Richard E. Grant claims ‘well-known household names’ treated his daughter ‘appallingly’ when she worked as a production runner

Richard E. Grant claimed his daughter was treated ‘appallingly’ by ‘well-known household names’ when she worked as a production runner for two years.

The renowned actor, 67, was overcome with fury as he recalled how poorly treated his daughter Olivia, 35, – who is now a casting director – was on set.

When asked what was the most ‘underappreciated’ role in the film industry was, Richard was quick to say it was in fact runners.

A production runner works behind-the-scenes to assist the producer, director and carry out multiple different jobs as and when they are told to.

But Richard – who has worked with a fair share of runners in his career – claimed they often have the most difficult job out of them all.

Richard E. Grant, 67, claimed his daughter was treated ‘appallingly’ by ‘well-known household names’ when she worked as a production runner (pictured with his Franchise co-star Darren Goldstein)

The renowned actor, was overcome with fury as he recalled how poorly treated his daughter Olivia, 35, – who is now a casting director – was when she worked on a set for two years

He told Sky News: ‘The runners who paid the least amount of money. They’re the youngest, they get there at five in the morning and they’re the last to leave. 

‘And if anything goes wrong, they get s*** on from a dizzy height. 

‘I know, because my daughter was a runner for two years and was appallingly treated by some very well-known household names who changed their tune when they found out who who her father was. 

‘Which made it worse. It made me damn those people even more.’

Richard shares Olivia with wife of 35-years Joan Washington, who died in 2021 following a battle with stage four lung cancer. He also has a step son Tom from Joan’s previous marriage.

The actor admitted he once confronted the household name and called the person up on their behaviour.

He added: ‘I’ve met one person, yeah, and I’ll never speak to him again.’

Olivia has worked on Apple TV+ series Masters Of The Air and Lee Miller’s recent biopic Lee. 

When asked what was the most ‘underappreciated’ role in the film industry was, Richard was quick to say it was in fact runners

But Richard – who has worked with a fair share of runners in his career – claimed they often have the most difficult job out of them all

Richard shares Olivia with wife of 35-years Joan Washington, whom died in 2021 following a battle with stage four lung cancer. He also has a step son Tom from Joan’s previous marriage (pictured in 2018) 

Their close knit family would often attend events together, such as the Baftas here in 2019 with Olivia, Richard and Joan 

Olivia recently married long-term partner Florian Wirst in a ‘magical’ home ceremony. 

Richard previously revealed the ‘amazing mantra’ he has lived by since the death of his late wife.

Dialect coach Joan tragically passed away aged 75, eight months after she was diagnosed with cancer.

The actor told how his wife gave him words to live by in the days before she died which has helped him deal with the ‘abyss of grief’ ever since.

Speaking on The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show with Helena Bonham Carter, he said: ‘She said to me four days before she died, she said to my daughter and I, “I know that you’re going to be sad but try and find a pocketful of happiness in each day”.

‘It’s been an amazing mantra to navigate the abyss of grief in the last 15 months and I’m grateful for that.’