Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant they celebrate 25 years old of love in Notting Hill. The screwball comedy directed by Roger Michell which still makes the hearts of millions of fans beat. Set in the famous London neighborhood, the film tells the romantic love story between Hollywood star Anna Scott and the shy English bookseller William Thaker. Grant had worked with him before screenwriter Richard Curtis and producer Duncan Kenworthy in the film that definitively launched his career, Four weddings and a funeral (1994). Against a budget of 42 million dollars, Notting Hill neither grossed over 360 worldwidemaking it the highest-grossing British film in history at the time and the biggest UK cinematic success of 1999.
Notting Hill was driven by an engaging soundtrack awarded at the Brit Awards and including the classic by Charles Aznavour, Sherevisited by Elvis Costello and by When You Say Nothing at All. The hit sung by Ronan Keating, cover of a 1988 piece by Keith Whitley, which allowed the former Boyzone to reach the top of the music charts around the world. Here's to the quarter century of Notting Hill with 10 curiosities the last, great rom-com of the Nineties.
The script of “sleepless nights”
Richard Curtis began to conceive the love story between the film star Anna Scott and the English bookseller William Thaker during his sleepless nights in the Notting Hill neighborhood. He wrote the script by listening in rotation Downtown Train by Tom Waits but in the Everything But the Girl version.
What a surprise, Julia Roberts
America's former sweetheart was the “one and only” choice for the role of Anna Scott, although Roger Michell could hardly believe his ears when the Hollywood superstar accepted.
Anna Scott is no Julia Roberts
Curtis conceived the movie star character as a hybrid between Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn.
The cachet of «Pretty» Julia
During the birthday dinner, Anna Scott declares that she receives 15 million dollars per film; the same amount that Roberts got to shoot Notting Hill.
Julia Roberts didn't want to do the movie
In an interview with British Vogue, Julia Roberts said playing Anna Scott was “one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.” The actress also underlined that she even hated the stage looks chosen for her character.
The famous bookstore

The Travel Bookshop is located at 142 Portobello Road. The travel bookshop run by William Thacker (Hugh Grant) was once an antiques shop. The shop closed its doors in 2011 and, today, in its place there is a book store that has tried not to distort the style of the previous one. In recent times, book sales have doubled thanks to virality on Tik Tok.
The true Horses and hounds
Remember the trick used by Hugh Grant to approach Roberts? Well, Horse & Hound it really exists and is the oldest British riding magazine.
William Thacker's house
Hugh Grant's character's flat, at 280 Westbourne Park Road, actually belonged to screenwriter Richard Curtis.
All crazy about Spike

Hugh Grant's rude and annoying roommate is played by Rhys Ifans. Praised by critics for his hilarious performance, that «ugly rotten dick» he had the reputation of a Latin lover: among his conquests, Sienna Miller and Kate Moss.
The bench of Notting Hill

Today, the famous bench from the film stands in Queen Gardens in Perth, Australia, after a Perth resident bought it to donate to his city.
Source: Vanity Fair

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