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In his last role he took in the tabloids - "a cruel and vindictive industry." But soon Hugh Grant, will be back on familiar ground, giving voice to a big burly pirate. In rare interview, tells Decca Aitkenhead to defend what is right of authorship, and the genius of Aardman

I'm in a restaurant in West London could hardly seem less relaxed if I had found in the dock at the Old Bailey. The actor maliciously mind to know our screens everywhere, and is rather a man who looks sober and tense in fact trembles like the greeting

"Well, I'm very relaxed is not a press interview. I think it is only the third British newspaper interview that I did to promote a film in 16 years. But I want to be kind to the Guardian, because I think it was great. "It seems terribly uncomfortable. "Yes, it would be okay," he agrees. How horrible is it for him? "Well, I really hate giving interviews in newspapers. You do not want people to say, 'Oh look, it uses the issue of hacking to draw attention to himself." What sticks in my craw if it's me. "Is it as bad as he had feared?" Yes. It is. "

admit I'm nervous, too, not knowing how to interview the star of a campaign against the intrusion of the press, without invading your privacy very convincing, as was the defense. Since Grant has become the poster boy cutting campaign against crime and corruption of the press, the tabloids have been poisoned, persecuting the mother of his newborn son and accused him of lying in search Leveson. In the infamous words of a Daily Mail column "Grant became a lonely man, consumed by the bitter hatred of the media who have helped make him a star ... In truth, the moral crusader that just a big hypocrite Another celebrity has money and fame that exposure to media gives him, but refuses to accept the responsibilities that accompany it. "

Grant is now in an impossible situation, wanting to be generous with the newspaper that exposed the scandal of piracy, and willing to help promote his new film, but aware that anything you say will be examined by the tabloids as proof that the media uses when appropriate. As emphasized repeatedly during the past year, media coverage is a common operation - it is a gift from the press, but a commercial product to sell newspapers. Yet, when asked if the e-afraid, he said, "Yes, of course. Terrified. Yes."

thus explores all questions as an expert in bomb disposal, only to meet my gaze on the end of an answer, when you take a look death that is all is going to go. Compliments are received with all the enthusiasm of a small fish in a shark accept chocolates, and silences that leave to remain in the air. Needless to say, they are becoming more acute, catching up with idle chatter, causing only introspective "Hmm" s dark, "Mmm" s. Embarrassed, I say it feels like talking to a quality control Unamused.

"Well, all for putting your hand is very frightening, and always has been, as the industry were very cruel and vindictive to take - especially when they are in collusion with the police and basically, the government also. You can not find an enemy more formidable than that. "

Grant used to retaliate against malpractices of the press with libel suits and colorful time to time, if it is not very effective, the rapture. "For years I used to rant against dinners and bars on the way some media have led the country. Always been especially repugnant to me to see these people entertained, courted and ass licked by senior politicians general and celebrity in London. you go to a party and it would be Vogue Rebecca Wade, everyone is very pleasant for her, and I thought, why this woman asked, why are you here? "Find the next George Osborne, at a dinner before the last election, got in a dispute over Andy Coulson, his owner had to calm things down. "Well, it was a bit rude," he admits. "A little insolent." And punch her husband of Elisabeth Murdoch, Matthew Freud, at a party at a nightclub? "Uh, c That is true. I will not go into details, but yes, he put the chocolate cake in my shirt and I lamped him. "

But when Grant broke car last year and early passage ex-hack became the publican, Paul McMullan, stopped to take pictures and offered him a lift, during which he readily admitted all sorts of illegal activities in their former profession. Grant visited McMullan pub later, he secretly recorded by repeating the confession, published in the New Statesman and was recruited by Hacked Off - since when it has become a formidable advocate for the public media reform in bulk. "Hacking phone is sort of a detail," he explains. Grant wants to challenge the assumptions - with moral certainty that the column in the Daily Mail -. Underlying business model of all the tabloids

The argument presented research Leveson was devastating in its simplicity. "I think it's crazy because I once sold a gallon of milk 50 cents, you can then say that I sold a little milk, bitch, I'll take the milk for free forever." It is hard to think of another industry that operates on this principle - but I wonder if the grant is angry against the C-listers who secretly sell their own stories and colluding with the paparazzi, the tabloids giving an excuse theoretical all celebrities are easy prey.

