Summary
- Hugh Grant struggled with the process of animating his Oompa-Loompa character for Wonka, finding it uncomfortable and confusing.
- Grant expressed dissatisfaction with his own performance, as most of his movements were replaced by an animator.
- Grant's casting as an Oompa-Loompa sparked controversy, with some arguing that it took away an opportunity for actors with dwarfism in Hollywood.
Wonka, which stars Timothée Chalamet as the titular chocolatier.
During a press conference, Grant revealed to Metro.co.uk that the use of the many cameras and other tools required to allow animators to animate over his movements for the final results was difficult to get used to and "very uncomfortable." The acclaimed actor stated that he was uncertain whether he should "act with my body or not, and I never received a satisfactory answer." Remaining equally candid in his response about whether the awkward experience was worth it upon viewing the completed film, Grant said bluntly, "not really" before revealing his true thoughts on acting today. See the actor's full of his Wonka experience below:
It was like a crown of thorns, very uncomfortable. I made a big fuss about it. I couldn’t have hated the whole thing more ... Frankly, what I did with my body was terrible, and it’s all been replaced with an animator. [The dance sequence] should be fun, but that was done by the animator. It’s very confusing, with CGI now, you can’t tell what’s going on ... I slightly hate [making films] but I have lots of children and need money.
Wonka's Hugh Grant Controversy Explained
The history of the Oompa-Loompas of Dahl's novel is a history mired in controversy due to the racist, offensive depictions that were part of their initial introduction. In the novel's first edition, the factory workers were described as "Black pygmies," a description that was changed in later editions of the novel, revising the Oompa-Loompas' appearance to white skin and tawny hair, due to a statement released by the NAA. The workers' appearance differed from the revised depiction in the 1971 film directed by Mel Stuart, as mentioned above, in which the Oompa-Loompas were also played by actors with dwarfism.
From the moment Grant appeared as his Oompa-Loompa in the first Wonka trailer, his casting and appearance were the cause of some controversy among viewers, partly due to the history of the Oompa-Loompas' media depictions. In both the 1971 movie and 2005's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, directed by Tim Burton, the Oompa-Loompas were played by actors with dwarfism. Willow star George Coppen and Jackass star Jason Acuña (also known as Wee Man) have spoken out against Grant's portrayal of the character in Wonka, citing the loss of such a rare and high-profile opportunity for young actors with dwarfism in Hollywood.
The recent reveal of Snow White's seven dwarves as actors that do not have dwarfism has exacerbated this discussion.
Grant's Oompa-Loompa is a step forward in some senses, since his Wonka character displays a unique personality in the trailer, a refreshing departure from the eager worker bees in the 1971 movie and the literal clones in the 2005 film. In addition, director Paul King's decision to cast Grant shows a resistance to typecasting actors with dwarfism in roles that run the risk of stereotyping the group while also updating the narrative around Oompa-Loompas, making them much smaller and having more agency. However, the above concerns about Grant's Wonka casting closing that door for an actor with dwarfism make sense, especially considering Grant's own frustrations about the filming experience.
