What Happened To Every Character After Love Actually Ended (2024)

Summary

  • Love Actually's short sequel, Red Nose Day Actually, provides updates on the fates of beloved characters like Juliet, Peter, and Mark.
  • Prime Minister David and Natalie are still together, with David continuing his iconic dance moves.
  • Karen and Harry's relationship is strained but they're still together, while characters like Billy Mack and Rufus are still pursuing their passions.

Love Actually is one of the most beloved rom-coms that has become a holiday tradition for many to rewatch annually, and despite the fact that a full sequel was never released, many of its characters' fates received updates after the movie ended. Because of its popularity, Love Actually's ensemble cast returned for a short sequel 14 years after the 2003 movie's conclusion, in 2017's 17-minute Red Nose Day Actually short film. The Notting Hill filmmaker Richard Curtis decided to bring back many of the actors and answer some questions about what happened to the Love Actually characters after the events in the original film.

Love Actually is set around Christmastime in London, and it comes with an all-star ensemble cast. The late Alan Rickman, Emma Thomson, Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Colin Firth, Laura Linney, and more are part of its magnetic cast, all with incredible chemistry. The movie focuses on individual characters with diverse storylines, with most of the characters proving to be connected in the end somehow. Although the movie was a major hit, there are several moments from Love Actually that didn't age well. However, the interest in the characters is still remarkable after so much time, and most of them really found their happily ever after at the end of the beloved film.

Related

Love Actually’s Secret Lost Love Story - Theory Explained

Love Actually included 10 big romantic storylines, but was there a hidden eleventh all along? Here's the theory on Daniel and Karen's love story.

Juliet, Peter & Mark (Keira Knightley, Chiwetel Ejiofor & Andrew Lincoln)

One Of The Movie's Most Iconic Scenes Makes A Comeback

In the 2003 Christmas film Love Actually, Juliet (Keira Knightley) and Mark (Andrew Lincoln) were one of the most controversial storylines. Mark had never officially tried to get along with Juliet, but it turns out he was in love with her all along. However, Juliet was married to Mark's best friend, Peter (Chiwetel Ejiofor). In one of Love Actually's most famous scenes, Mark showed up on her doorstep with cards to confess his love and get closure, and Juliet kissed him.

After the events in the film, the Red Nose Day Actually sequel shows Juliet and Peter are still together. It also pokes fun at his most iconic scene: Mark holding the cards, giving details about what happened to the rest of the characters. Juliet reveals she and Peter are very happy, while Mark moved on and did, indeed, marry a supermodel, who is played by Kate Moss.

Prime Minister David & Natalie (Hugh Grant & Martine McCutcheon)

The Prime Minister Is Still Dancing

Fourteen years later, Hugh Grant's David is still Prime Minister, and he still enjoys dancing at his official residence at 10 Downing Street. In the soft sequel, he performs his iconic dance moves to Drake's "Hotline Bling" rather than The Pointer Sisters' "Jump," although not gracefully, and despite the fact that Grant hated filming the original dance scene. He and Natalie (Martine McCutcheon) are still together after uniting at the end of the original movie. The Red Nose Day Actually special shows her still teasing and keeping him on his toes, and David and Natalie remain a very strong couple. He also still gives funny, meaningful, and optimistic monologues in press conferences.

Related

Natalie From Love Actually: Where Else You've Seen Martine McCutcheon

Natalie from Love Actually is played by UK star Martine McCutcheon. Here is where you may have seen her aside from the classic Christmas film.

Billy Mack (Bill Nighy)

Still Releasing Cover Songs of His Hit Song, "Love Is All Around"

What Happened To Every Character After Love Actually Ended (3)

In Love Actually,Bill Nighy plays rock star Billy Mack, who is trying to be number one again with the cover of the song "Love Is All Around," turning it into a holiday cheer song. Not much changed in the years since, as Billy Mack turned the song around for charity on Red Nose Day. He has also released a biography, Macknificent, and is still trying to sell records. Marcus Brigstocke is still a radio DJ, at the same radio station as the 2003 film, Radio Watford. Unfortunately, Billy reveals that his beloved manager and close friend Joe, played by Gregor Fisher, passed away because of a big heart attack.

Karen & Harry (Emma Thompson & Alan Rickman)

The Couple Stayed Together After The 2003 Movie

What Happened To Every Character After Love Actually Ended (4)

Karen actress Emma Thompson and Harry actor Alan Rickman didn't return for the short sequel. That is because Alan Rickman tragically died of cancer at the age of 69 in 2016, and Emma Thompson and Richard Curtis wanted to honor him (The Guardian via the Press Association). However, Love Actually script editor Emma Freud gave an update on their situation a couple of years before Red Nose Day Actually. During the live Tweets, she added that the two didn't break up, but "home isn't as happy as it once was." Freud also added that the Joni Mitchell scene from the original movie took Emma Thompson seven takes, "crying every time."

