IN THE FESTIVE season we turn time and again to old favourites – and one of those is Richard Curtis’ widely adored Love Actually.
The film has a heeeuuuuge cast, some of them still bona fide A-listers (hi Colin Firth, Emma Thompson Keira Knightley and Liam Neeson) but what of the rest of them? What are they doing with themselves now?
Sam
Ah, remember little Sam, who miraculously learned the drums in a few weeks and completely disregarded airport security so he could charm his American schoolmate?
Actor Thomas Sangster is now 26, still boyish of face, and is best known nowadays for playing Jojen Reed in Game of Thrones.
Peter
Chiwetel Ejiofor’s gone on to star in Marvel’s Doctor Strange with Benedict Cumberbatch, and was nominated for an Oscar for his role in 12 Years A Slave. A long way from Keira Knightley’s clueless boyfriend, anyway.
Mark
Andrew Lincoln should be proud. He is responsible for probably the weirdest storyline in this very weird film, and he went on to play Rick Grimes on The Walking Dead. Andrew, Chiwetel – maybe Keira Knightley is the key? Hey Keira, what can you do for us?
Karl
Ah! The beautiful Karl, the object of Laura Linney’s obsession, who she leaves in his undercrackers so she can care for her mentally ill brother.
Rodrigo Santoro has been in all sorts of things since 2003 – but Westworld fans will recognise him as host and gang leader Hector Escaton.
Aurelia
The second weirdest storyline in this weird movie belongs to Colin Firth’s Jamie – he learns Portuguese to speak to his housekeeper Aurelia and the first thing he says to her is “Marriage me.” And she says yes, because this weird movie.
Lúcia Moniz is primarily a singer (she represented Portugal in the Eurovision in 1996) but still acts occasionally in Portuguese films, plays and soaps.
Joe
Billy Mack’s (Bill Nighy) put upon manager, who helps the singer realise that love really is all around. Gregor Fisher is known for playing the lead role in the Scottish comedy Rab C Nesbitt, and is still acting away.
Colin
Colin. Colin, who thinks ‘Britishness’ is a personality trait. Colin, the picture of male entitlement, who somehow woos four beautiful American women. F**king Colin.
Kris Marshall went on to star in the BBC series Death in Paradise, as well as loads of BT ads. So. Many. BT ads.
Joanna
Sam’s American love interest, whose arc culminates with her kissing him on the cheek (gasp!) in the airport – actress Olivia Olson now does a lot of voice work, most notably as Marceline the Vampire Queen on the popular Cartoon Network show Adventure Time.
Olson and her Love Actually co-star Thomas Sangster had a bit of a reunion when they both lent their voices to a Disney TV movie. N’yaww.
And that goddamn sexy secretary that ruins Emma Thompson’s marriage
Or Mia, but that’s what we prefer to call her. Heike Makatsch’s other notable film role is as Dr Lisa Addison in Resident Evil – she’s still acting, mostly in German-language films.
Good job, all – and before you ask, yes, you should rewatch Love Actually tonight. Go on. It’s Christmas.
