Of all the films the British public are particular to over Christmas, Love Actually surely must be top of the list.
The cast list alone includes some of the biggest names in the UK and Ireland’s film history, with Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy, Martin Freeman, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Andrew Lincoln, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alan Rickman—even Ant and Dec—making up the absurd Rolodex of talent on this movie.
Whether stars at the time or stars in the making, it is top to bottom full of talent.
One cameo which steals the screen is that of Rowan Atkinson, who stars alongside Rickman in an iconic scene.
The film, as I’m sure you know, follows the complicated love lives of numerous couples across London during Christmas, one of whom is played by Rickman and Thompson.
Rickman’s Harry is cheating on his wife Karen, played by Thompson, and goes on a shopping trip to buy a gift for his mistress.
Harry tries to buy the gift and has it gift wrapped by a store attendant, (played by Atkinson), who takes his sweet time with it.
With Karen coming into the same shop, Harry ends up panicking and not buying it in a fairly iconic scene.
Well, if you thought the slow packing was just a funny coincidence, you’d be wrong.
It was the script editor of the Richard Curtis film, Emma Freud, who’d revealed the real reason.
“Originally Rowan’s character over-wrapped the gift on purpose to stop Alan Rickman being able to buy the necklace,” she wrote on X.
“Because he was an angel.”
Yep, turns out Rufus was meant to be an ‘angel’ in an earlier draft of the script and was potentially supposed to have completely stopped Harry’s affair from happening.
The character also pops up later in the film with another infuriating yet heart-warming act at the airport.
When little Sam (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) rushes to say goodbye to his crush Joanna (Olivia Olson), Rufus holds up the queue.
Atkinson’s character was supposed to be an angel (Universal Pictures)
He makes an airport ticket agent hold all of his coats in a pile, allowing for the sweet little moment between the kids.
Love Actually fans reacted to this on X as they said he just ‘had to be an Angel’.
Another wrote: “OMG I KNEW IT!!!!! My husband and my family never believe me when I say he was a Christmas angel!!!!!!! Rowan Atkinson FTW!”
And a third said: “Watched Love Actually AGAIN and seen Rowan Atkinson in a new light. Everything makes sense now. He’s a total angel.”
Featured Image Credit: Universal Pictures
Controversial Love Actually scene was originally planned to be even weirder and was only stopped by one thing
The scene between Keira Knightley and Andrew Lincoln could have been even stranger
The most famous – and controversial – scene in Love Actually wasn’t even the weirdest plan that the writers had for it, believe it or not.
Thankfully the scene, and yes, you know which one I mean, was just one or two people away from happening in its weirder form.
If you haven’t seen it, or somehow have managed to avoid the internet discourse over it in the last 21 years, the scene in question involves Keira Knightley, Andrew Lincoln, a bunch of signs, and a brief appearance from Chiwetel Ejiofor.
The scene from the Christmas romcom features Lincoln’s Mark declaring his love for Knightley’s Juliet.
This happens via signs in order to be covert, due to the fact she is recently married to Mark’s best friend Peter (played by Ejiofor).
Here’s the scene if you’ve somehow missed or forgot it:
While at the time it was presented as cute and wholesome, over the years, people have pointed out that in actual fact, it is just a bit strange.
That is added to by the fact that, at the time of the film, Knightley was 17, with Ejiofor being 26, and Lincoln being 30.
The Pride and Prejudice star even said in an interview last month that it was ‘quite creepy’.
Despite also admitting he finds the scene ‘a bit weird’, the film’s creator Richard Curtis, however, has admitted we almost got a different version of the scene and if you ask me, all the other options were even weirder.
Discussing creating the scene with Netflix ahead of the release of his new Christmas film That Christmas, he said: “I was in an office, and there were about four people working there, and I said, ‘what I’m going to do today is think of four ideas and then put them to the vote’.
Richard Curtis wrote and directed Love Actually (Alberto E. Rodriguez via Getty Images)
“I think one of them was going to be an aeroplane with one of those [banners] after it. One of them was going to be him filling the mews with flowers.
