See the 'Love Actually' Cast Then And Now
Our beloved rom-com holiday characters, from Hugh Grant to Emma Thompson, and more, where are they now?
Romantic comedies are about people changing each other, and we like to see familiar characters on screen. They are sheer joy. The genre is a trope where we expect an end to be satisfactory. This form of storytelling is oftentimes full of likable cast members, and they are meant to inspire love, not just romance.
Love Actually, for example, is that romantic comedy that brings joy to many during the holiday season. It has become a staple among its fans and quickly attracted new ones. Notable faces include Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, and more. Each film has their own individual character with a distinctive dramatic arch that crosses over with another film happening within the time period of the rom-com season, adding up to 10 separate stories.
Majority of the actors from Love Actually captivated the hearts of many, and have now taken their fandom to other projects, Hugh Grant, for example is starring in the adaptation of Dungeons & Dragons, Emma Thompson stars in the musical Broadway adaptation, Matilda, and Martin Freeman appeared in the Black Panther film in 2022.
Catch up with our Love Actually actors and see what they are up to, scroll for more.
Hugh Grant
A rom-com favorite, Grant has had a successful film career, as well as critically acclaimed recent TV roles in A Very English Scandal and The Undoing. Next, you'll see him in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.
Martine McCutcheon
McCutcheon starred in a musical tour in the UK, an adaptation of the Will Ferrell film Elf: The Christmas Spectacular.
Keira Knightley
Though she was only 17 at the time of filming, Knightley's performance in Love, Actually set the tone for a fruitful career notably filled with period dramas like Pride & Prejudice, Atonement, Colette, and more.
Chiwetel Ejiofor
In 2014, the London actor was nominated for an Oscar for his performance in 12 Years a Slave. He also made his directorial debut in 2019 with The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.
Andrew Lincoln
Lincoln became a well-known actor after being cast as the main actor in The Walking Dead series.
Colin Firth
The Oscar-winning actor has had a successful career, some of his works include Mamma Mia!, The King's Speech, and Mary Poppins Returns. He recently starred in the TV adaptation of The Staircase.
Lúcia Moniz
An intriguing fact about Moniz is that she was a singer in Eurovision's 1996 contest. And from the rest of her acting gigs, she has been doing work mostly on international film and television.
Liam Neeson
The actor has become an action-based Hollywood star and continues to lead in the Taken movie franchise as well as other high-suspense dramas like The Grey and Cold Pursuit.
Thomas Brodie-Sangter
As a child actor that has grown up in Hollywood, his roles are also growing. Now, at 32, Brodie-Sangster has appeared in major films and TV shows like Game of Thrones, The Maze Runner, and The Queen's Gambit. Earlier this year, he starred in the Sex Pistols miniseries Pistol as Malcolm McLaren.
Alan Rickman
Our beloved Severus Snape, Rickman's role in the Harry Potter franchise made him a beloved figure for generations of movie watchers. Sadly, he passed away in 2016 at the age of 69 from cancer.
Emma Thompson
Since her Love Actually days, Thompson has gone on to do incredible work as an artist, spanning a career from musical theatre to indie films. She was given a high honor and recognition by Prince William for her artistic career.
Heike Makatsch
Though the actress has continued to act mainly in German films, you can find her work in the film The Book Thief, which premiered in 2013.
Bill Nighy
An acclaimed British thespian, Nighy has appeared in a number of award-winning and blockbuster films such as the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, About Time, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, and more. He was also nominated for a Tony for his performance in the 2015 Broadway revival of Skylight.
Laura Linney
Linney has been in a myriad of movies and TV shows that have garnered her major accolades including three Oscar nominations and four Emmy nominations for her performance in the hit Netflix series Ozark.
Rodrigo Santoro
Santoro went on to perform as a voice actor for the animated film Rio where he played Tulio. He has also starred alongside Jennifer Lopez on What to Expect When You're Expecting.
Billy Bob Thornton
Thornton starred in the popular series Goliath and went onto perform alongside Chris Evans in The Gray Man.
Rowan Atkinson
Best known for Mr. Bean, Arkinson returned in 2018 as Johnny English in Johnny English Strikes Again.
Olivia Olson
in 2008, Olson released her first solo album, Nowhere Land. A year later, she competed on The X Factor: Celebrity. In 2020, she released the short film, Grapefruit the Musical.
Martin Freeman
Freeman became a sensational star in the UK's comedy hit The Office. He starred in The Hobbit trilogy and is currently playing Everett Ross in the Black Panther movie series.
Joanna Page
Page starred as Queen Elizabeth I and appeared on the 50th anniversary episode of Doctor Who.
Kris Marshall
He starred in the British television series Borderline.
January Jones
Although her acting in Love Actually was only a cameo, the work catapulted her into joining Mad Men, the X-Men franchise, as well as the film The Last Men on Earth.
