates, and independent Dominic Grieve.
2019: Acted in The Gentlemen
In 2019, Hugh Grant acted in Guy Ritchie's action film 'The Gentlemen'.
2019: Grant plays against-type role in 'The Gentlemen'
In 2019, Hugh Grant played Fletcher, a seedy private investigator, in Guy Ritchie's "The Gentlemen". Despite mixed reviews for the film, Grant's performance was praised as a comic highlight.
2019: Performance in 'Paddington 2' ranked as one of the greatest
In 2019, Hugh Grant's performance as Phoenix Buchanan in 'Paddington 2' was ranked as the 22nd greatest movie performance of the decade by IndieWire.
October 2020: Grant stars in HBO's 'The Undoing'
In October 2020, Hugh Grant starred in the HBO miniseries "The Undoing" opposite Nicole Kidman. While the series received mixed reviews, Grant's performance as Jonathan was widely acclaimed, earning him several award nominations.
2020: Emmy Nomination for The Undoing
In 2020, Hugh Grant earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Actor for his role in the HBO miniseries 'The Undoing'.
2022: Initial planned release for Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre
In 2022, the movie Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre starring Hugh Grant was originally planned to be released, but had several delays.
December 2023: Supports Christmas Day Lunch for Elderly Residents
In December 2023, Hugh Grant supported Hammersmith and Fulham Council's Big H&F Christmas Day Lunch, serving Christmas dinner to elderly residents at risk of social isolation.
2023: Acted in Wonka
In 2023, Hugh Grant acted in the musical fantasy 'Wonka'.
2023: Grant appears as an Oompa-Loompa in 'Wonka'
In 2023, Hugh Grant appeared as an Oompa-Loompa in "Wonka", a prequel to "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". Despite initial backlash, Grant received praise for his performance as Lofty.
2023: Grant appears in 'Operation Fortune' and 'Dungeons & Dragons'
In 2023, Hugh Grant reunited with Guy Ritchie for "Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre" and appeared as Forge in "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves." While "Operation Fortune" was a box office flop, Grant's performances were praised in both films.
2024: Acted in Heretic
In 2024, Hugh Grant acted in the horror film 'Heretic', which earned him another BAFTA nomination.
2024: Endorses Green Party Co-Leader
In the 2024 general election, Hugh Grant publicly endorsed Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, for the Bristol Central seat, praising her integrity and dedication to the public.
2025: Films Grossed Over $4 Billion
As of 2025, Hugh Grant's films have grossed over US$4 billion worldwide.
2025: Acted in Bridget Jones's Diary Sequel
In 2025, Hugh Grant acted in a sequel to 'Bridget Jones's Diary'.
2025: Grant returns to romantic comedy in 'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy'
In 2025, Hugh Grant reprised his role as Daniel Cleaver in "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy". Grant's role is brief, but his performance was praised.
2025: Grant briefly returns as Daniel Cleaver in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
In 2025, Hugh Grant returned briefly as Daniel Cleaver in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.
Mentioned in this timeline
Robert Downey Jr RDJ is a highly successful American actor...
Home Box Office HBO is an American pay television service...
Dame Julie Andrews is a highly acclaimed English actress singer...
Andy Warhol - was a pivotal American artist film director...
Christmas is an annual festival celebrated on December th commemorating...
Sandra Bullock is a highly successful American actress and film...
Trending
1 month ago Elena Rybakina Celebrates 26th Birthday with Berlin Win, Sabalenka Match Previewed.
2 months ago Tory Lanez Reportedly Stabbed in Prison and Hospitalized; Investigation Underway.
3 months ago Luke Combs Opens Category 10 Bar in Nashville with Recliners and Live Music
2 months ago Kamala Harris's Political Future Uncertain Amidst California Governor Race Speculation and Tepid Views.
3 days ago Mookie Betts Takes Leadoff as Ohtani Moves Down Amid Season-Long Slump
Ryan Walters is an American politician currently serving as the Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction since Prior to this elected...
Popular
John Michael Ozzy Osbourne is a prominent English singer songwriter...
Jupiter is the fifth and largest planet from the Sun...
Adam Schiff is an American politician and lawyer currently serving...
Hulk Hogan born Terry Gene Bollea is a retired American...
Candace Owens is an American political commentator and author known...
Tulsi Gabbard is an American politician and military officer currently...