“I remember the sign one, which is really stolen from a Bob Dylan video… and I went out and said to the four people working in the office: ‘If you were being flirted with, which of these would you prefer?’.
“They definitely picked the cards. So, it was a community decision.”
If you thought the whole fake carollers and signs was weird, an airplane love confession banner to your best friend’s 18-year-old wife at a whole 30-years-of-age is certainly… a choice.
Weird as it may be, I’m now thankful that the sign scene is all we got.
Knightley also discussed the scene with LA Times, saying that she did remember the ‘slightly stalkerish aspect of it’.
Knightley was only 17 at the time (Universal)
She said: “My memory is of [director] Richard [Curtis], who is now a very dear friend, of me doing the scene, and him going, “No, you’re looking at [Lincoln] like he’s creepy,” and I’m like [in a dramatic whisper], “But it is quite creepy.”
“And then having to redo it to fix my face to make him seem not creepy.”
She added: “I mean, there was a creep factor at the time, right? Also, I knew I was 17. It only seems like a few years ago that everybody else realized I was 17.”
Featured Image Credit: Universal Pictures
The creator of Netflix’s newest hit show, Black Doves, has revealed what inspired the plot of the series.
The show stars Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw as a spy and an assassin both on the run.
Knightley plays the lead, Helen, who goes on the run after her cover is blown. Whishaw, meanwhile, plays Sam, an assassin sent to protect her.
It’s been a massive hit since its released, shooting to the top of Netflix’s charts in a busy period, beating out The Madness, The Pembrokeshire Murders, and A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter.
Already renewed for a second season before the show even came out, more Black Doves is on the way, but what inspired the show?
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the show’s creator Joe Barton revealed a bizarre real-life discovery which he says inspired part of the plot.
Keira Knightley in Black Doves (Netflix)
According to Barton, he was inspired to write Black Doves after reading a newspaper advice column in which a widow discovered that her husband had had another wife, and their relationship was an affair.
He went on to say: “She was struggling with the fact that this man she loved had passed away, but she couldn’t tell anyone or share her grief.
“She felt she had to grieve in private, which is a fascinating and human emotional problem.”
Anyone who’s watched the show will immediately see what that inspired, but if you didn’t and for some reason are still watching, here is a massive spoiler warning.
If you read beyond this point and think to yell at me for spoiling it for you, don’t .
The first episode reveals that, as well as engaging in a semi-fake marriage with a Government Minister to trade insider secrets, Knightleys’s Helen was also engaging in an affair.
Her affair with Andrew Koji’s Jason is abruptly ended when he is murdered a mere three and a half minutes into the first episode.
Barton also said of the Christmas-set spy thriller’s inspiration in an interview with Variety: “I just love stuff set at Christmas.
“I’m a big Christmas film fan, also big [on] Christmas telly. I love when shows have their one Christmas episode.
Ben Whishaw in Black Doves (Netflix)
“ER always had a good one. The West Wing always had a good one. So I’ve always wanted to do it, but it was actually tricky.
“The first script I wrote in that week between — I started on Boxing Day, finished it on New Year’s Day — so I was, like, properly engrossed in Christmas.
“Then obviously time goes on, and I remember sitting with Chris Fry, one of the producers, in like April or something…and both of us just being like, ‘What do you do at Christmas?’ It goes so quickly from your head, you completely forget.”
Black Doves is available to stream on Netflix now.
Featured Image Credit: Netflix
“Would you like it… gift wrapped?” It’s a simple question, but when it comes out of this character’s mouth it’s almost a nightmare.
Of course, it’s Rowan Atkinson’s small role in Love Actually and it causes a pretty stressful situation for Alan Rickman’s character, Harry.
Easily one of the most popular British Christmas watches, the 2003 film follows the tangled-up and complicated love lives of a number of couples during the festive season in London.
And the comedian’s part as Rufus in the department store gets in the mix with Harry and Karen (Emma Thompson).
