The romantic comedy Notting Hill, which tells the story of the relationship between a popular actress and a guidebook shop owner, almost had a sequel in the form of a short film. The script for the second part was ready, but Julia Roberts, who played Anna Scott in the original, was dissatisfied with it.
“I tried to make a sequel where they were going to get divorced, but Julia thought it was a very bad idea,” said screenwriter Richard Curtis.
The Pretty Woman star herself admitted that she initially didn’t want to take on the role because she felt “uncomfortable” playing a fiery American movie star. Hugh Grant also criticized his character in the film, calling him “despicable.”
“Every time I change the channels at home after a few drinks and this movie comes on, I think, ‘Why doesn’t my character have any balls?'” said the actor. “There’s a scene where she’s at my house, and the paparazzi come to the front door and ring the bell, and I just let her walk past me and open the door. It’s awful.”
Notting Hill was released in 1999. The plot centers on the romantic relationship between Hollywood star Anna Scott (Roberts) and bookstore owner William Thacker (Hugh Grant). The film grossed $363 million worldwide, received three Golden Globe nominations, and won the BAFTA Audience Award. It also made it to Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the best films of 1999.
Roberts recently finished shooting After the Hunt by Luca Guadagnino (set to be released in 2025). Grant can be seen in the thriller The Heretic. Curtis’s new animated film This Christmas will be released on Netflix in December.
In July, Julia Roberts and 55-year-old Emmy-nominated cinematographer Daniel Moder celebrated their 22nd wedding anniversary. They have three children: 17-year-old son Henry and 19-year-old twins Hazel and Phinnaeus. In October, during a ceremony at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, the actress admitted that their romance began when Moder was still married.
