Just a famous actor sitting in front of a judge: Hugh Grant’s presentation of self in the Leveson inquiry

Abstract

ABSTRACT With its attempts at humour, loosely controlled expressive behaviour and balance of haughtiness and deference, Hugh Grant’s testimony for the Leveson inquiry is rich territory for the analysis of celebrity self-presentation that complicates the dichotomous paradigm of ‘persona’ versus ‘veridical self’. Through detailed analysis of Grant’s physicality and use of prosody, this article focuses on his performance of status and use of humour during the cross-examination. These are contextualised within his diegetic and interview performances to argue that, in this presentation of self, Grant showcases his comedic performance technique but seems less concerned with presenting a signature set of mannerisms, which scholars have noted conventional star performance entails. Rather, Grant performs his celebrity status through a posture of stiff hauteur, which enables the humour in his self-deprecating remarks, both of which are key elements of his persona.