This iconic gift wrapping scene is just one of two appearances from Atkinson in the film but they’re both pretty important moments.
Plus, there’s a big meaning behind his character and his little acts of kindness – depending on whose viewpoint you’re looking from mind.
While Harry’s out shopping, Rufus gives a massively irritating yet hilarious moment as he elaborately wraps up the man’s purchase.
Probably everyone’s least favourite character in Love Actually, he’s decided to buy a fancy necklace for his mistress, while his wife is in the shop at the same time.
Universal
And much to his inconvenience, Rufus takes f**king forever to wrap it up, bringing out various boxes and decorations for such a long time that Harry actually tells him to ‘leave it’.
In a little slice of Love Actually trivia, it turns out this scene wasn’t just for comedic purposes.
In fact, neither was his second appearance towards the end of the film.
Rufus provides another infuriating yet heart-warming act at the airport.
When little Sam (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) rushes to say goodbye to his crush Joanna, Rufus holds up the queue.
He makes an airport ticket agent hold all of his coats in a pile, allowing for the sweet little moment between the kids.
Universal
Script Editor of the Richard Curtis film, Emma Freud revealed the real reason why he makes these two little appearances.
“Originally Rowan’s character over-wrapped the gift on purpose to stop Alan Rickman being able to buy the necklace,” she wrote on X.
“Because he was an angel.”
Yep, turns out Rufus was meant to be an ‘angel’ in an earlier draft of the script and was potentially supposed to have completely stopped Harry’s affair from happening.
Love Actually fans reacted to this, as they said he just ‘had to be an Angel’.
Another wrote: “OMG I KNEW IT!!!!! My husband and my family never believe me when I say he was a Christmas angel!!!!!!! Rowan Atkinson FTW!”
And one said: “Watched Love Actually AGAIN and seen Rowan Atkinson in a new light. Everything makes sense now. He’s a total angel.”
Featured Image Credit: Universal pictures
While it’s also a bit of a mad busy time, the festive break is also about slobbing about on the sofa and eating everything in sight.
And obviously, that all takes place while re-watching iconic Christmas films and special episodes.
One particular festive special is so legendary it comes into my head as soon as Christmas telly is mentioned, the Gavin and Stacey episode – obviously.
You know, the proper one from back in 2008.
But while you might be able to recite the scenes word for one, you might not have known that one of the cutest parts was faked.
That iconic episode features Gavin telling his family he’s moving to Wales while Dave Coaches proposes to Nessa. Plus, that final scene where Mick plays the keyboard and they all have a little sing song.
Joanna Page, who played Stacey, told The Sun that the ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas‘ scene needed a little help in editing.
Turns out Larry Lamb (who played Mick) was pretty crap at playing the piano and therefore essentially, well, didn’t.
Page explained: “Larry had piano lessons but it made no difference because he was absolutely dreadful at playing the keyboard.
“If you look closely at the end, he’s not actually touching the keys — his hands are hovering over them.”
BBC
I mean, if anything it makes the episode even more iconic that the most moving moment features Lamb waving his hands over a keyboard.
And Page’s own kids absolutely love it – preferring it to the 2019 Christmas special.
“They weren’t interested in watching the last Christmas special, the one they keep wanting to watch is the first one, they absolutely love it,” she said.
“The kids are like, ‘Can we watch the one where the man isn’t actually playing the keyboard?’ They think it’s hysterical.”
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BBC
As many Gavin and Stacey fans will know, there was plenty things faked in the beloved BBC series.
Obviously, the key part of the show’s story is that Gavin and his family are from Billericay in Essex while Stacey and her family are from Barry in Wales.
Only while the Essex lot supposedly lived there, the actors never actually filmed there.
Lamb told the Radio Times: “Gavin & Stacey was all filmed in Wales, nobody offered us the opportunity to go to Essex.
“They said, ‘Billericay’s where you’re from’, so we just got on with it, we just do what we’re told.”
Wherever they filmed it, it’s still one of the best.
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