It’s been 23 years since Love Actually hit the big screen, and the star-studded cast have gone on to enjoy varying degrees of success – and tragedy – in the years since
Nearly a quarter of a century has passed since the film was released, and the stars have suffered varied fates. Love Actually delved into heartbreak, loss, infidelity and longing, most memorably when Karen (Emma Thompson) was left in tears after discovering her wayward husband Harry (Alan Rickman) had purchased jewellery for his flirtatious colleague Mia.
Meanwhile, writer Jamie (Colin Firth) escaped to France following the devastating discovery of his girlfriend in bed with his own brother, whilst Mark (Andrew Lincoln) harboured feelings for his best friend’s wife, Juliet (Keira Knightley), describing his affection as a “wasted heart”.
Naturally, there were lighter storylines too, including Colin Frissle (Kris Marshall) and his American adventures with a group of Wisconsin women, plus that heartwarming moment between youngsters Sam (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) and Joanna (Olivia Olson). But where did life take the cast after the festive blockbuster? From devastating losses and personal struggles to romantic upheavals and Hollywood success, here’s what became of the stars….
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Downing Street housekeeper –
It was revealed yesterday that Jill Freud, who had her final role in the Christmas smash hit as the Downing Street housekeeper, had passed away at the age of 98. The widow of broadcaster and chef Clement Freud, the grandson of famed Sigmund Freud, Jill lived an extraordinary life. It’s even said that, as a girl, she provided inspiration for the character of Lucy in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, having stayed with author CS Lewis and his family as an evacuee during the dark days of the Blitz.
Jill’s daughter Emma Freud, who is married to Love Actually writer-director Richard Curtis, paid tribute to her “feisty, outrageous, kind, loving and mischievous” mother this week in a heartfelt post, remarking: “Lucky old heaven getting such a dazzling newcomer.”
Shedding light on Jill’s final hours, Emma wrote: “After a loving evening – where we knew she was on her way – surrounded by children, grandchildren and pizza, she told us all to f*** off so she could go to sleep. And then she never woke up. Her final words were ‘I love you’.”
Harry – Alan Rickman
‘Bad Harry’ landed himself in hot water after succumbing to Mia’s advances and shattering his wife’s heart along the way. However, in reality, Alan was anything but unfaithful, remaining devoted to his childhood love, Rima Horton, right up until his death in 2016.
Following a minor stroke that August, medical professionals found that he was battling pancreatic cancer. He kept his diagnosis private, sharing the news only with his inner circle, before passing away just six months later in January 2016 at 69.
Rima later campaigned for better screening. “I got involved with Pancreatic Cancer UK because Alan died of pancreatic cancer, and Alan was only 69 and had so much more to offer the world,” she said. She added she ‘couldn’t bear’ the thought of others dying in the way her late husband had.
“He had a few minor things. I gather, quite a lot of people with pancreatic cancer do have symptoms two years beforehand, they do go to their doctor, but they’re so nebulous,” she said. “And in Alan’s case, backache, maybe some stomach problems, but nothing that you would associate with something like pancreatic cancer, so when he was diagnosed, it was a complete shock. I think it knocked us sideways, completely.”
Daniel – Liam Neeson
He portrayed bereaved widower Daniel, attempting to help his step-son Sam navigate his own romantic troubles. Tragically, just six years later, real-life heartbreakingly echoed fiction when his wife, Natasha Richardson, passed away in a devastating skiing accident.
She had been participating in a beginner’s ski lesson at the Mont Tremblant Resort near Montreal when she tumbled and struck her head. Initially, she felt alright and dismissed the incident, refusing an offer to consult a doctor. However, two hours later, Natasha complained of severe headaches and was rushed to the hospital in New York.
“I was told she was brain dead… She was on life support and stuff,” Liam told 60 Minutes in 2014. “And I went in… and told her I loved her. I said, ‘Sweetie, you’re not coming back from this. You’ve banged your head. It’s – I don’t know if you can hear me, but that’s – this is what’s gone down’.” Tragically, she passed away from an epidural haematoma just two days later.
Liam is now in a relationship with former Baywatch pinup Pamela Anderson. The pair featured in the new comedy film, The Naked Gun and went on a press tour to promote it and were romantically linked to one another. – sending fans wild.
The 73-year-old Taken star previously admitted he was ‘madly in love’ with Pamela, 58. He told People: “With Pamela, first off, I’m madly in love with her. She’s just terrific to work with. I can’t compliment her enough, I’ll be honest with you. No huge ego. She just comes in to do the work. She’s funny and so easy to work with. She’s going to be terrific in the film.”
However, some critics were left sceptical about the romance and accused the duo of faking it for publicity. However, an insider has since revealed: “Everything between them has been genuine. Neither would ever take part in a publicity stunt. They have a great time. Neither of them needs the publicity.”
