Damian Hurley, the 22-year-old son of Elizabeth Hurley, shared a fun memory from his early days in the film industry with Tatler magazine. He recalled how he nearly got his mother arrested when she chased his godfather, Hugh Grant, around Zurich Airport with a fake dagger while filming a short film. Damian expressed his passion for filmmaking that began when his mother gave him a camcorder for his eighth birthday, and he became obsessed with writing and directing his own movies. He talked about his love for making self-written, self-directed short films and dragging props and costumes everywhere he went.
In his debut film, Strictly Confidential, Damian took inspiration from personal tragedy to craft a heart-wrenching storyline. The film follows a woman who drowns near her family home in the Caribbean, and her loved ones struggle to cope with the loss. Damian revealed that the idea for the plot came from experiences of losing a friend to suicide and his biological father, Steven Bing. He explained how he had shelved the script he had written at 17 after the loss of a friend but revisited it later after losing a parent to suicide. This led to the creation of Strictly Confidential, depicting a young woman haunted by her best friend’s suicide.
Damian Hurley shared how Elizabeth conceived him during a brief relationship with Steve, shortly after splitting from Hugh Grant in 2000. Despite contesting paternity initially, a DNA test later confirmed Bing as Damian’s father. However, Bing did not play a role in Damian’s life, and they never met. After Bing’s tragic death in 2020, Damian and his mother Elizabeth have faced criticism for their collaboration on the film Strictly Confidential. In the movie, Elizabeth portrays a mother caught in a web of secrets and scandal, including a lesbian affair with her daughter’s friend. Damian directed a steamy sex scene between the characters, which Elizabeth defended as crucial to the storytelling and not merely for shock value.
Elizabeth Hurley addressed the intimate scene in the film as an essential part of the storytelling process, dismissing any notions of gratuitous content. She emphasized the importance of ensuring that scenes serve the narrative and are not added for sensationalism. Elizabeth stressed her aversion to participating in projects that exploit sensational elements solely for shock value, citing her consistent refusal to be associated with such content. She maintained that the scenes in Strictly Confidential were integral to the story and were approached with a focus on their narrative significance. The film was released in the US on April 5 and will be available on UK digital platforms on May 13.
Despite the controversies surrounding their collaborative work on Strictly Confidential, Elizabeth and Damian Hurley have remained dedicated to storytelling and filmmaking. Damian’s passion for directing and writing films has been a significant part of his creative journey, starting from a young age with the gift of a camcorder from his mother. His imaginative and personal approach to filmmaking, drawing from his life experiences and tragedies, has shaped his debut film’s poignant narrative. As they continue to navigate the challenges of artistic collaborations and public scrutiny, Elizabeth and Damian maintain their commitment to storytelling that resonates authentically with audiences.
