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‘Love Actually’ Cast Then & Now: Photos From the 2003 Film & Today

By:
November 29, 2023 9:03AM EST
Love Actually
Moviestore/Shutterstock

The cast of ‘Love Actually’ has changed so much since 2003. See all the stars, then and now, right here.

Love Actually was released on Nov. 6, 2003, and became an instant classic for many fans. It’s been 19 years since the hit film was released, and the cast has made some incredible transformations. From Keira Knightley to Hugh Grant – the cast has changed so much through the years.

Ready to see the rest of the Love Actually cast? Check out everyone right here!

1 of 16

Keira Knightley

Keira Knightley
The Everett Collection/Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

Take, Keira Knightley, who played Juliet. She was only 18 years old when she starred in Love Actually, and appeared in her breakout role as Elizabeth Swann in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl that same year. She went on to appear in the three sequels.

Keira earned an Oscar nomination for her performance as Elizabeth Bennett in the 2005 film Pride & Prejudice. Her other major films include Atonement, The Duchess, Anna Karenina, and The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. She received her second Oscar nomination in 2015 for her performance in The Imitation Game.

Keira dated Jamie Dornan from 2003 to 2005. She also dated Rupert Friend from 2005 to 2010. She married James Righton in 2013. They have two daughters.

November 28, 2022, 4:25PM
2 of 16

Andrew Lincoln

Andrew Lincoln
The Everett Collection/Todd Williamson/AMC/Shutterstock

Andrew Lincoln played Mark in the 2003 film. Mark arguably had the most memorable scene in the film when he shows up at Juliet’s door and professes his love for her with cue cards. Andrew became an international star when he began playing Rick Grimes in The Walking Dead in 2010. He left the show in 2018. Andrew married Gael Anderson in 2006. They have two kids together.

November 28, 2022, 4:30PM
3 of 16

Thomas Brodie-Sangster

Thomas Brodie-Sangster
The Everett Collection/Shutterstock

Thomas Brodie-Sangster played the adorable Sam, Daniel’s stepson. Thomas, who was only 13 when he starred in the movie, makes our hearts melt as his character goes to great lengths to tell his classmate, Joanna, how he feels about her. Thomas has continued to have a successful career over the years. He notably earned an Emmy nomination for his role in ‘The Queen’s Gambit.’

November 28, 2022, 4:31PM
4 of 16

Chiwetel Ejiofor

Chiwetel Ejiofor
Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock

Chiwetel Ejiofor played Peter, Juliet’s husband in the film. The actor didn’t have the biggest role in the film, but he’s gone on to become one of the most in-demand actors. He received critical acclaim for his incredible performance in the 2013 film ’12 Years A Slave.’ He earned his first Oscar nomination for his performance.

November 28, 2022, 4:33PM
5 of 16

Liam Neeson

Liam Neeson
The Everett Collection/Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock

Liam Neeson played Daniel, who is still mourning the death of his wife, Joanna. He’s trying to raise his stepson, Sam, and helps him chase after the girl he’s fallen in love with. Liam went on to star as the villainous Ra’s al Ghul in the 2005 film ‘Batman Begins.’ He’s become one of Hollywood’s top action stars with the ‘Taken’ trilogy, ‘Non-Stop,’ ‘Cold Pursuit,’ ‘A Walk Among the Tombstones,’ ‘Widows,’ and more.

November 28, 2022, 4:36PM
6 of 16

Hugh Grant

Hugh Grant
The Everett Collection/Richard Shotwell/AP/Shutterstock

Hugh Grant played the Prime Minister in ‘Love Actually.’ Following the holiday rom-com, Hugh reprised his role as Daniel Cleaver in the ‘Bridget Jones’ sequel. He’s also starred in movies like ‘Music and Lyrics,’ ‘Cloud Atlas,’ ‘The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,’ ‘Florence Foster Jenkins,’ ‘Paddington 2,’ and ‘The Gentlemen.’ He recently made a cameo appearance in the ‘Knives Out’ sequel ‘Glass Onion.’

November 28, 2022, 4:38PM
7 of 16

Martine McCutcheon

Martine McCutcheon
The Everett Collection/Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

Martine McCutcheon played Natalie, the Prime Minister’s sassy employee who ends up falling for her boss. Martine starred in films like ‘Jump!’ and ‘The Bromley Boys’ after ‘Love Actually.’ She has also appeared in shows like ‘Echo Beach,’ ‘Let’s Get Gold,’ and ‘Loose Women.’ Martine is an accomplished singer as well. Her latest album, ‘Lost and Found, ‘ was released in 2017. She married Jack McManus in 2012. They welcomed a son in 2015.

November 28, 2022, 4:41PM
8 of 16

Colin Firth

Colin Firth
The Everett Collection/Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock

Colin Firth plays writer Jamie who falls in love with his Portuguese housekeeper. Following ‘Love Actually,’ Colin reprised his role of Mark Darcy in the ‘Bridget Jones’ sequels. He received his first Oscar nomination in 2010 for his performance in ‘A Single Man.’ One year later, he won an Oscar for his performance in ‘The King’s Speech.’ Colin has also since starred in the ‘Mamma Mia’ movies, ‘1917,’ and more. 

The British actor has starred in countless other films since Love Actually, including Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Kingsman: The Secret Service, Mary Poppins Returns, 1917, and the Mamma Mia movies.

November 28, 2022, 4:43PM
9 of 16

Laura Linney

Laura Linney
The Everett Collection/David Fisher/Shutterstock for PEOPLE

Laura Linney played Sarah, one of Harry’s employees who is crushing hard on the company’s creative director, Karl. A year after ‘Love Actually,’ Laura won the Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress for her role in the hit TV series ‘Frasier.’ She’s gone on to star in TV series like ‘The Big C,’ ‘John Adams,’ ‘Tales of the City,’ and more. She recently wrapped the final season of ‘Ozark.’ On top of TV roles, Laura has starred in films like ‘Hyde Park on Hudson,’ ‘Mr. Holmes,’ ‘Sully,’ ‘Nocturnal Animals,’ and more. Laura married Marc Schauer in 2009. Their son was born in 2014.

