Elizabeth Hurley reveals she no longer speaks to ex Hugh Grant after 'going through the trenches' with the actor during their early years of fame: 'He's married now, with five children'

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May 11, 1994. The date may well be forgotten, but the Versace dress worn by a then unknown Elizabeth Hurley as she accompanied boyfriend Hugh Grant at the UK premiere of Four Weddings And A Funeral still endures, some 30 years after the fact. 

The actress and model became a household name overnight thanks to he extravagant couture gown, manufactured from a mix of black silk and Lycra, held together with oversized safety pins and borrowed from the Versace flagship store on Old Bond Street. 

Likewise, Grant also enjoyed a significant change in fortune - both personal and professional - thanks to his role as the perennially single Charles in director Richard Curtis' romantic comedy. 

And Hurley, 59, credits their relationship for helping her navigate a pivotal time in her life, but admits they no longer see each other - despite remaining firm friends following their amicable separation in 2000.

Appearing at the Bazaar At Work summit in London on Tuesday, she said: 'I was with my ex, Hugh Grant, so it happened to both of us at the same time. Like me, he'd also worked a lot, and thought he was doing pretty well, until Four Weddings and a Funeral came out and suddenly it was completely different – he was a phenomenon. 

'The film was a massive success, and everything changed. But there was two of us and I think that massively helped. When you’re suddenly thrust into the spotlight, your lives aren’t set up for it.'

Elizabeth Hurley, 59, looked like she meant business as she attended the Harper's Bazaar At Work Summit in London on Tuesday

The actress and model became a household name overnight thanks to the extravagant Versace gown she wore for the UK premiere of Four Weddings And A Funeral in 1994 

She added: 'You don’t have any protection. It was alarming. The press was much ruder back in the 90s and 2000s than it is now. I truly believe that people aren't allowed to be as rude as they were then.

'[I] think it gives you a bond when you sort of go to the trenches with someone. I mean, he's married with five children. I hardly ever see him, but he's still very close to my heart.' 

Reflecting on her iconic dress - borrowed as a last minute favour from Dean Aslett, then Head of Womenswear and Atelier at Versace - Hurley admits she was stunned by the attention it received. 

'It was very strange,' she recalled. 'I’d been working for a few years, and in my mind, I thought I was quite famous – I had been in a few things. 

'To my family, I was a success; but I had no idea what it actually meant to really be in the public eye. That was a real shock to one's psyche.'

Now an established star in her own right, Hurley is helping son Damian - her only child from a former relationship with American businessman Steve Bing - forge his own path as a budding film director. 

Debut feature Strictly Confidential - both written and directed by the 22-year old - was released to lukewarm reviews in 2023. 

Much of the criticism revolved around Hurley herself, whose starring role in the film includes a raunchy lesbian sex scene with a woman 30-years her junior - filmed by her son. 

Visiting Cannes with Grant in 1996. 'He'd also worked a lot, and thought he was doing pretty well, until Four Weddings and a Funeral came out and suddenly it was completely different – he was a phenomenon,' she said on Tuesday 

Hurley looked stunning as she wowed in a chic black tailored suit which featured a plunging neckline and flared trousers 

Hurley credits their relationship with Grant for helping her navigate a pivotal time in her life, but admits they no longer see each other - despite remaining firm friends (pictured in 1997)

'It's quite interesting because I'm a single mother and he's a single child, so we, by default, spend a huge amount of time together,' she explained. 

'When he was really young, he became fascinated with my business. He started doing stills and making mini movie when he was nine or ten. I gave him a camcorder, and he made me star in all his films. 

'I was always playing the Evil Queen. My mum was in them, Hugh was in them, my ex-husband, everybody had to be in his movies, as he progressed through baby movies into more grown up features. 

'He’s actually been directing me for ten years anyway, so nothing really changed. I was just used to it' 

Hurley looked stunning as she wowed in a chic black tailored suit which featured a plunging neckline and flared trousers. 

She added a pair of black platform sandals to her look and accessorised with a statement red jewel cross pendant.

She added a pair of black platform sandals to her look and accessorised with a statement red jewel cross pendant as she posed for photos at the Bazaar event on Monday afternoon 

Now an established star in her own right, Hurley is helping son Damian - her only child from a former relationship with American businessman Steve Bing - forge his own path as a budding film director

Debut feature Strictly Confidential - both written and directed by the 22-year old - was released to lukewarm reviews in 2023

Much of the criticism revolved around Hurley herself, whose starring role in the film includes a raunchy lesbian sex scene with a woman 30 years her junior - filmed by her son

It's been a busy few days for Hurley, who was also spotted at the glitzy world premiere of Sir Elton John's new show The Devil Wears Prada: The Musical on Sunday night.

She was joined by her son Damian at London's Dominion Theatre for the gala performance.

She looked sensational in an eye-catching semi-sheer beaded gown gown which boasted a plunging neckline and teased a glimpse of her jaw-dropping figure beneath.

Hurley opted for chic jewelry as well as gold accessories as she slipped her feet into a pair of towering platform heels while toting her essentials for the evening in a metallic clutch.

The Austin Powers actress wore her caramel tresses in loose waves as they tumbled down past her shoulders.

Damian followed in his mother's stylish footsteps and looked suave in a long black leather trench and matching trousers.

The pair looked the spitting image of each other as they larked around together and posed for pictures ahead of the performance.

The much anticipated show, is based on the 2006 comedy starring Meryl Streep, which was based on Lauren Weisberger's book of the same title.

It is said to be loosely based on the author's real experiences of working at glossy fashion magazine and fans of the hit film have long assumed that Meryl Streep's character was based on American Vogue editor Anna Wintour, which in the musical is played by Vanessa Williams.

The star appeared to be having a great time as she beamed for the cameras before heading in to the star studded event