Love Actually: 29 Behind-The-Scenes Facts You Never Knew About The Festive Favourite

Richard Curtis and Dame Emma Thompson on the set of Love Actually

Let’s face it, Christmas isn’t Christmas without Brussels sprouts, family arguments and Love Actually on the telly.

It might be a full two decades since the much-loved festive rom-com was released, but Richard Curtis’ star-studded offering movie is somehow even more popular today than it was when it first hit cinemas.

But if you thought you knew everything there was to know about the film after watching it for the 65th time, think again...

1. First of all, there were only four years between these two stars. Four years!

Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Keira Knightley

There’s only a four-year age gap between Keira Knightley, who played newly-wed Juliet and Thomas Brodie-Sangster who portrayed lovestruck teenager Sam.

Keira was 17 during filming, while Sam was only 13. Mind. Blown.

2. There was a good reason Keira Knightley wore that big hat

Keira Knightley in a hat (zit not pictured).

“I had a massive spot in the middle of my forehead,” she told BBC Radio 1. “It was humongous, so there was no choice but to find a hat to cover it — because there was no lighting or makeup that was going to cover it.”

3. The film’s creator and director Richard Curtis admitted there is one scene he would change if he could

“I think the naked people should be wearing more clothes,” he told NME.

For those you need their minds jogging, Richard is referring to the scene in which Gavin & Stacey star Joanna Page’s character Judy – the stand-in for a sex scene – is seen naked, while her co-star Martin Freeman, as John, cups her breasts.

4. Martin Freeman had an unusual way of hiding his blushes

The actor might appear naked in that scene with Joanna, but he was actually wearing a cock-sock. And yes, that is an official term.

Martin Freeman and Joanna Page in one of their less x-rated scenes

5. Richard Curtis cast members of his own family whenever he could

His daughter and wife Emma Freud appear as the second lobster in the Nativity, the wise man with the Spider-Man face paint is the couple’s son and the housekeeper at Downing Street is played by Emma’s mother.

6. Olivia Olsen – who sang All I Want For Christmas Is You – turned down multiple record deal offers after the film was released

“I could have been some child star and had a total breakdown by the age I am now,” she said. “I might have been a has-been by now instead of still trying to build up my career.”

Olivia was last seen on Celebrity X Factor in 2019, where she was the first star to be voted out of the competition.

7. Richard Curtis wrote........

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