"Uh, well, not my cup of tea, what they do -. But I do not condemn Always remember that little word consent If they do, it is of a transaction privacy. is a commodity that you are entitled to sell, without the person who sold it to think, well, I can help him forever. "Does the analogy of the condescension of a prostitute who claims the right to rape her forever, simply because once you paid? "Yes, I think this argument is a convenient measure for the tabloid industry, rather than logic."

Some might argue that privacy is a commodity and not well defined. Grant own friend and former girlfriend, Elizabeth Hurley, led her relationship with Shane Warne last year on Twitter, when someone invades their privacy, invite the attention? "Well, again, it is up to -. I refer the right honorable gentleman to the answer I gave earlier, that has to do with the consent"

Those who had already confused airhead grants an idiot toff are surprised to discover that the forensic mind fresh. It is possible that Grant, who won a scholarship to Oxford, he feels the same way himself. "At Oxford, he was very much alive," he once said, "especially on the head. I have since atrophied. "So I wonder if she is enjoying her new role.

"I am sure to enjoy is the right word, because it is very intimidating." An anonymous caller phoned the mother of his unborn son after the last year and ordered him to grant "shut up" when she appeared on Question Time. "But certainly, at the ripe age of 51 years, is good to talk about my own lines, being my own person, rather than sit there and say that someone else do the lines. Are made in life actual synthetic rather than just the life that is very refreshing I love getting into a taxi and told the House of Lords rather than, you know, Soho - again ... "

can not be campaigning on something else, though. "I think I am not a relativist column, I can not have a strong opinion on many things long enough is very rare in life to be sure of anything - ... Especially when it comes a question "I am a terrible vacillator, you can be sure of something one day and change your mind the next, but in this case were so sure of all time - and it's very rewarding to work on some thing that you feel confident, instead of, oh., maybe I'm wrong. "

his certainty that the obsession of a conspiracy theorist, but I detect no trace of it. In measured tones quietly allowing it to "imagine" the editor of the Daily Mail - who accused Grant of inventing a "slick liar" against his paper in research Leveson - really did not know what some of their journalists had fallen short. It is "conceivable", as he hired Coulson, David Cameron of "naivety". He is even willing to accept the claim that kick off the baby's back McMullan Grant has not been reached by nefarious means, but an anonymous letter from a person close to the actor. "Obviously, there is a part of me that thinks that the letter could be a fake - because Paul can be a little, uh, eccentric - but I know I've seen today, and I suspect it ' is probably true, but me. . not know that in my orbit would have done, especially since it was not done for money. "

This should be very paranoid. "Well, I'm a little paranoid." Grant full-time cadre. "But - I can not emphasize this enough - it's not from me Your questions relate to the trials and tribulations of me as an actor, but my speech is about police corruption, intimidation of all government . this kind of thing. The trials and tribulations of the famous is called the bottom of my list of concerns. "

Grant seems much less anxious when the conversation turns to the new film from Aardman, the pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!, An animated 3D animation from the creators of Wallace & Gromit in a band of pirates unfortunate who are caught with Charles Darwin and Queen Elizabeth. This is a slapstick family comedy, shot with jokes about the evolution of adults, the voice of a stellar cast with David Tennant, Salma Hayek and Imelda Staunton. Grant signed for the lead role of pirate captain when he read the script.

"I mean, Aardman, I think they are geniuses right. I have never seen a film by Aardman does not surprise me, and the script, in particular, was very funny and cool. In fact, I must act on this because I saw the doll and I'm not that person -. a big barrel chest, pirate beard But they are so bright - that are 16 jokes are the both in terms of physical humor, and believes that with God, who takes the pressure off me, I need to be reasonably good at this, cos they'll do the rest in terms of visual pleasure, in fact, almost do not know. me. My little cousins ??that I've seen the trailer yet do not believe me. "Take it as a compliment? "I am, not. Yes. "

took his past use of a device to name their talents less unpleasant, but he said:. "No, I mean in the past" But Grant was threatening to quit acting and writing take as long as I can remember - and then there's always another film. "Well, it's true." He never really thought he quit? "Ehh ... I think he probably meant -. Especially in the last three years, I mean, I have done almost nothing, and do not want to do anything - apart from these peculiarities such as Pirates of the Caribbean "It is estimated that one third Bridget Jones, is likely to happen, but waiting to see if the script is close to zero.
The most memorable line of the first film Bridget Jones Grant was surprised delight in the discovery of a giant Jones control pants - "Hi Mom" ??- It was not even in the script. He improvised on several occasions over the Pirates, too - and these are the times that you love. "Certainly," he said with emotion. "