Sonia Kruger recalls interview with Hugh Grant amid Oscars controversy

Fresh from rubbing shoulders with Hollywood’s A-list at the Oscars, Sonia Kruger opens up about her awkward run-in with a famous actor.

Some stars need a little bit of help when it comes to handling the rigours of the red carpet.

There should be a NIDA course, or at least a handbook with basic tips such as, “Don’t even think about wearing an elaborately constructed gown that will take you a fortnight to navigate down the carpet, only to block the view of everyone else in the theatre who scored a ticket.”

Another tiny tip? Maybe don’t be a complete prat to reporters asking innocuous questions at awards shows. Yes, Hugh Grant, we’re looking at you.

Sonia Kruger: ‘I had no desire to have that kind of moment with Hugh, but try as I might I couldn’t create any kind of rapport with him, either.’ Picture: @soniakruger via Instagram

I’ve been a fan of the English actor since I first clapped eyes on him in the 1994 movie Four Weddings And A Funeral. His boyish charm, that razor-sharp wit and the twinkle in his eyes was adored by many – until Hugh scored a massive “own goal” on the champagne carpet at this year’s Oscars. I witnessed cranky Hugh’s eye-rolling treatment of reporter and model Ashley Graham at the 95th Academy Awards first-hand, and it took me back around 20 years to a time when I had my own bad date with Hugh.

In 2004, I secured a one-on-one interview with Hugh to talk about his role in Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason. I was excited to meet one of my favourite actors, so I arrived bright-eyed and bushy tailed – unlike Hugh, who wasn’t chirpy at all.

I didn’t let his mood deter me, so I ventured forth with the hard-hitting investigative style of journalism I’m known for from my time on Wonder World! in the ’90s. Every question I asked was met with a solid helping of serious side eye.

Even my opening gambit – acknowledging Hugh’s recent birthday – garnered nothing but scorn and suspicion. Were there just too many skeletons I would have uncovered if I’d dared to expose the fact that Hugh and I are both Virgos? Maybe Hugh is still a little gun-shy. He has had his fair share of scandal in Tinseltown – on the corner of Hollywood and Divine (Brown) to be precise.

I had no desire to have that kind of moment with Hugh, but try as I might I couldn’t create any kind of rapport with him, either.

Sonia Kruger’s latest column appears in this Sunday’s Stellar. Picture: Steven Chee for Stellar

His monosyllabic answers would make it difficult for even the most seasoned reality TV show editor to turn his replies into anything other than a Franken- sentence … and I needed something. About halfway through our allocated time I decided to stop the interview and ask Hugh outright if he was OK.

In reply, he said he wanted to know why I wanted to know. So I replied, “Because you don’t appear to be very happy.” He seemed to be shocked that I had called him out on his demeanour and, from that moment on, Hugh became a totally different guy.

I’m not sure what was wrong with Hugh that day, or this year at the Oscars, for that matter. Maybe he’s just not cut out for the red carpet, or certain social interactions – which is tricky, given his chosen profession requires a fair bit of both. Possibly he’s a perfectionist who is his own worst critic, and can’t bear the sight or sound of himself – much less reflect on his performances. I get that. We’re both Virgos, after all.

Sonia Kruger hosts The Voice and Big Brother on the Seven Network.

Originally published as Sonia Kruger recalls interview with Hugh Grant amid Oscars controversy