Love Actually is one of the most loved and replayed Christmas movies of all time.
It follows the lives of eight very different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London.
Directed by Richard Curtis in 2003, the two hour production stars some of the biggest names in showbussines as Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy and Alan Rickman all have their own storyline.
And while festive fans may have rewatched the romance comedy more times than they care to admit, there are many nuggets in the film that even the biggest of film buffs won’t know.
From huge plot changes involving an angel to a very unique fear of antique furniture, Love Actually had many twists and changes through out its entire production.
How many do you know?
Love Actually is one of the most loved and replayed Christmas movies of all time. It follows the lives of eight very different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely interrelated tales (Hugh Grant and Martine McCutcheon pictured)
And while festive fans may have rewatched the romance comedy more times than they care to admit, there are many nuggets in the film that even the biggest of film buffs won’t know – but how many do you know? (Andrew Lincoln pictured)
Rowan Atkinson’s character was originally a Christmas Angel
One of the most heartbreaking storylines in the movie is when Harry (Alan Rickman), a married executive who has a devastating emotional affair with his young secretary, Mia (Heike Makatsch).
In one scene, Harry can be seen buying Mia an expensive necklace from Selfridges.
This purchase led to wife Karen (Emma Thompson) discovering his infidelity, heartbreakingly realising her marriage is broken despite their decision to stay together.
But as Harry makes the cruel decision to purchase the gift, he is served by meticulous jeweller, Rufus (Rowan Atkinson).
His elaborate gift-wrapping was indeed deliberate, as the original storyline was that he was to be an angel on a secret mission to stop him from having the affair.
The shot was also filmed at midnight as the crew wanted to avoid crowds at the iconic shopping centre.
Rowan also starred in another scene which was later deleted.
Originally, Rowan Atkinson’s character was supposed to be a Christmas Angel. His elaborate gift-wrapping was indeed deliberate, as the original storyline was that he was to be an angel on a secret mission to stop Alan Rickman’s character from having the affair
The shot was also filmed at midnight as the crew wanted to avoid crowds at the iconic shopping centre
His angel character was to disappear into thin air after he helped Sam (a young child in love with a class mate played by Thomas Brodie-Sangster) get past airport security.
But the idea of Rowan being an angel was later dropped.
Billy Bob Thornton had antique furniture fears
Billy Bob Thornton plays the crude, womanising U.S. President who visits the UK – however, he has an unusual fear of antique furniture
Knowing this, his co-star Hugh Grant would sometimes flash a piece of furniture in front of him just before cameras rolled to freak him out
Billy Bob Thornton plays the crude, womanising U.S. President who visits the UK.
He causes trouble by making unwanted advances on junior staffer Natalie (Martine McCutcheon), leading to a showdown with Britain’s Prime Minister David (Hugh) who stands up to him.
He asserts his country’s strength against American bullying during a joint press conference and stood up for what was right for the country.
And while their characters did not see eye-to-eye in scenes, off-camera, the two actors enjoyed some light hearted pranks.
Billy has an unusual fear of antique furniture, and just as the cameras would begin to roll, Hugh was flash a piece of the set to freak him out ahead of his lines.
Gold-carved chairs with the velvet cushions, the Louis XIV type, are particularly triggering for the star.
Billy also accepted his part in the film without even reading the script, he was so flattered by the accompanying letter asking him to be part of the ensemble.
The airport opening scene is real
The footage in the sweet opening airport scene and at the end of the movie is actually real footage of people greeting each other at Heathrow Airport
Hugh’s soft spoken voice opens the movie as he reflects on the Heathrow Airport arrivals hall as proof that love is everywhere.
He explains that love is not just in grand gestures but in everyday connections, famously concluding, ‘if you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll find that love actually is all around’.
And while the movie stars some of the biggest A-listers in the business, the scene showing loved ones hugging one another at the airport are real moments involving normal people.
Writer and director Richard had a team of cameramen film at the airport for a week and whenever they noticed a moment that would fit the film, they would people to reenact their moment for use in the film.
This documentary footage was shot before any scripted scenes, serving as the first part of filming, and participants signed waivers for their appearances
The idea came from Richard who was inspired by seeing overwhelming emotion at an L.A. airport. It made him realised that love is abundant in every day life.
Four storylines were axed
Four plot lines were also cut from the film as the original idea is said to have included 14 stories. Two stories were fully shot but were cut during the post editing phases while another two were removed before filming started (Billy Nighy pictured)
Four plot lines were also cut from the film as the original idea is said to have included 14 stories.
Two stories were fully shot but were cut during the post editing phases while another two were removed before filming started.
One story included an African couple supporting each other during a famine and another storyline that followed a school headteacher and her long-time commitment to her lesbian partner.
Another also involved a boy who records a love song for a classmate who eventually fell for his drummer.
