It has been 18 years since the Christmas movie that made the most money was released.
Love Actually’s big-screen debut was not due to a mere appearance by Blue, the poster boyband of choice, and Ant and Dec.
This festive offering from 2003 featured the perfect combination of laughter and love with Hugh Grant. It was instantly a success story for British RomCom audiences around the world.
As the nights draw in, and the desire to curl up with a favorite movie or cult film while sipping a cup of tea and watching a classic becomes stronger, we look at the stars of intertwined romantic stories.
Andrew Lincoln
(Image: Universal Studios)
Andrew was a beautiful, fresh-faced young man with the perfect combination of piercing blue eyes as well as a chiselled jawline. This made awkward Mark’s love affair with his besties wife absolutely adorable.
Viewers couldn’t help but scream as the shocking realization of his unrequited love for Juliet was made.
He made the best of his situation and confronted his pain head-on in one the most memorable scenes of the movie. He confessed his deepest feelings to her on her doorstep, accompanied by genius cue cards as well as a boombox.
(Image: Getty Images Portrait).
Andrew became the hero Rick Grimes after his heart-wrenching portrayal of Mark was successful.
He decided to leave his zombie-slaying duties in 2018 in order to spend more quality time with his family. However, he will be putting on his cowboy boots in the future for the three Walking Dead films that have yet to start production.
Keira Knightley
(Image: Universal Pictures).
Already making waves with hits movies Bend It Like Beckham (and Pirates Of The Caribbean The Curse Of The Black Pearl), it was easy for people to see why Kiera’s role as the elegant beauty Juliet only increased her popularity.
The audience was able to see that this was not a bad place for any girl, despite her epic love story with Peter.
Kiera was able to continue her success and has been a formidable force in Hollywood for over twenty years. She starred in numerous films including Pride And Prejudice.
Silent Night, her latest project, is her return to the festive RomCom theme. This movie hits theaters everywhere on December 3.
Chiwetel Ejiofor
(Image: WireImage)
Although his role as Peter, Juliet’s husband in Love Actually was a small one, Chiwetel helped to launch his movie career in the flick.
His roles in major productions such as Othello, The Lion King reboot, and Maleficent The Mistress Of Evil made him a hot property in Hollywood. He was awarded a CBE for his big-screen accomplishments.
(Image: FilmMagic)
However, his most memorable role was that of Solomon Northup on the hit 2013 Box Office film 12 Years A Slave.
He was nominated for Best Actor at the Golden Globes and Oscars. The Oscars also awarded him Best Actor nominations.
Chiwetel has been busy working on Doctor Strange in The Multiverse Of Madness, a 2022 Marvel Studios film.
Hugh Grant
(Image: Unknown)
British RomComs wouldn’t exist without Hugh the British actor, and his goofy bumbling posh-boy charm.
Love Actually delivered on this promise as he took the role of David and was probably the most successful Prime Minister in the country for the past 20 years, at least thanks to his passionate speech to President Obama.
(Image: Getty Images).
Hugh is still the Brit film king. However, Hugh was more than just a good guy and was an interesting love interest. He teamed up with Nicole Kidman in the HBO drama The Undoing.
He will be seen again in a different role when he plays the role of Forge Fletcher in the 2023 Dungeons and Dragons release.
Martine McCutcheon
(Image: Unknown)
After winning the nation’s affection as the tragic EastEnders actress Tiffany Mitchell Martine, she began her big-screen career in 1998 after a bad knock to the head by a car.
When she signed up as Hugh’s love interest Natalie, her music career was already in full swing.
She was a sweary aide who captured his heart as she struggled through her new job. Billy Bob Thornton, the US president at the time, fell in love with her causing all kinds and drama.
(Image: Getty Images).
David and Wile Natalie rekindled their love later in the movie, but Martine’s career did not burn as brightly.
The actress struggled for 18 years to get small roles on TV, including Spooks and appearances on Celebrity Gogglebox, Loose Women and The Masked Singer UK.
However, it hasn’t been easy for her. She filed for bankruptcy 2013 and is openly struggling to manage her health. She suffers from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Fibromyalgia.
