Elizabeth Hurley reveals what Hugh Grant said to her about Austin Powers role

Virgin Radio

14 May 2024, 08:49

When Elizabeth Hurley visited Virgin Radio, she recalled what Hugh Grant said which persuaded her to work on the Austin Powers films.

Joining the Chris Evans Breakfast Show with webuyanycar ahead of the release of her new film, Strictly Confidential, which is directed by her son Damian, the model and actress reminisced about how she took on the role of Vanessa Kensington in spy spoof series Austin Powers. “It still goes down as one of my happiest memories ever,” she told Chris.

Describing it as “an adorable film to make” she said: “That period of time just epitomises a very different time to me; pre-Damian, and a different life, a different time.”

She added: “If I ever watch a clip of that or if I'm reminded of it from those memes on YouTube and my Instagram feed, it’s one of my loveliest memories. He was a great guy, Mike Myers. I think he's one of the funniest comedians, along with John Cleese, that have ever existed. And what I really liked about Mike, because he used to make me wet my pants on set, but he said, ‘You know what, with my humour, nothing's cruel. It's just funny.’ And if you watch anything he's ever done, there's no meanness in anything. It's just silly.  

“Both his parents, they're Canadian, but they were both from Liverpool. So his blood is completely British. And he has that silly sense of humour. And it's not mean, it's never cruel. And I love that.”

Elizabeth revealed what Hugh Grant said to her about taking the role. She explained: “I remember when the script came, I was still with my then boyfriend, Hugh. And we were making a movie together in Toronto. I was producing, Hugh was in it. And the script came through, I was like, ‘I don't understand, what is this?’ I started reading it and he looked over my shoulder and went, ‘Oh, it's Mike Myers. Say yes. He's a genius.’ I'm like, ‘Really?’ He went, ‘Just say yes.’ I'm like, ‘Okay, yes, I'll do it.’”

She continued: “Then I read it. I was like, ‘This is so out there.’ But I was like, ‘Okay, I'm on board.’ I hadn't done any comedy before at all. I was like, ‘What the hell?’ 

Recalling how she met up with her co-stars for the first time, the actor said: “We all met up and Mike said, ‘Well come to this improv place in LA. We're doing an improv tonight. I'm going to be in costume.’ 

“They sang that song, ‘BBC One, BBC Two…’ They just improvised these things, I was like, ‘What in God’s name?’ because I can’t improvise to save my life. ‘What am I doing?’ 

“The first day was on this set they built for the plane, where he was spinning on that bed saying, ‘Do I meet you horny?’ with his bottom in the air. And I was sitting there being very uptight. And I was just like, ‘He's the best person I've ever met in my life. I don't know what we're making. But let's just go for it.’” 

The Austin Powers films would go on to become some of the most beloved comedies ever. “Nobody got it at first. It was extraordinary, but the first film was a really slow build, because people were just like ‘What is this?’” Elizabeth remembered.

“Then it became culty leading up to the release of the second, which then was a massive, massive success. But that was just all Mike, who just totally believed in the comedy he was doing. And knew it was funny. And it was, but Americans were just like: “What is this?”

Austin Powers legend Elizabeth produces and stars in Strictly Confidential, which is out now and is written and directed by her son Damian Hurley. Read more about how she helped her son with his first movie here.

Strictly Confidential is out now on digital. 

For more great interviews listen to The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with webuyanycar weekdays from 6:30am on Virgin Radio, or catch up on-demand here.