Richard previously revealed that he ‘so wanted’ to keep two scenes in the film but wasn’t able to.
‘In the end the film got very complicated and this was just one complication too far,’ he explained.
‘But the idea was meant to be that love literally is all around. You have a pre-conception in places in the world where life is very hard that love wouldn’t be one of the things that people’s minds are on, whereas my experience when I go to Africa is that that’s completely not true.’
In another interview shared by the channel, Richard expressed he was also sad to lose the storyline with Anne Reid, which was there to get across that everyone in life ‘has their own complicated tale of love’.
Keira Knightley and Thomas Brodie-Sangster’s age gap
Keira’s character, Juliet, marries Peter (Chiwetel Ejiofor), but Peter’s best man, Mark (Andrew Lincoln), is secretly in love with her (Keira and Andrew pictured)
And while her script involved a very mature and grownup storyline, she was aged 17 and was just five years older than Thomas (seen), who played the youngest love story in the movie
Keira’s character, Juliet, marries Peter (Chiwetel Ejiofor), but Peter’s best man, Mark (Andrew Lincoln), is secretly in love with her.
This led to a famous scene where he confesses his feelings using cue cards on her doorstep, ending with a brief kiss before he leaves, and she returns inside to her husband.
And while her script involved a very mature and grownup storyline, she was aged 17 and was just five years older than Thomas, who played the youngest love story in the movie.
Thomas played Sam, the young stepson of Daniel (played by Liam Neeson) – a boy grieving his mother who learns to play drums to impress his crush, Joanna (played by Olivia Olson), culminating in an airport dash to confess his feelings.
After his airport dash, Thomas and Joanna share a kiss, which is believed to have been Joanna very first kiss in real life.
And this wasn’t the only time Thomas and Olivia starred as characters in love as they also had a romantic storyline on Phineas And Ferb, where Thomas voiced Ferb and Olivia voiced Vanessa Doofenshmirtz.
Ferb has a long-standing crush on Vanessa, the daughter of Dr. Doofenshmirtz.
Their story line evolves from chance encounters during their childhood to a confirmed romantic relationship when they are teenagers in a flash-forward episode.
Colin Firth’s lake scene led to injury
The lake in which Colin Firth and his co-star Lúcia Moniz swam in was only 18 inches deep and they had to kneel down, pretending to be in deeper water
Colin plays writer Jamie, who retreats to Portugal after finding his girlfriend cheating with his brother.
He falls for his Portuguese housekeeper, Aurelia (played by Lúcia Moniz) and their romance blossoms despite having a language barrier.
Their day-to-day romance culminates the iconic scene where she jumps into a lake to save his dropped papers.
This lead to a proposal where he learns Portuguese to ask her to marry him.
But during their lake accident the two actors were actually swimming in 18 inches of water and had to kneel down to pretend the water was deep.
Colin was also injured during this scene as the lake was over run with mosquitos. He was bitten so badly that his elbow swelled up to the size of an avocado and needed medical help.
It is also believed that it took nearly 45 minutes to pick the underwear that Aurelia strips down to before jumping in the lake.
The unusual way Laura Linney got the part
When casting Sarah, writer and director Richard Curtis had many women audition, however, he kept saying that he wanted ‘someone like Laura Linney’ (Laura and Rodrigo Santoro pictured)
The casting director was said to have snapped and said ‘oh for f***s sake, get Laura Linney then’. Sooner after, Laura auditioned for the part and was cast for the role (Richard Curtis pictured)
When casting Sarah, a woman deeply in love with her attractive colleague Karl (played by Rodrigo Santoro), but her potential romance is constantly derailed by her overwhelming responsibility to care for her mentally ill brother, Michael.
But when doing the auditions for the role, Richard kept saying that he wanted ‘someone like Laura Linney.’
The casting director was said to have snapped and said ‘oh for f***s sake, get Laura Linney then’.
Sooner after, Laura auditioned for the part and was cast for the role.
Both Laura and Rodrigo were also both going through a breakup off camera with their ex-partners.
The real reason Keira Knightley wore her baker boy hat
In another scene Keira wore an iconic baker boy hat to cover up a “massive spot” (pimple) on her forehead
The spot was said to be too big for makeup or lighting to hide when she was 17, leading to it becoming an accidental, beloved part of her character Juliet’s look
In another scene Keira wore an iconic baker boy hat to cover up a ‘massive spot’ on her forehead.
The pimple was said to be too big for makeup or lighting to hide when she was 17, leading to it becoming an accidental, beloved part of her character Juliet’s look.
She wore memorable garment during the wedding video scene, where she watches the wedding video filmed by her husband’s best friend Andrew and realises he’s in love with her.
