It’s nearly 20 years since British comedy Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) took the world by storm and propelled Hugh Grant to international stardom. I was far to imagine back then that, years later, I would be living in the UK, let alone within walking distance of Hugh Grant’s house.
Yes, Ladies & Gentlemen, Islington can proudly say “Hugh Grant Lived Here’. Or maybe we should say ‘Charles’.
The first time you can see the Highbury Terrace house in the film is when Charles (Grant) and his housemate Scarlett (the late Charlotte Coleman) wake up late for the second wedding and rush to get a cab.
The second and last time we get to see the house is for the final scene. Charles and his friends are discussing the outcome of his wedding ceremony when Carrie (Andie MacDowell) knocks on the door.
“ (…) There, totally oblivious of the torrential rain pouring down upon them, the two fall happily and tenderly into each other’s arms. The two enormous and highly paid heads come together for that ultimate and inevitable moment. The final, earth-moving, studio-rent-paying, theatre-filling, popcorn-selling… kiss”*
In that scene, not only you can spot the footpath behind Carrie (between the sport courts and the lawn), but also the house number when Charles closes the door behind him. Seconds later, after Charles kind of–perhaps-maybe-or-maybe not-sort-of-but-not-really-popped-the question, the two kissed passionately under the pouring rain, you can see the row of houses on Highbury Terrace.
One could argue that the Highbury Terrace property might well be Islington’s equivalent to Notting Hill’s blue door.
Of course by 1999, and thanks in no small part to Four Weddings and a Funeral, Grant had become a global star and his partner in the movie needed no introduction either.
Nevertheless, in 1994, in parallel to a successful modelling career, Andie MacDowell had already 2 Golden Globe nominations under her belt. Besides, from a box office point of view, the 1994 comedy proved more profitable: yes Notting Hill did generate bigger figures – approx. 363 millions vs. 245 – but it did also cost significantly more to produce – approx. 43 millions vs. 4.5!
Ultimately I guess, neither Islington nor Highbury Fields featured in the title of the movie, the trailers and posters across the world. But you can’t say anymore that you don’t know where Hugh Grant did not propose to Andie MacDowell. You may even want to pop up the question there yourself!
Fade Out
Enjoyed this post? Feel free to comment, share it with your friends and come to Islington to discover our locations! Don’t forget to send me your pictures.
And if you do know any Islington location used for Film, TV, advert or have been involved in the process, drop me a line at TheUnbelievableMrX (at) gmail.com or via Twitter
*FREE coffee to the first person to tell me from which Audrey Hepburn movie this quote is
How to get to there?
Islington Film Locations Map
Highbury Terrace N5 1UP
Highbury & Islington Station (Zone 2)
Drayton Park Train station (Zone 2)
Many buses to Highbury Corner and Highbury and Islington Station
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Tags: Andie MacDowell, Charlotte Coleman, Cinema, Film Location, Film Tourism, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Highbury, Highbury Fields, Hugh Grant, Islington, Islington Film Locations Map, Local History, movie, Richard Curtis, Screen Tourism, Travel
Lights, Camera…Islington! 