Natalie – Martine McCutcheon
Martine McCutcheon, who played the PM’s girlfriend Natalie, has been hit by a number of hardships in the decades since. The former EastEnders actress recently split from her husband Jack McManus and The Love Actually was declared bankrupt, as per court documents, following a petition for insolvency over a debt owed to a finance company. It came on the heels of her having to reduce the asking price of her beautiful Surrey home.
It’s now claimed the star, who was once worth millions as an Olivier Award winner with a number one single to her name, lost her money due to “high spending habits” and struggling to land roles amid a battle with ill health. The mum-of-one was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME) in 2011 and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).
“It has not helped that she loves the finer things in her life, and it is no secret that she has spent more than she should have done over the years,” a friend told the Daily Mail. “She has had bits and pieces of TV work recently – but nothing has come close to being a blockbuster role that might get her out of her financial mess.”
They add: “It’s a real shame as she’s immensely talented with a wealth of experience. Hopefully she can turn things around, but she’s had a real tough time.”
A court document indicates that the insolvency order was issued on 31 March this year, a few months after she announced her split from Jack, her husband of 18 years. The couple share a 10 year old son, Rafferty. This isn’t Martine’s first brush with financial woes. Despite a previous net worth of around £2million, she faced bankruptcy in 2013 with debts totalling approximately £187,000, including a hefty £150,000 owed to HMRC.
What became of the others…
Sam – Thomas Brodie-Sangster
He was the lovesick schoolboy who dashed through airport security to plant a festive kiss on his crush, Joanna. Now 35, actor Thomas Brodie-Sangster has enjoyed major film success in Nanny McPhee, Nowhere Boy and Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, and secured the highly sought role of Jojen Reed in Game of Thrones.
In the summer of 2024, Thomas tied the knot with Elon Musk’s former wife, Talulah Riley, with whom he starred alongside in Danny Boyle’s 2022 Sex Pistols series Pistol.
He played Malcolm McLaren whilst she portrayed legendary fashion designer Vivienne Westwood. However, one aspect that continues to captivate fans is the minimal age difference between Thomas and his Love Actually co-star Keira Knightley. He was merely 13 when he portrayed Sam, whilst Keira was 18 when she assumed the role of newly married Juliet, making her only five years his senior.
Mark – Andrew Lincoln
Unlucky Mark was desperately smitten with Juliet (Keira Knightley), who unfortunately happened to be wed to his best mate. Following months of attempting to steer clear of the woman he adored, he eventually confessed his feelings using a series of handwritten signs. However, despite the romantic gesture, Andrew, now 52, believed his character came across as a bit of a “creepy stalker”.
“In one of the most romantic movies of all time, I got to play the only guy who doesn’t get the girl,” he told Entertainment Weekly. “The story is set up like a prism, looking at all the different qualities of love. Mine was unrequited. So I got to be this weird stalker guy.” Andrew subsequently became a massive Hollywood name thanks to his portrayal of Rick Grimes in the hit zombie apocalypse drama, The Walking Dead.
Earlier this year he returned to British television for the first time in 15 years with the new ITV thriller Coldwater – much to the horror of his children. Lincoln revealed that at one point in the show his character is shown masturbating on screen, and he felt obliged to warn his children about this scene in advance. Unfortunately, that conversation didn’t go according to plan.
“I said to Arthur, ‘How would you feel about me pleasuring myself on national television?’ And he said, ‘What do you think?'” Lincoln shared. The actor, who shares children Matilda, 17, and Arthur, 15, with wife Gael Anderson, added: “My children haven’t talked to me since I did the job. My son just said, ‘Can you just not have waited for three years until I was through school?'”
Mia – Heike Makatsch
Heike Makatsch portrayed workplace seductress Mia, who tempted her married superior Harry, and persuaded him to purchase her a necklace, leaving his devoted wife Karen heartbroken when she discovered the affair.
At the time, the German star was in a seven-year romance with James Bond actor Daniel Craig, and later gained recognition as Lisa Addison in 2002’s Resident Evil. She parted ways with Daniel in 2004 and subsequently tied the knot with German indie musician Max Martin Schröder, with whom she had three children.
The marriage ended after a decade together, and Heike, now 54 and based in Berlin, is in a relationship with fellow actor Trystan Putter.
Joanna – Olivia Olson
American character Joanna captured Sam’s affections following that show-stopping school rendition of Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas. Following Love Actually, the California-born actress lent her voice to Disney’s hit animated series Phineas and Ferb between 2007 and 2015.
She went on to voice Bliss in The Powerpuff Girls reboot, and has provided character voices for numerous video games, including titles from the Adventure Time franchise and Lego Dimensions.
In 2017, Olivia revisited her Love Actually character by appearing in the film’s sequel for Red Nose Day on BBC One, revealing she’d harboured genuine romantic feelings for Thomas, who had been her first kiss.
Speaking about their reunion, she confessed to E! News: “I was really nervous because I kind of had a crush on Thomas back in the day, and I was also worried because I was taller than him.”
Now aged 33, she previously competed on X Factor Celebrity but was reduced to tears when Simon Cowell eliminated her during the opening live show.
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