November 28, 2022, 4:45PM
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Emma Thompson

Emma Thompson
The Everett Collection/Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock

Emma Thompson played Karen, Harry’s wife who discovers her husband has been unfaithful to her. The Oscar winner is one of the most accomplished actresses working today. The same year as ‘Love Actually,’ Emma starred in the critically-acclaimed miniseries ‘Angels in America.’ Her notable film roles post-‘Love Actually’ include ‘Nanny McPhee,’ ‘Saving Mr. Banks,’ ‘Brave,’ ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ ‘Late Night,’ and more. She earned Golden Globe nods for ‘Saving Mr. Banks’ and ‘Late Night.’

She co-wrote and starred in the holiday film ‘Last Christmas.’ She played the Baroness in the upcoming live-action film ‘Cruella.’ In 2022, she played Miss Trunchbull in ‘Matilda the Musical.’ Emma married her ‘Sense and Sensibility’ co-star Greg Wise in 2003. They had already welcomed a daughter and adopted a son in 2003.

November 28, 2022, 4:48PM
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Olivia Olson

Olivia Olson
SplashNews/AP

Olivia Olson played Joanna in ‘Love Actually’ and is widely recognized for singing the song “All I Want for Christmas Is You” in the film. After ‘Love Actually,’ Olivia reunited with her co-star Thomas Brodie-Sangster, who played Joanna’s love interest, by voicing Vanessa in the animated series ‘Phineas and Ferb.’ She’s continued to have voice roles in shows like ‘Robot Chicken, Adventure Time: Distant Lands,’ and more. She received her latest album, ‘Nowhere Land,’ in 2018. Olivia also competed in ‘The X Factor: Celebrity,’ but she was eliminated from the competition during the live shows.

December 22, 2020, 11:28PM
12 of 16

Bill Nighy

Bill Nighy
The Everett Collection/AP

Bill Nighy played rock and roll legend Billy Mack in the film. In addition to ‘Love Actually,’ Bill is best known for playing Viktor in the ‘Underworld’ film series and Davy Jones in the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ film series, which also starred his ‘Love Actually’ co-star Keira Knightley.

The actor has also had notable roles in films like ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1,’ ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,’ ‘Sometimes Always Never,’ ‘Emma,’ and more. He’s appeared on TV and on stage as well. Bill received a 2015 Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Play for his role in the ‘Skylight’ revival. He recently reunited with ‘Love Actually’ co-star Chiwetel Ejiofor in the Showtime series ‘The Man Who Fell To Earth.’

December 22, 2020, 11:16PM
13 of 16

Rowan Atkinson

Rowan Atkinson
The Everett Collection/Can Nguyen/Shutterstock

Rowan Atkinson played salesman Rufus, who sells an expensive necklace to Harry. One of Rowan’s most beloved roles is Mr. Bean. He reprised the character in the 2007 sequel ‘Mr. Bean’s Holiday.’ The same year as ‘Love Actually,’ he starred as the titular Johnny English in the film of the same name. He’s continued to play the character in more sequels.

Rowan and his first wife got a divorce in 2015 after two kids and 25 years of marriage. He’s currently in a relationship with Louise Ford. They had their first child together in 2017.

November 28, 2022, 4:53PM
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Rodrigo Santoro

Rodrigo Santoro
The Everett Collection/Stewart Cook/Shutterstock

Rodrigo Santoro played Karl, the creative director of the design agency and the man Sarah is in love with. Rodrigo went on to star as King Xerxes in the blockbuster ‘300’ and its sequel. He also starred as Paulo on ‘Lost’ and Hector on ‘Westworld.’ The actor played Joel Kelly in the Hulu series ‘Reprisal,’ which was canceled after one season. Rodrigo has been dating actress Mel Fronckowiak since 2013. They have a daughter named Nina.

November 28, 2022, 4:56PM
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Martin Freeman

Martin Freeman
Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock

Martin Freeman played John, a professional stand-in who begins having a relationship with Judy, played by Joanna Page. Martin has gone on to have an extremely successful career — across many genres. He starred in comedies like ‘Shaun of the Dead,’ ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,’ ‘Hot Fuzz,’ and more. He’s most widely recognized for playing Bilbo Baggins in ‘The Hobbit’ film trilogy. He also starred as Everett K. Ross in ‘Captain America: Civil War,’ ‘Black Panther,’ and recently ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.’

When it comes to TV, Martin notably starred in the British drama series ‘Sherlock’ alongside Benedict Cumberbatch. He also played Lester Nygaard in the first season of ‘Fargo.’ He’s currently starred in the FX series ‘Breeders,’ which was renewed for a fourth season. He has two kids with his ex, Amanda Abbington.

November 28, 2022, 4:59PM
16 of 16

Alan Rickman

Alan Rickman
Shutterstock

Alan Rickman played Harry, the managing director with a wandering eye who’s also married to Karen. At the time ‘Love Actually’ came out, Alan was in between ‘Harry Potter’ films. He appeared as the beloved Severus Snape in all 8 ‘Harry Potter’ films. In addition to ‘Harry Potter,’ Alan also starred in films like ‘Sweeney Todd,’ ‘Alice in Wonderland,’ ‘The Butler,’ ‘A Little Chaos,’ and more after ‘Love Actually.’ The actor sadly died of pancreatic cancer in 2016 at the age of 69.

December 22, 2020, 11:39PM