Emma Thompson
(Image: Unknown)
Emma, the absolute embodiment of acting royalty, broke our hearts as Karen’s devoted mother and wife. Her unappreciative husband ignored her in favor of a younger woman at his office.
Karen accidentally learned about her husband’s cheating when a costly gift that he thought was for him turned out to be for his PA. Instead, he gifted her a sad Joni Mitchel CD.
Emma, who is now married with Greg Wise from Strictly came across similar heartbreak following scandals surrounding her ex husband, Helena Bonham Carter.
(Image: Joe Maher/Getty Images).
Emma told Silver Screen Beatday Times that the couple had a history, although she has not yet revealed it. “I haven’t got the energy for it. Helena and I made our peace years and years ago.”
Emma is one the most recognisable household names, having been around for more than thirty years.
Recently, she played the sinister Baroness Von Hellman in Cruella. She has many more projects planned for 2022.
Alan Rickman
(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Alan was not the most liked character in the movie. He caused quite a stir playing Karen’s cheating husband Harry.
He was well-known as a film villain, playing a variety of roles, including the detestable Sheriff Of Nottingham in the 1991 classic Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves.
Alan was Severus Snape, one of his most iconic roles during the Harry Potter movie franchise.
Alan died of pancreatic cancer at the age 69 in January 2016. He was best known for his role as the voice of the caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland 2: Alice Through The Looking Glass.
Laura Linney
(Image: Getty Images).
Sarah is the most sad story in the movie. Karl, her co-worker, is her love for many years. Sarah finally has her chance to meet him but it’s ruined when she must cut short their meeting to see her brother Michael.
Laura Linney’s portrayal of the character is so well done that you cannot help but feel complete agony.
Although she did not get her happy ending with Karl on screen, Laura has built a remarkable career in TV and film. She was most recently seen in Netflix’s Ozark.
Even though they do not share scenes, Laura and Liam Neeson have been close friends in real life. He even walked Laura down the aisle for her May 2009 wedding.
Colin Firth
(Image: Getty Images).
Colin is the only man who can compete with Hugh Grant’s RomCom money.
They have been paired as co-stars many times through Love Actually and Bridget Jones movies.
Colin, meanwhile, has been a busy boy, appearing as Colin in Mamma Mia, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, Soldier, Spy, Kingsman movie series and oscar-winning War movie 1917, just to name a few.
He was most recently seen as Lord Archibald Craven, in The Secret Garden. He is currently in Mothering Sunday with Olivia Coleman.
Liam Neeson
(Image: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images).
Liam joined the cast to play tragic Daniel. His beloved wife had just died, leaving him alone to care and support his stepson Sam.
Liam left the romantic roles of his first film and became more action-oriented in films like Taken, The Grey and Cold Pursuit.
(Image: Getty Images).
During Cold Pursuit’s press tour, he caused controversy. After he confessed to his shame 40 years ago, after discovering that his female friend had been raped in her home by a stranger who was black, he spent a week there. “up and down areas with a cosh, hoping some ‘black b*****d’ would come out of a pub and have a go”So he “could kill him”.
He explained that he was only telling the truth to emphasize how important it was. “to open up and to talk about these things”This refers to toxic masculinity and its underlying “racism and bigotry”.
Martin Freeman
(Image: Unknown)
John is stunned by his luck when, upon arriving at work, he meets Judy naked and falls in love with her. This is the perfect subplot, which runs along with the main romances.
Martin has played more roles than just a minor part in his career, and he’s now embarked on an undeniably incredible journey through Hollywood.
His everyday guy approach to acting has kept audiences amused from Shaun Of The Dead to Hot Fuzz.
Martin was most famously the Hobbit Bilbo baggins, and then more recently Marvel’s Everett K Ross as Captain America: Civil War, Black Panther, and the forthcoming 2022 release Black Panther : Wakanda Forever.
Joanna Page
(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images
Although appearing naked on Martin Freeman’s top as Judy on Love Actually was a significant career moment, Joanna found something more exciting after her appearance as the charming fill-in actress.
She was cast in comedy series Gavin And Stacey, as Stacey Shipman, following the success of her film.
The show’s success, which aired 21 episodes total, saw its two leading actors become stars.
Joanna is currently the host of BBC One’s consumer series Shop Well for Less.
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