You know the scene. It’s Christmas time, the radio is blaring, and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is shaking his backside while shimmying down the stairs of 10 Downing Street. It is arguably the most famous moment of the 2003 classic. Yet, the Hugh Grant dance in Love Actually almost didn't happen because the man himself absolutely loathed it.
Honestly, he didn't just dislike it. He fought it.
The Battle of 10 Downing Street
Richard Curtis, the legendary director behind the film, has gone on record multiple times saying that Hugh Grant was "hugely grumpy" about the whole ordeal. Grant didn't want to rehearse. He didn't want to talk about it. He spent weeks hoping Curtis would fall ill or some miracle would happen so the scene would be scrapped from the script.
Can you blame him?
Imagine being a self-described "grumpy 40-year-old Englishman" having to "freak out" stone-cold sober at seven in the morning in front of a full camera crew. Grant called it "absolute hell." He even tried to use logic to get out of it. He’d ask Curtis, "Where is the music coming from? If I'm dancing through the whole house, how do I still hear it?" Curtis basically told him to shut up and just do it because it was "film world."
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Eventually, a "contractual guillotine" forced his hand.
Why the Pointer Sisters?
The song Choice was "Jump (For My Love)" by the Pointer Sisters. It’s upbeat, it’s poppy, and it’s exactly the kind of thing a buttoned-up politician wouldn't be caught dead listening to. That’s the joke. The contrast between the dignity of the office and the absolute lack of dignity in those hip thrusts is what makes the Hugh Grant dance in Love Actually work so well.
The choreography—if you can even call it that—was mostly Grant just "winging it."
- He was out of rhythm (his words).
- He wiggled his rear end more than intended.
- He hated every second of the playback.
The Genius Stroke of the Secretary
One of the best parts of the scene is the ending. You’ve got the Prime Minister giving it his all, and then suddenly, he turns a corner and locks eyes with his secretary. The music cuts. The silence is deafening.
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Grant actually takes credit for that bit.
He realized the only way to end his "suffering" was to have a hard stop. He suggested the idea of being caught mid-shimmy to make it even more awkward. It worked. It transformed a silly montage into a character-defining moment of pure, unadulterated cringe that audiences loved.
Does it hold up in 2026?
We are now over two decades past the original release, and the scene is still a staple of holiday memes. In 2017, Grant even reprised the role for a Red Nose Day special. That time, he traded the Pointer Sisters for Drake’s "Hotline Bling." He was still reluctant. He still thought it was excruciating.
Some critics argue the scene is "the most excruciating scene ever committed to celluloid." Grant agrees with them.
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But fans? They disagree.
How to Channel Your Inner Prime Minister
If you’re planning on recreating the Hugh Grant dance in Love Actually for a TikTok or a holiday party, keep these tips in mind:
- Don’t over-rehearse. Part of the charm is that it looks like a middle-aged man who has forgotten how bodies move.
- Commit to the finger points. The pointing is essential for that specific "dad-at-a-wedding" energy.
- The stairs are your stage. The movement from the upper floor to the foyer adds the necessary scale to the performance.
- Finish with a professional pivot. As soon as the music stops, you must immediately return to being the leader of a G7 nation.
The legacy of the dance isn't just about the moves; it’s about the sheer vulnerability of a character who is usually so guarded. It’s why we still talk about it. It’s why it’s a masterpiece of awkward comedy.
To get the full effect of the scene's impact, watch the original 2003 version back-to-back with the 2017 "Hotline Bling" sequel. You'll notice that while the music changes, the look of deep, internal regret on Hugh Grant’s face remains exactly the same. That is true acting.