Hugh Grant: 5 Awesome Performances And 5 That Sucked

3. Charles - Four Weddings & A Funeral

The role that brought Grant to the attention of the world saw him as hopeless bachelor Charles, who - over the years - finds himself attending four weddings (and a funeral) in an attempt to forge a romantic connection with a woman who spends her time disappearing and then reappearing in his life. Grant strikes the perfect balance here, rendering Charles as a sympathetic character - hopelessly in love with American Carrie - whilst remaining funny. And it's that sort of classic, British self-depricating attitude that makes Grant so likeable here. The trademark awkwardness is consistently on show, of course, but unlike with many of Grant's later roles, it doesn't fall into parody - Charles feels like a real person with complex problems, and it is this that makes him so endearing here. Simply put, this is a charming performance from start to finish; if you don't like it, you simply don't like Hugh Grant.