It's now 30 years since Hugh Grant's infamous liaison with Divine Brown – real name Estella Marie Thompson. The incident shocked '90s fans and shook up one of Hollywood's star couples, Hugh and his then-girlfriend, model Elizabeth Hurley, the same year as his starring role in Regency romance Sense and Sensibility. But what happened to Divine herself, and how did she turn headlines into a million-dollar fortune? Read on to find out.
© WireImage via Getty ImagesDivine Brown was discovered with actor Hugh Grant on the Sunset Strip in 1995
The scandal
On June 27, 1995, Hugh Grant drove his white BMW down the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles and picked up sex worker Divine Brown.
The pair were subsequently discovered while parked and arrested for lewd conduct.
© Getty ImagesDivine was sentenced to 180 days in jail
The court case
After the arrest, Divine was sentenced to 180 days in jail due to prior probation violations and fined.
Hugh pleaded no contest and was fined $1,180. He was also sentenced to two years' probation and ordered to complete an AIDS education programme.
© FilmMagic via Getty ImagesDivine turned the scandal into a money-making opportunity
Rise to fame
Divine turned her headline-making scandal into the foundation for a fortune. She reportedly earned between $1 million and $1.6 million through TV appearances and adult magazine features.
She later shared her life story in the 2006 memoir The Divine Brown: Million Dollar Hooker – A True Story.
© Ron Galella Collection via GettyDivine now lives a more private life in Atlanta
Where is she now?
According to The Mirror, Divine now lives in Atlanta and was charged with battery, cruelty to children and possession of drugs earlier this year.
She has reportedly lived in at least 36 different addresses and had over 18 legal judgements, attending court for offences such as perjury and theft of services.
© Comic Relief via Getty ImagesHugh Grant was dating Elizabeth Hurley at the time of the scandal
Addressing the scandal
A scandal that rocked the newsstand might be cause for career concern, but Hugh transformed the incident into an opportunity that provided the basis for further fame.
Just days after the arrest, he appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and addressed the scandal. The host asked what he was thinking; Hugh famously got right to the point and said: "I did a bad thing." The direct approach worked well and he went on to star in features like Notting Hill and Love Actually.
