Hugh Grant: My children value me despite the fact I don't make many films anymore

NEW YORK, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- British actor Hugh Grant says he wanted to star in the new romantic comedy The Rewrite in part because he plays a screenwriter-turned-college-professor who realizes celebrity and self-worth are not the same thing -- a distinction Grant has made in real life, as well.

"I like the way that my character learns that there are other metrics by which to judge yourself than money and how much you're wanted in one particular trade. Suddenly he realizes, he is wanted by his students. He is valued by them and by the university, and I think that is rather touching," the 54-year-old father of three young children told UPI at a press conference in New York Tuesday.

"It's been a huge surprise to me with my children. They value me despite the fact that I don't make many films anymore and waste my time doing politics and stuff. They just like me anyway. It's rather like what happens to [my character] Keith."

Co-starring Marisa Tomei, J.K. Simmons, Chris Elliott, Allison Janney and Bella Heathcote, The Rewrite is to open in select theaters and video-on-demand platforms Friday. This marks the third collaboration between Grant and writer-director Marc Lawrence. They previously worked together on Two Weeks Notice and Music and Lyrics. Grant's other film credits include the rom-com classics Love Actually, Bridget Jones's Diary, Nine Months and Four Weddings and a Funeral.