Notting Hill

Movie Details:

Cast & Characters:

• Julia Roberts as Anna Scott
• Hugh Grant as William “Will” Thacker
• Hugh Bonneville as Bernie
• Emma Chambers as Honey Thacker
• James Dreyfus as Martin
• Rhys Ifans as Spike
• Tim McInnerny as Max
• Gina McKee as Bella
• Richard McCabe as Tony
• Dylan Moran as Rufus, the thief
• Henry Goodman as the Ritz concierge
• Julian Rhind-Tutt as Time Out journalist
• Lorelei King as Karen, Anna’s publicist
• John Shrapnel as Anna’s UK press agent
• Clarke Peters as Helix lead actor
• Arturo Venegas as actor in Helix
• Yolanda Vázquez as interpreter
• Mischa Barton as 12-year-old actress in Helix
• Emily Mortimer as Perfect Girl
• Samuel West as Anna’s co-star (as Sam West)
• Ann Beach as William’s mother
• Patrick Barlow as Savoy concierge
• Alec Baldwin as Jeff King
• Simon Callow as himself in Film-within-Film
• Joe Cornish as Fan Receiving Anna’s Autograph
• Matthew Modine as Actor in Film-within-Film
• Sally Phillips as Caroline (scenes deleted)

Storyline:

Every man’s dream comes true for William Thacker, an unsuccessful Notting Hill bookstore owner, when Anna Scott, the world’s most beautiful woman and best-liked actress, enters his shop. A little later, he still can’t believe it himself, William runs into her again – this time spilling orange juice over her. Anna accepts his offer to change in his nearby apartment, and thanks him with a kiss, which seems to surprise her even more than him. Eventually, Anna and William get to know each other better over the months, but being together with the world’s most wanted woman is not easy – neither around your closest friends, nor in front of the all-devouring press.

About Movie:

Notting Hill is a romantic comedy directed by Roger Michell, written by Richard Curtis, and produced by Duncan Kenworthy. The film stars Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, alongside a supporting cast featuring Rhys Ifans, Emma Chambers, Tim McInnerny, Gina McKee, and Hugh Bonneville.

Filming began on April 17, 1998, in West London and at Shepperton Studios. Many scenes were shot around Notting Hill, including Portobello Road, Westbourne Park Road, and the Coronet Cinema. The exterior of Will’s bookshop was filmed on Portobello Road, though the flat he lived in was a set created at the studio. One notable location, Will’s house at 280 Westbourne Park Road, was actually owned by screenwriter Richard Curtis.

A key scene at a film premiere presented challenges, as director Michell initially couldn’t secure permission to film in Leicester Square due to concerns over crowd control following a chaotic Leonardo DiCaprio premiere. However, with a health and safety approval, the crew built the set for the premiere in just 24 hours. Interior scenes were the final ones filmed at Shepperton Studios.

The film also includes notable literary references. Will suggests the book Istanbul: The Imperial City by John Freely to Anna, remarking on the author’s real-life connection to the city. In the closing scene, Will reads Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernières, a novel that was intended to be Michell’s next project before health issues forced him to step down.

Notting Hill premiered on April 27, 1999, at the Odeon Leicester Square, and opened in the UK on May 21, followed by a U.S. release. The film became a critical and commercial success, setting a record as the highest-grossing British film at the time. It received three Golden Globe nominations, including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, along with nominations for Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. The film also garnered two BAFTA nominations and won a British Comedy Award and a Brit Award for its soundtrack.

Budget & Box Office Collection: