BEIJING, May 2 -- Hugh Grant, who played a fictional prime minister in the movie Love Actually, is the actor most Britons would like to see become premier if he were running in the British elections, a survey showed.

    Harrison Ford, who played a US president in the movie Air Force One, came in second, while fellow American Martin Sheen, who was president in The West Wing television series, came third in the survey by DVD company Silverscreen.

    Grant, the 44-year-old British star, star played a prime minister who falls for Martine McCutcheon, who served him tea in Love Actually.

    The survey asked more than 1,800 people which movie or television politician they would most like to see in Number 10 Downing Street, the British Prime Minister's residence and office.

    Silverscreen spokesman Aziz Tarafder said British Conservative leader Michael Howard should start taking tips from Grant, as opinion polls show Howard is not very popular.

    "We chose the greatest movie and TV politicians of the last 20 years and asked people who they really wanted as prime minister," Tarafder said.

    "Some people say politicians are actors and that parliament is one big theater but our survey suggests that this is obviously not such a bad thing," he said.

    "If Michael Howard wants to stand a chance then he needs to fall in love with the tea lady," he said.

    In the poll, Bill Pullman's character as president in Hollywood blockbuster Independence Day came in fourth and Kevin Kline's accidental president in Dave followed in fifth place.

    (Source: CRI/ news.com.au)