Love Actually is “actually” one of the greatest British Christmas movies ever made, including A Christmas Carol.
Hell, Love Actually is one of the greatest Christmas movies ever made — period. Since it came out in 2003, the film has grossed almost 250 million dollars, and cast megawatt stars like Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Keira Knightley, Andrew Lincoln, and Laura Linney, amongst a ton of other A-list names.
See where the stars of your favorite Christmas movie are now … and what they look like now!
Bill Nighy
Nighy, who played aging rocker Billy Mack, went on to star in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 as Rufus Scrimgeour, and the Best Marigold Hotel films, as well as the Underworld and Pirates of the Caribbean franchises. No matter what he’s done since, he still has that Billy Mack flair about him, though, doens’t he?
Martin Freeman
Freeman, who played Porno John, went on to star in the television version of Fargo, BBC’s hit show, Sherlock, Captain America: Civil War, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and the Hobbit films. He’s got that cute Hobbit-y look going for him, right?
Laura Linney
Linney, who played the lovelorn Sarah who was too good-hearted to have her own damn life, went on to star in Sully, The Squid and the Whale, and The Exorcism of Emily Rose. Linney was definitely in her heyday with Love Actually, and most of her more popular roles were in 2003 — when the film was released — or earlier.
Billy Bob Thornton
Thornton, who played the worst President of the United States since Donald Trump was elected President of the United States (man, it’s like they knew), went on to star in the Bad Santa movies, Friday Night Lights, and Entourage, as well as continued working on his musical career in a band where he plays drums and vocals. We’re still skeeved out by his performance as POTUS, though.
Hugh Grant
Grant, who played David the Prime Minister, later went on to star in the second-to-last Bridget Jones movie, Cloud Atlas, and Florence Foster Grant. He might be getting older, but we’d still do ’em.
Colin Firth
Firth, who played writer Jamie, later starred in A Single Man, won an Oscar for The King’s Speech, and went onto finish the remainder of the Bridget Jones movies. He also stayed stunningly yummy, and anyone with eyes would agree that Firth is a silver fox.
Keira Knightley
Knightley, who played Juliet, later went on to land the lead role in the Pirates of the Caribbean films, as well as roles in Pride & Predjudice, Atonement, Anna Karenina, and The Imitation Game. People often stop her on the streets and tell her how much they hate her face, which is just a terrible, terrible thing to do. She’s got a lovely mug, don’t you think?
Elisha Cuthbert
Elisha Cuthbert, who played one of Colin “God of Sex” Frissel’s American love interests, Carol Anne, went on to star in Old School, The Girl Next Door, House of Wax, and continued her role as Jack Bauer’s daughter on 24, and has somehow figured out how to not age. Must be all that Milwaukee beer.
Andrew Lincoln
Lincoln, who played Mark, who was Juliet’s husband’s best friend who wanted her so desperately, went on to hit the big time as Rick Grimes with AMC’s The Walking Dead. Andrew Lincoln is basically the best thing there is today, so you better recognize.
Rodrigo Santoro
Rodrigo Santoro, AKA Karl, the object of Sarah’s affection, went on to make a short-lived appearance on Lost, and in 300 as Xerxes, as well as as Hector in Westworld. He’s also still totally hot as hell, so there’re some bonus points, there, too.
Emma Thompson
Thompson, who played Karen, wife of philandering Alan Rickman’s character and the Prime Minister’s sister, later starred in Nanny McPhee, portrayed Professor Trelawney in the Harry Potter franchise, voiced the mom in Brave, and will voice Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast. Yeah, her career’s still on fire.
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Ejiofor, who played Juliet’s husband, Peter, went on to star in Kinky Boots, 2012, 12 Years a Slave, and Doctor Strange. He was also rumored to be the next 007, though that hasn’t panned out … yet. Hottest Bond ever? Yes.
Liam Neeson
Neeson, who played widower dad Daniel — and who ultimately ended up hooking up with Claudia Schiffer’s character — went on to star in Kingdom of Heaven, the Taken franchise, Batman Begins, The A-Team, and The Lego Movie. His wife, Natasha Richardson, passed away suddenly after a skiing accident in 2009.
Heike Makatsch
Makatsch played Mia, Alan Rickman’s character’s secretary, who he contemplates having an affair with — and rumor has it, did. Heike continued to act in German films and television — her homeland — as well as in “The Book Thief.”She’s still totally hot, but we like her dark hair much better … don’t you?
Claudia Schiffer
Schiffer, Neeson’s love interest later in the movie, went on to continue a successful modeling career. Isn’t life grand when you’re this multitalented (and hot)?
Martine McCutcheon
McCutcheon, who played Natalie, she of the “tree trunk legs,” was the Prime Minister’s love interest. McCutcheon went on to star in UK-based series like Soapstar Superstar and Echo Beach, and in 2005, released her own at-home workout video titled Martine McCutcheon: Dance Body. Looks like those “tree trunk legs” came in handy indeed!
Thomas Sangster
Sangster, who played Liam Neeson’s character’s son, Sam, grew up and moved onto Game of Thrones and the Maze Runner films. And he looks exactly the same. EXACTLY.
Alan Rickman
Rickman, who played Harry the Philanderer who threw away his family for the sake of his secretary. Rickman went onto have an extremely impressive career, starring as Severus Snape in the Harry Potter franchise, as well as other high-profile roles like Sweeney Todd, Alice in Wonderland, and The Butler, before passing away in January 2016. We still haven’t recovered (and you probably haven’t, either).
Rowan Atkinson
Atkinson, who portrayed the most annoying jewelry salesman ever, went on to have continued success with his Mr. Bean character. Because he’s Rowan Atkinson, and because it’s Mr. Bean.
Kris Marshall
Marshall played American-woman loving Colin Frissell. Since Love Actually, Marshall’s starred in a handful of UK series, including Traffic Light, Death in Paradise, and Citizen Khan.