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Hugh Grant says he's considered a career in politics

Hugh Grant, here in December 2023, says he's considered a career in politics. (Mario Anzuoni/Reuters via CNN Newsource) Hugh Grant, here in December 2023, says he's considered a career in politics. (Mario Anzuoni/Reuters via CNN Newsource)
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British actor has admitted that he thought about embarking on a career in politics before reconsidering due to the abuse faced by politicians.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly about his role in political satire miniseries 鈥淭he Regime,鈥 Grant, who has played politicians on screen, was asked whether he had ever entertained the thought of entering politics in real life. 

鈥淚t has crossed my mind. But what I really see close up is that it鈥檚 almost impossible to actually get anything done. It鈥檚 just impossible. You鈥檝e got to bring so many people with you,鈥 he said.

Grant said that he had discussed it with his wife Anna Elisabet Eberstein鈥檚 mother Susanne Eberstein, a former member of the Swedish parliament, who had advised him not to enter politics because 鈥渋t鈥檚 all horse trading鈥 and 鈥渢he incoming abuse is unthinkable.鈥

The actor recalled how he had been involved in a tactical voting campaign during the 2019 UK election in a bid to stop the Conservative Party being re-elected, saying he suffered 鈥渢errifying鈥 abuse.

鈥淲hat was interesting was the abuse that came in from the right. I never know if they鈥檙e real or if they鈥檙e bots. But they鈥檙e good. They鈥檙e brilliant at what they do. And it was absolutely terrifying,鈥 said Grant.

The abuse 鈥渨as really extreme and shocking and threatening to one鈥檚 family,鈥 he added.

鈥淪o, I do see that you have to be either very brave or insane to go into politics in the digital age.鈥

In 鈥淭he Regime鈥 Grant plays Edward Keplinger, the former chancellor of a fictional country in Central Europe whose cobalt mines mean that representatives of bigger nations 鈥 including a US senator (Martha Plimpton) 鈥 take an interest in its stability and future.

Kepliner has been deposed and imprisoned by now chancellor Elena Vernham, played by Kate Winslet, in the six-part HBO miniseries from writer Will Tracy (whose credits include 鈥淭he Menu鈥 and 鈥淪uccession鈥) and directors Stephen Frears and Jessica Hobbs (whose credentials include 鈥淭he Queen鈥 and 鈥淭he Crown,鈥 respectively).

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