‘We all need a huge dose of perspective’: Hugh Bonneville defends Notting Hill against critics and says multicultural scene was cut from film
Hugh Bonneville has defended Notting Hill against critics who complained about its lack of multiculturalism, saying a scene showing the area’s diversity was cut.
The actor, 59, appeared in the film alongside Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts as a stockbroker who memorably told Julia’s A-list actress character that most actors only earn £8,000 a year.
The film came under fire from some who thought it didn’t portray the diversity of the area of London it’s set but Hugh has fired back, saying we should ‘allow art to be art.’
He told The Independent: ‘There was a whole sequence about the multiculturalism of Notting Hill. But test audiences said, “Where’s the star? Where’s Julia Roberts?” So the producers cut out that three-minute multicultural sequence.’
Hugh insisted films shouldn’t be canceled just because modern audiences may not appreciate them in the same way as older viewers.
Speaking out: Hugh Bonneville has defended Notting Hill against critics who complained about its lack of multiculturalism, saying a scene showing the area’s diversity was cut
![Interview: The film came under fire from some who thought it didn't portray the diversity of the area of London it's set but Hugh has fired back, saying we should 'allow art to be art' (Hugh Bonneville pictured in Notting Hill)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/16/11/67752737-11758271-image-m-78_1676546667273.jpg)
Interview: The film came under fire from some who thought it didn’t portray the diversity of the area of London it’s set but Hugh has fired back, saying we should ‘allow art to be art’ (Hugh Bonneville pictured in Notting Hill)
He said: ‘I think we all need to take a huge dose of perspective and allow art to be art. All forms of artistic expression should be allowed to breathe.
‘I think respect should always be there – with expression comes responsibility. But I don’t think it’s right to say, “I don’t agree with you, therefore you should be cancelled”.’
Both Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts scored Golden Globe nominations for their performances as bookstore owner William Thacker and his famous girlfriend Anna.
The film was well-received by critics and is considered a rom-com classic by many, having grossed over $360million at the box office.
Nicole Kidman previously revealed she went after Julia’s role in the film but doesn’t think she was ‘well-known’ enough to get it at the time.
She said: ‘I really wanted the role that Julia Roberts played in Notting Hill
‘Yeah, I did. But I wasn’t well known enough, and I wasn’t talented enough.’
Nicole was technically busy shooting the late great Stanley Kubrick’s final film Eyes Wide Shut with her then husband Tom Cruise between 1996-1998.
![Success: Both Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts scored Golden Globe nominations for their performances as bookstore owner William Thacker and his famous girlfriend Anna](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/16/11/67752741-11758271-image-m-80_1676546823421.jpg)
Success: Both Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts scored Golden Globe nominations for their performances as bookstore owner William Thacker and his famous girlfriend Anna
![What could have been: Nicole Kidman previously revealed she went after Julia's role in the film but doesn't think she was 'well-known' enough to get it at the time](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/10/13/19/34350716-0-image-m-95_1602612849117.jpg)
The 51-year-old Hawaiian-born Australian (L) confessed to Hugh Grant (R) via Zoom on September 22 for Marie Claire: ‘I really wanted the role that Julia Roberts played in Notting Hill…But I wasn’t well known enough, and I wasn’t talented enough’
21 years later, Nicole and Hugh teamed up for the first time ever to portray married couple Jonathan & Grace Fraser in the six-episode miniseries The Undoing, which premieres October 25 on HBO.
Notting Hill director Roger Mitchell and producer Duncan Kenworthy previously told how Julia was their ‘one and only’ choice to portray Anna, but they didn’t think she would do it.
However, Julia’s agent gave her the script after claiming it was the best romantic comedy she had ever read, with the actress agreeing she ‘would have to’ accept the part after reading it.
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