To celebrate Love Actually arriving back on the big screen in honour of its 20th anniversary, we've taken a look at where the cast are now.
Love Actually is 20 years old. TWENTY.
Yes, that makes us feel old too. The classic Richard Curtis rom-com has been delighting audiences for two decades with its potent blend of sugary romance peppered with bittersweet moments.
Whatever you make of the film itself, and it's definitely a bit cloying for some tastes, there's no denying the talents of the top-notch ensemble cast that writer/director Curtis enlisted to tell these diverse and interconnecting love stories.
Ahead of this enduring Christmas classic returning to cinemas this Friday, we take a look at some of the acting talent that made Love Actually such a hit, and see what they've been up to since...
Hugh Grant
In Love Actually, then rom-com stalwart Hugh Grant played the UK Prime Minister David who starts a relationship with Natalie (Martine McCutcheon), his secretary. The British actor went on to star in a string of romantic comedies, (Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, Music and Lyrics, Did You Hear About The Morgans?), before his career took a foray into more diverse roles. More recently he has impressed in the sci-fi epic Cloud Atlas, the Emmy-nominated series A Very English Scandal, and, easily our favourite, the comedy Paddington 2, in which he stole the show as the villain. Grant will next be seen as an Oompa Loompa in the film Wonka alongside Timothée Chalamet in the titlular role.
Keira Knightley
Keira Knightly was 17 years old when she starred in Love Actually as Juliet, a young woman who has just married Peter (Chiwetel Ejiofor), only for his best friend Mark (Andrew Lincoln) to fall head over heels in love with her, a storyline which has decidedly creepy overtones twenty years later. Since then, Knightley has carved out a stellar career, starring in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, the 2005 romantic drama Pride & Prejudice, the Oscar-nominated historical drama Atonement and John Carney's musical comedy-drama Begin Again. More recently, she has appeared in The Imitation Game, for which she received an Oscar nomination, period drama The Aftermath, and the historical crime film Boston Strangler.
Colin Firth
Already well known before his Love Actually appearance for roles in films such as Circle of Friends, The English Patient and Bridget Jones's Diary, Colin Firth's portrayal of the brokenhearted Jamie is deservedly one of the most beloved storylines in the film. And Mr Darcy himself has been busy since his Love Actually days. He went on to star in the megahit musical Mamma Mia!, Tom Ford's stylish acclaimed directorial debut A Single Man, for which he was nominated for an Oscar, and the historical drama The King's Speech, for which he landed the Oscar for Best Actor as well as Golden Globe, BAFTA and SAG awards. Other notable credits include Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Mary Poppins Returns, 1917, Supernova and the Kingsman franchise.
Emma Thompson
The inimitable Emma Thompson had one of the most devastating story arcs in Love Actually as Karen, a woman who is ostensibly in a happy marriage until she stumbles upon her husband Harry's (Alan Rickman) Christmas gift of a gold necklace, only to discover it was intended for his younger female colleague. Thompson's career has gone from strength to strength since her heartbreaking turn in the rom-com. As well as starring in the acclaimed HBO miniseries Angels in America, and playing the professor Sybill Trelawney in three Harry Potter films, she also wrote the screenplay for the children's film Nanny McPhee, and starred in the film alongside Colin Firth, and played the head Agent in Men in Black 3. More recently, Thompson was resplendent in Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, alongside brilliant Irish actor Daryl McCormack and took on the role of Miss Trunchbull in Matilda the Musical.
Liam Neeson
Since appearing as grieving Daniel in Love Actually, stepdad to Sam (Thomas Brodie-Sangster), Irish star Liam Neeson's acting career took an unexpected turn. Kickstarted with his 2008 turn in Taken, the Ballymena-born actor got a second wind as an action movie star, appearing in films such as Unknown, The Grey, Non-Stop and The Commuter, as well as two further movies in the pulpy but propulsive Taken franchise. Roles in the Martin Scorcese historical epic Silence, Steve McQueen's heist thriller Widows, Neil Jordan's Marlowe and a memorable role as Chief Constable Byers in the beloved TV series Derry Girls also followed.
Laura Linney
Emmy and Golden Globe winner Laura Linney played Sarah in Love Actually, one of the characters that had a sad ending when her burgeoning romance with her colleague Karl (Rodrigo Santoro) didn't go anywhere. However, the Frasier and The Big C star got a happy ending in the Love Actually mini-sequel in 2017, when Sarah ended up with a loving husband played by none other than Patrick Dempsey. Linney has been busy on the film and TV front since then, receiving Academy Award nominations for her roles in Kinsey and The Savages and starring in films such as The Squid and the Whale, The Nanny Diaries, Mr. Holmes, Sully and Nocturnal Animals. More recently, she has captivated audiences as the corruptible Wendy Byrde in the Netflix drama series Ozark.
Martine McCutcheon
Martine McCutcheon, formerly best known for playing Tiffany Mitchell in EastEnders, was propelled to stardom when she played Natalie, the Prime Minister's (Hugh Grant) secretary and love interest, in one of Love Actually's most prominent storylines. Roles in the drama Jump!, comedy The Bromley Boys and television series Agatha Christie's Marple, Echo Beach and Midsomer Murders followed.
Bill Nighy
The legendary English actor Bill Nighy earned a BAFTA Best Supporting Actor award for his role as the ageing rocker Billy Mack in Love Actually. It's fair to say he's had a busy and varied career since appearing in the rom-com, starring in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, the Underworld film series, and movies such as Shaun of the Dead, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Notes on a Scandal and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. And he's showing no signs of slowing down, earlier this year Nighy was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor for his work in the drama Living.
January Jones
Four years before she made her name as the iconic Betty Draper on Mad Men, American actress January Jones had a brief cameo in Love Actually as a girl in a bar who falls for Colin's (Kris Marshall) English charms. Roles in films such as Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, We Are Marshall and Good Kill followed, but it was the AMC TV series Mad Men that cemented her A-list status, earning her two Golden Globe nominations and one Emmy nomination. She has also appeared in the Netflix drama The Politician, X-Men: First Class and the thrillers Unknown and Seeking Justice.
Martin Freeman
Before starring in Love Actually, Martin Freeman was best known for his role as the loveable, slightly hapless Tim from The Office. His career exploded since then, with Freeman going on to star alongside Benedict Cumberbatch in the crime drama series Sherlock, playing young Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit film trilogy, and starring in the first season of the drama series Fargo. He also appeared in the comedies Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World's End. Since 2016, he has played Everett K. Ross in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing in films such as Captain America: Civil War, Black Panther and its sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Thomas Brodie-Sangster
Thomas Brodie-Sangster was 13 years old when he starred as Sam in Love Actually, a young boy who is grieving the loss of his mother and is being raised by his stepfather Daniel (Liam Neeson). He has since starred in the HBO epic TV show Game of Thrones, the Maze Runner film series and the Netflix miniseries Godless. More recently, he played Benny in the hit show The Queen's Gambit, a role which earned him an Emmy nomination.
Love Actually in back in cinemas nationwide from Friday 24 November.
