Dreamy moments

What a relief it must have been for Hugh Grant when he realised he could relax and play bastards. What torture it must have been to be made housewives’ choice after playing characters so totally unlike himself (Charles in Four Weddings, the nincompoop in Notting Hill, Edward Ferrars in Sense and Sensibility). With what joy must he have delivered the role of Daniel Cleaver, Cleaver the handsome rotter for whom Bridget Jones sported those giant pants.

Then Grant was on a roll. His haircut for About a Boy caused almost as much controversy as Jennifer Aniston did with hers in Friends. He played a bastard leopard-type who changes his spots — i.e., female fantasy made flesh — and was widely praised. In Love, Actually he was one of only two actors who needn’t be ashamed of themselves (Emma Thompson was the other), and aced as the Prime Minister we all wished we had, just for a day: fun and quite filthy, and hot for the tea lady.