Richard’s children were cast as extras in the festive flick
The nativity scene is one of the most memorable as it featured kids dressed as various creatures – however, many may not know that Richard cast his children as extras in the school Nativity play scene (his daughter Scarlett pictured as the lobster)
The nativity scene is one of the most memorable as it featured kids dressed as various creatures like angels, sheep, and notably a lobster.
With a little girl playing first lobster, the play leads to a funny debate about crustacean historical accuracy at Jesus’ birth.
But as each child takes on their own special part, Richard’s son, Thomas, also got involved and played the Spider-Man in the school Nativity play scene.
While his daughter, Scarlett, was one of the costumed children playing various sea creatures, including a lobster, in the same scene.
The truth behind the heartbreaking Love Actually scene
The heartbreaking Christmas Eve scene, where Emma Thompson’s character realises her husband is having an affair, took 12 takes to perfect
When Karen finds an expensive, heart-shaped gold necklace in husband Harry’s coat pocket, leading her to believe it is a Christmas gift for her.
The illusion is shattered on Christmas Eve when she unwraps a present from him and finds a Joni Mitchell CD of the album instead.
He tells her the CD is “to continue your emotional education,” a line that solidifies her realisation that the necklace was for someone else.
She excuses her self away from the grandchildren and in one of the most saddest scenes, begins to cry.
And this very emotional scene which had the UK reaching out for a tissue, actually took Emma 12 attempts to perfect.
The actress spent the day continuously walking into their bedroom, realising the reality of her marriage before continuing to cry.
It is also believed that Emma wore a fat suit during her scenes.
Kris Marshall’s scene came from another film
Kris Marshall plays the character of Colin Frissell, who attempts to flirt with a woman at a wedding reception by insulting the quality of the food, not realising she is Nancy, the caterer (played by Julia Davis)
The scene was originally written for Four Weddings and a Funeral, but although it was filmed, it was cut from the final version. It was later reused in Love Actually (Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell pictured)
Kris Marshall plays the character of Colin Frissell, who attempts to flirt with a woman at a wedding reception by insulting the quality of the food, not realising she is Nancy, the caterer (played by Julia Davis).
The scene was originally written for Four Weddings and a Funeral, but although it was filmed, it was cut from the final version. It was later reused in Love Actually.
The moment has since become one of the most iconic and memorable scenes in Love Actually.
Colin’s character proved so popular that Marshall is still closely associated with the self-styled ‘God of Sex’ more than 20 years later.
Colin Firth’s epic kiss was choreographed
In the comedy-romance Christmas movie, Colin’s character publicly declares his love for Aurelia in broken Portuguese, and the pair share a very passionate kiss (Colin and Lúcia Moniz pictured)
However, what fans of the film may not know is that the romantic kissing scene was choreographed by kissing consultant Emma Freud (Richard and Emma pictured 2022)
In the comedy-romance Christmas movie, Colin’s character publicly declares his love for Aurelia in broken Portuguese, and the pair share a very passionate kiss.
However, what fans of the film may not know is that the romantic kissing scene was choreographed by kissing consultant Emma Freud.
Writing on X (formerly Twitter) in 2015, Emma explained how the scene came together.
She revealed: ‘In the restaurant in Portugal (was Marseille actually). I WAS THE KISSING CONSULTANT. And that is a real job.
‘I ‘designed’ the kiss between Firth and the Portuguese girl. My signature move? His thumb on her lip before they snog. #boom.’
Hugh Grant’s iconic dancing scene
Hugh’s dancing scene is widely regarded as one of the movie’s most iconic and beloved moments, and arguably one of the most memorable rom-com scenes of the 2000s
Yet, despite its iconic status, director Richard recalled that Hugh was reluctant to do the dance at all, let alone rehearse it
Hugh’s dancing scene is widely regarded as one of the movie’s most iconic and beloved moments, and arguably one of the most memorable rom-com scenes of the 2000s.
Alongside Colin’s proposal and kissing scene, and Emma’s Joni Mitchell moment, Hugh’s dance is often cited as the first thing people think of when Love Actually is mentioned.
The mix of goofy moves, confidence and sheer charm made it instantly memorable.
Yet, despite its iconic status, director Richard recalled that Hugh was reluctant to do the dance at all, let alone rehearse it.
Speaking at an event marking the film’s 20th anniversary, Curtis explained: ‘He kept saying no.
‘I think he was hoping I’d get ill or something and we’d say, “Oh, well, what a shame, we’ll have to lose that dancing sequence.”
Hugh later admitted: ‘I saw it in the script, and I thought, “Well, I’ll hate doing that,” I didn’t fancy doing the dance at all, let alone rehearsing it.
‘To this day, there’s many people — and I agree with them — who think it’s the most excruciating scene ever committed to celluloid.
He concluded: ‘Then some people like it. But I will give myself this credit … it was my idea to have that secretary lady catch me. Genius.’
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