Heretic stars explain how Hugh Grant kept them on their toes

As a cinephile who has had the privilege of witnessing Hugh Grant‘s transformation from a charming leading man to a captivating character actor, I must admit that his portrayal of Mr. Reed in Heretic is nothing short of mesmerizing. The man exudes an air of mystery and charm that leaves you questioning his intentions, much like the Mormon missionaries in the film.

Over the past few years, Hugh Grant has transitioned from a typical leading man into an exceptional character actor in films, portraying diverse roles ranging from the wicked antagonist in Paddington 2 to an Oompa Loompa in Wonka.

In his recently released movie titled “Heretic,” the leading actor assumes a character that is arguably his darkest yet – an enigmatic figure known as Mr. Reed, who extends an invitation to two Mormon missionaries into his residence. However, he soon exhibits behaviors that are decidedly suspicious.

Thatcher clarified that he often varied things and added small, unexpected oddities and peculiar behaviors, he said.

East mentioned that everyone seems to appreciate the spontaneous line he came up with, which goes something like, ‘I’ve never met a Wendy, and I completely forgot that I made it up on the spot’,” (or)

Thatcher added, “Absolutely, small instances that significantly enhanced the character’s depth while making him more intriguing and endearing, yet enigmatic as well. These scenes were particularly long, but I appreciated how he managed to maintain our interest and keep us fully invested.

He’d check if we were truly paying attention by asking questions, as it’s effortless to merely pretend to listen during such moments. However, his presence demanded our genuine engagement because, you know, while the camera captures the action, he was verifying that we were immersed in the scene with him.

Thatcher mentioned that she appreciated the fact Grant didn’t adhere strictly to a method acting style, instead breaking character as soon as the cameras stopped, even though East began pondering whether this could just be an extension of his role on set.

She remarked, “Mr. Reid doesn’t come across as outwardly menacing, but rather… you understand, a pleasant, amiable man who occasionally makes you pause. So I sometimes wonder, ‘Perhaps I’m overanalyzing it and thinking, “He’s being nice to me because he is Mr. Reid, and he’s trying to draw me in…”‘

Thatcher stated, “However, there seemed to be a transformation, where his humor appeared different since… Hugh’s sense of humor is distinct, so once the camera stopped recording, he almost immediately returned to his normal self and became more down-to-earth and less performance-oriented.

Since Mr. Reed is quite eloquent and has a teaching-like demeanor, one might compare him to a professor. On the other hand, Hugh appears to be more introspective or internally focused.

Heretic is now showing in UK cinemas.

2024-11-01 18:35

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