The rom-com starts five week before Christmas. It takes viewers on many journeys of romance and love. Ten stories are told in the weeks leading to Christmas. Most of them cross over. What ties them all together? Love.
This ensemble includes Emma Thompson and Liam Neeson as well as Andrew Lincoln, Hugh Grant and Colin Firth.
The film features Neeson as Daniel, who tries to cope with the loss of his wife while leading his stepson Sam ( Thomas Brodie–Sangster) through the first love experience.
Daniel’s friend Karen Thompson (Thompson), is still trying to figure out how to proceed with her marriage. Her husband Harry ( Alan Rickman) has begun flirting with his receptionist.
While Karen’s relationship with Grant is in turmoil, her brother David (Grant), is settling into his new role of Prime Minister. He does this by dancing like nobody’s watching through the new residence.
The film’s main character, Billy Mack (Bill Nighy), is a washed up rock star who is focused on his musical return, recording “Christmas Is All Around”. It plays in the background while more love stories unfold including John (Martin Freeman), and Judy (Joanna Page), who meet while filming an sex scene.
Romance is abundant in this fan-favorite holiday flick. This is especially evident when Mark (Lincoln), who is engaged to Juliet (Keira Knightley), professes his love to Juliet using cue cards. You can see it when Jamie (Firth), learns Portuguese to propose his housekeeper Aurelia ( Lucia Moniz).
Nearly twenty years later, the touching story continues to resonate with its fans. Creator Richard Curtis could not be happier with the film’s longevity and the charm of the cast, even as they were filming the 2017 minisequel Red Nose Day Actually.
Curtis stated that “people’s fundamental characters haven’t changed much over fifteen years,” when Curtis spoke to The New York Times about the reunion the cast had for NBC’s Red Nose Day. “Keira was chosen for her youthfulness and joyous spirit. She is still like that. Bill is irresponsible and everlastingly young; Liam is terribly paternal. Hugh Grant was a good actor for the first week, but he behaved badly for the rest. He is now terribly paternal and does the exact same thing for one day. It is quite reassuring.
Liam Neeson
Famously, Neeson’s Daniel helps Sam (Brodie Songster) to find his first love while they grieve the loss of Joanna. The actor is now a predominantly action-based hero, having led the Taken series and starring in The Grey and Cold Pursuit. He was also seen in Widows and Men in Black International. After a 2009 skiing accident, Natasha Richardson, the Northern Ireland native, died. He has raised his two sons by himself since then.
Olivia Olson
Olson was Sam’s love interest and musical pageant partner Joanna. When she was 11, Olson had just turned 11. Brodie-Sangster was her L.A. friend when she landed the role of Vanessa on Phineas & Ferb in 2008. His voice work also includes Adventure Time and The Powerpuff Girls. In 2018, the actress released her first solo album Nowhere Land. A year later, she appeared on The X Factor Celebrity.
Colin Firth
Firth’s character Jamie is heartbroken at first, but finds love with Aurelia (Moniz), his Portuguese housekeeper. The Oscar winner also has a distinguished career. He is best known for The King’s Speech and the Mamma Mia! movies, as well as the Bridget Jones’s diary franchise. He also appeared in the Kingsman movies, Mary Poppins returns, and The Secret Garden. After 22 years of marriage, the English actor divorced Livia Giuggioli. They have two children together.
Lucia Moniz
Jamie (Firth), who was cast as Aurelia by Moniz, won her heart. He also learned English before asking for her hand in marriage. Since then, the Portuguese actress has appeared on many TV shows including Vinganca. Aqui Nao Ha Quem Vive, Olhos nos Olhos, Na Corda Bamba. She was also featured in Fatima and Thirty minutes. Moniz has released five albums, including Calendar 2015 (Vidisco). She welcomed Julia in 2004.
Hugh Grant
One of the most memorable scenes in the film is Grant’s dance scene as David, newly elected Prime Minister of England. His character is also caught on camera snogging (kissing), his former worker Natalie ( Martine McCutcheon). This was at the school play. Grant also appeared in several rom-coms, including the Bridget Jones films as well as Music & Lyrics. Grant is also the star of Paddington and he appeared in The Gentlemen, before landing the role as Jonathan Sachs in The Undoing. In 2018, Grant married TV producer Anna Elisabet Eberstein. They have three children. Grant has two children with Tinglan H.
