Hugh Grant Reprises ‘Love Actually’ Role For Red Nose Day Speech

Hugh Grant reprised his role as the prime minister from 2003’s Love Actually and gave a rousing speech Thursday night as part of ABC’s Red Nose Day fundraiser.

HUGH GRANT GIVES RED NOSE DAY SPEECH

The Red Nose Day campaign is a fundraiser to help ease childhood poverty around the world. This year in the US, the campaign raised more than $35 million.

Red Nose Day began as a part of the British nonprofit Comic Relief, founded in 1985. Red Nose Day began in the UK in 1988 and has since raised $1 billion worldwide. The US launched its first Red Nose Day in 2015 and has since raised $60 million. The writer and director of Love Actually, Richard Curtis, is also a co-founder of Comic Relief.

“Obviously, times for many people have got harder and people are nervous and fearful. And it’s not just in politics that things are tough. Piers Morgan is still alive,” Grant joked in his speech. “But, on a deeper level, I’m optimistic. Wherever you see tragedy, you see bravery, too. Wherever you see ordinary people in need, you see extraordinary, ordinary people come to their aid,” Grant as Britain’s leader told reporters as his wife Natalie, played by Martine McCutcheon, stood by his side.

“Today’s Red Nose Day and people are giving their hard-earned cash to people who they’ll never meet, but whose pain and fear they feel and want to fight. So, it’s not just romantic love, which is all around. Most people still every day, everywhere have enough love in their hearts to help human beings in trouble. Good is going to win. I’m actually sure of it.”

This was all part of a special Red Nose Day Actually short film that aired Thursday night. In addition to Grant’s part, the film also offered updates on the other characters from the 14-year-old film. Colin Firth‘s Jamie and Lucia Moniz‘s Aurelia are still in love and have three children. Laura Linney‘s Sarah found new love in Patrick Dempsey. Olivia Olson‘s Joanna asks Liam Neeson‘s Daniel if she can marry his stepson Thomas Sangster‘s Sam. Andrew Lincoln‘s Mark and Keira Knightley‘s Juliet check in with each other, and confirm that Juliet is happily married to Chiwetel Ejiofor‘s Peter, while Mark has married Kate Moss.

The Red Nose Day Actually special was a fun event, but the fundraiser featured other appearances as well, including from Julia Roberts, Paul Rudd, Ben Affleck, Jack Black, and Bryan Cranston. In fact, enough money was raised to dunk Cranston in a dunk tank. The evening was hosted by Chris Hardwick.