Class #28: Hugh Grant on Being a Dad

Vocabulary

BEARD

KITTEN

THE MAN IS COUGHING

TISSUE

Filling in - Ellen Degeneres interviews Hugh Grant

E: You're still living in London, right?

H: Yes.

E: Yeah... And you have a child now, congratulations on being a brand new dad.

H: Thank you. That's very nice. Very nice. It was uh... I can't pretend it wasn't a little bit of a surprise, but it's a very nice surprise.

E: Yes.

H: In fact, the baby's name in Chinese, 'cause the mother is Chinese, means "happy surprise".

E: Really?

H: Yes.

E: And what is the baby's name?

H: Xaio Xi

E: Xaio Xi?

H: Yes.

E: That's the baby's name?

H: That's one of the baby's names.

E: And do you have to say it, like Xaio Xi! Like that? Do you have to be that surprised?

H: Yes, I find it helps.

E: Yeah... As in Xaio Xi!

H: Xaio Xi!

E: Yeah. Now, is it uh... Like you said, it was a surprise, so is it surprising how wonderful it is? Is there anything surprising about the baby to you?

H: Uh... No, it's surprising that everyone was right all these years saying "Hugh, why don't you have some children, you know, really changes your life..." And oh, shut up.. And now that I have, I have to say it's quite life-changing, I recommend it.

E: Yeah

H: Get some.

E: Ok... Some... Ok, I'll get some.

Yeah, I know, people really want Portia and I to have kids and I think it's... uh... for some people it's better to just not have kids, because you have your... I like my time, I like my, you know, being able to have a conversation without being interrupted and stuff like that.

H: Yes.

E: They're precious.

H: Portia is very high maintenance, I remember her.

E: Yes, she is. She adores you, she said to say hello to you. Uh, but we have a little niece, and that's fun, so I understand the cuteness factor, it's.. They're precious.

H: Yes, yes...

E: Her name also is Xaio Xi!

H: Oh my God. Forgive my cold, by the way. Do you think I sound strange? It's because I'm sick as a kitten.

E: Are you?

H: Yeah.

E: I'm so sorry. And thank you for being here

H: Yes, I'll be doing some coughing.

E: I'll give you, I'll give you that. Do you want that?

H: Thanks. Thanks a bunch, yeah.

E: You know what I have also is uh...

H: Girls always give you one tissue, it's useless. Yeah, those are nice, but they're a bit noisy, unattractive. Ok, that's enough, stop that.

E: Let's talk about the movie and, speaking of your voice, I barely recognized that was your voice in the movie. Why hire Hugh Grant and hide the voice? You should've... Did they wanna hide your voice?

H: Well, they wanted someone who would do press junkets, and all that torment. Uh, that was the main criteria. And, then yeah, it's true, I had to do a funny voice in this film, I actually had to do some acting, which is most unlike me, and uh.. The character is this big bearded fellow, a big chest and a big bearded voice, and bug eyes. Googly eyes.

E: See? That's a very funny voice. And had you done that voice before? Did you just get inspired by seeing the character?

H: Uh, no, I got inspired by seeing the character. Yeah, I found the word "beard", was incredibly important, every time I forgot my character. I just sat "beard, BEARD, beard", ok, I've lost you.

E: No, I'm completely right here. And, so, do you think you'll do more films like this, especially now having Xaio Xi, that you would have more... No wonder, I think everyone's child should be named Xaio Xi, because it's the cutest name in the world, and they'll be able to pronounce it right away.

H: Her mother's name in Tintin.

E: It is? Great.

H: Let me say it, by the way, she's a brilliant mother.

E: Yeah.

H: Wonderful. I have to say that because the whole Chinese press has decided that she's abandoned the baby and so she texted me and she said "please, say on American television that I'm a wonderful mother".

E: Ok.

H: So, she is a wonderful mother.

E: Ok, and she must be with uh...

H: Tintin

E: Tintin must be with Xaio Xaio right now.

H: Xaio Xi!

E: Xaio Xi! Xaio Xaio is the next child. Is Tintin with,,,

H: Yes! In London, yes...

E: Of course, they're together.

E: Yeah.

E: How often do you see Xaio Xi?

H: I... Quite a lot. Most days I get around and... We do airplanes and uh... That's with Tintin, and then I play with the baby.

E: Oh... We're running out of time and I could do this forever. We uh.. Let's take a break and then we're going to come back and you actually said you wanna have tea time with Sophia Grace and Rosy, which I look forward to. 

H: I did, I did.

E: I'm sure you all hang out together on the other side of the pond, right? You must hang out with her.

H: Yes, celeb parties, they're always there.

E: Alright, we'll be right back after this, with Hugh.