Roger Michell's the best rom-coms of the 1990s. It is ed for the iconic pairing of Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, a larger-than-life storyline, and a beautiful soundtrack.
Notting Hill has also aged well and it is regarded as a cult classic. Every single memorable moment in the movie reminds viewers why love is central to human existence and why people must give love a chance, especially when it's hard to do so. Though the leads, Anna and William, face numerous upheavals throughout Notting Hill, they eventually come through them. The movie brilliantly documents the ups and downs of their romance through quotes that tug at fans' heartstrings.
William Takes His Chance
"You're Welcome. And Uh, May I Also Say, Um, Heavenly."
After William (Hugh Grant) accidentally spills coffee on Anna's (Julia Roberts) clothes, he offers her to get cleaned up at his place which is just over the street. Anna agrees and follows him, which leads William to take a chance and say these words to her.
This romantic quote stands out because of the confidence in William's voice and his cadence. The fact that the American movie star, Anna is keenly watching him say these words is proof enough that he's the most charming wordsmith she's ever met. William also knows the chances of seeing Anna again are highly unlikely, and therefore he makes the most of the five minutes that the universe has gifted him.
William's Nervous Confession
"It Was Nice To Meet You. Surreal But Nice."
As Anna prepares to leave William's, she stops by his door and gives him a long look. He does most of the talking. Anna only speaks in monosyllables, whereas William, who has a way with words, tries to convince her how fantastic it is to watch her stand in front of him.
William's quote is a reflection of his honesty and his simplicity. No matter how great they look together, the fact is that Notting Hill's premise is basically about an international movie star and a man-next-door choosing love over everything else. William's nervousness is endearing and it's what breaks the ice at the moment.
William Is Besotted With Anna
"Yes, She Is Uh, Fairly Fabulous."
William and Anna's sweet conversation is interrupted by his quirky flatmate, Spike who by the by has no idea that that's the American actress Anna Scott in her apartment.
After Anna leaves, the flatmate suggests they make it a movie night. William and Spike watch one of Anna's movies, and they are unable to take their eyes off her. William's "fairly fabulous" comment about Anna strikes as particularly romantic because he's met her in real life and is now watching her cast magic on the screen. At that moment he confirms that Anna is just as angelic in real life as she appears in her movies.
William Goes To See Anna
"It's A Dream To See You Again."
After Spike finally gives William Anna's message, he rushes to see her at the Ritz. William is quick to realize Anna is busy meeting journalists and out of concern for her privacy, pretends to be a reporter from a magazine named, Horse & Hound.
When William finally does get his five minutes with Anna, he confesses the truth about meeting her. He compares the experience to a dream and its how magical it is to see her again. Viewers love the fact that William is in a dream-like state and Anna has already started to warm up to him. Their second meeting is the stuff of dreams, so, why shouldn't the wordsmith, William put it exactly that way?
William's Dream
"...I Just Walk Over And Uh, Kiss The Girl."
Anna's staff keep interrupting the two, and William has no real questions to ask, except it how surreal the situation is over and over again. When Anna interrupts and asks what happens next in his dream, he says he wants to "change his personality" and walk over from his chair to kiss her.
William's whole "change my personality" bit goes against the norms of any true romance, especially because by this time, Anna has started to fall for the real him. Though he thinks of Anna still in of a movie star, she would much rather prefer they're grounded. William is jolted back to reality by Anna's PR chief once again, but little does he know his honesty has charmed the lady, and of course, those watching the movie.
Anna Wants William In Her Life
"I Have To Go Away Today, But I Wondered If I Didn't Whether You Might Let Me See You A Little, Or A Lot Maybe..."
Anna had true love on her mind when she said these words to William towards the end of the movie. She turned up at his bookstore and talked about how she wanted to call him but didn't know how to. She also spoke at length about wanting to see him and asked whether he'd like the same.
Viewers realize that Anna's heartwarming ission took courage because she and William had a bit of a falling out. He'd overheard her describe him as "no one " to her co-star earlier on her set. Anna was quick to clarify that she was merely keeping her personal life private from her colleague. Anna's line of thought resonates with the viewers and her appeal enriches the scene. Fans count her simplicity and this dialogue among the ten aspects that contribute to Notting Hill still being a great rom-com.
Anna Speaks The Truth
"I'm Also Just A Girl, Standing In Front Of A Boy, Asking Him To Love Her."
Anna's words capture the sheer essence of love, in that, every human, regardless of their status wants to be loved. It's no wonder why Reddit has chosen this as one of the most recognizable movie quotes of all time.
Anna's celebrity status has very less to do with how she feels about William Thacker. She is entirely correct when she takes a stand in front of him and reminds him that they are all the same when stripped of their privileges. Fans love the way she articulates her feelings to William. Anna's sweet words lend a unique vulnerability to her character which makes the moment priceless.
William Asks Anna To Reconsider
"Just Wondering Whether If Mr. Thacker Realized He'd Been A Daft P**** And Got Down On His Knees And Begged You To Reconsider Whether You Would In Fact... Then Reconsider?"
William finds Anna at a press conference and poses as a Horse & Hound journalist to ask her if she'd reconsider being more than friends. Anna says yes, and announces she plans to stay in England "indefinitely."
Notting Hill's dramatic ending culminates with Anna and William's union. That's only possible because of Will's touching words, gumption, and Scott's trust in new beginnings. Fans are eternally convinced that they are among the most wholesome '90s rom-com couples.
