Hugh Grant wants to be father

London: After playing dad to his nephews, nieces and godchildren for long, Hollywood actor Hugh Grant has now expressed a wish to be a father and raise his own kids.The 49-year-old bachelor, whose relationships with actress Elizabeth Hurley and socialite Jemima Khan reportedly broke down because he didn`t want to settle down now feels he is qualified to be a dad, Parade magazine reported.

"Ten years ago, I wouldn`t have thought about having children at all. But now I have so many nephews and nieces and cousins and godchildren, I like the thought," Grant said. However, the `Notting Hill` star admits that he would have to take refuge in a team of nannies to help him out in raising children. "But that`s on the basis that I can leave after ten minutes. I don`t know what it would be like 24 hours a day. I think I`d have a lot of nannies," he said. The British actor who is presently enjoying a single status is still a believer when it comes to raising a family of his own. "Yes, yes, yes. I have not given up hope! I find I`m not as bad with children as I used to be," Grant said. "If you have a smothering parent, the effect it can apparently have on a child is to give them, in equal doses, a sense of too much self-esteem, because they are mummy`s little princess or prince, and low self-esteem. It affects future relationships," he added. PTI