Rufus (Rowan Atkinson)

Still Wrapping Gifts

What Happened To Every Character After Love Actually Ended (5)

Rowan Atkinson played Rufus in Love Actually, and his character served as a plot device to help or hinder characters, especially Alan Rickman's Harry and Thomas Brodie-Sangster's Sam. Emma Freud, scriptwriter and Richard Curtis' wife, also described him as an "angel" (via Twitter) in her live tweets when re-watching the film with her husband. In Red Nose Day Actually, he is still a salesperson, and he's still taking his time over-wrapping purchases.

Jamie & Aurelia (Colin Firth & Lucia Moniz)

Still Struggling With Language Barriers

What Happened To Every Character After Love Actually Ended (6)

Jamie, played by Colin Firth, was a book author who moved to Marseille to get inspiration for his new book in Love Actually. There, he met Aurelia, played by Lúcia Moniz, who was helping him around the house. The two fell in love despite not speaking the same language, and he traveled all the way to Portugal at the end of the movie to confess his love and propose. Against all odds, 14 years later, Jamie and Aurelia are still together. This time, Aurelia speaks English well, although Jamie struggles with basic Portuguese. The two are still very happy and have three children, with Aurelia revealing she's pregnant again in the 2017 follow-up.

Daniel & Sam (Liam Neeson & Thomas Brodie-Sangster)

What Happened To Every Character After Love Actually Ended (7)

Daniel (Liam Neeson) and Sam (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) are two of Love Actually's most endearing characters. Daniel is Sam's stepfather, who takes care of him after his wife, Sam's mother, dies. After the movie, their connection is still strong, although Sam moves to New York after growing up and Daniel stays in London. In the Red Nose Day Actually sequel, Sam reveals he and Joanna (Olivia Olson), his middle school crush, reconnected in New York and are getting married. However, it's unclear if Daniel and Carol (Claudia Schiffer) are still a couple.

Sarah (Laura Linney)

She Finally Found Love

What Happened To Every Character After Love Actually Ended (8)

Sarah, played by Laura Linney, had one of the loneliest arcs in Love Actually. She had a longtime crush on one of her co-workers, Karl, and when she finally got a chance to act on her love, she had to give up and go care for her brother Michael. Red Nose Day Actually makes it look like not much has changed in her life, as she's still working late, seemingly refuses to flirt with her co-workers, and rushes to the phone whenever it rings. However, it turns out it wasn't her brother calling, but her husband, played by Patrick Dempsey. The 2017 follow-up also showed a child's drawing, proving she finally found love and started her own family.

The Rest Of Love Actually's Characters

Colin, Tony, John & Judy Don't Return

What Happened To Every Character After Love Actually Ended (9)

Although the majority of the cast reunited for Red Nose Day Actually, some of the characters weren't part of the reunion. Colin (Kris Marshall) and his best friend, Tony (Abdul Salis), don't return for the short sequel. At the end of Love Actually, Colin returns from the U.S. to London with Harriet (Shannon Elizabeth) and her sister Carla (Denise Richards), who kisses Tony at the airport.

In the original movie, John (Martin Freeman) and Judy (Joanna Page) didn't have a conventional meet-cute, as they were filming adult films. However, by the end of Love Actually, the two got married and were off on their honeymoon. The couple does not return for Red Nose Day Actually. However, it's likely that they stayed together.

Source: Twitter, The Guardian

  • Love Actually

    Summary:
    The 2003 romantic comedy Love Actually follows various couples as they explore their relationships throughout the Christmas season. With a star-studded cast composed of Bill Nighy, Colin Firth, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Keira Knightley, Hugh Grant, Laura Linney, Liam Neeson, Rowan Atkinson, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Martin Freeman, and Martine McCutcheon, Love Actually has since become a Christmas staple for rom-com lovers.

    Release Date:
    2003-11-14

    Budget:
    45million

    Cast:
    Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, Keira Knightley, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Laura Linney, Alan Rickman, Hugh Grant, Bill Nighy, Andrew Lincoln

    Director:
    Richard Curtis

    Genres:
    Comedy, Drama, Holiday, Romance

    Rating:
    R

    Runtime:
    135 minutes

    Writers:
    Richard Curtis

    Studio(s):
    Universal Pictures

    Distributor(s):
    Universal Pictures
What Happened To Every Character After Love Actually Ended (2024)

FAQs

What Happened To Every Character After Love Actually Ended? ›

Prime Minister David and Natalie are still together, with David continuing his iconic dance moves. Karen and Harry's relationship is strained but they're still together, while characters like Billy Mack and Rufus are still pursuing their passions.

What happened at the end of Love Actually? ›

Billy arrives with a gorgeous groupie in tow to be greeted by Joe and indicating that his comeback has remained successful. Juliet, Peter, and Mark come to meet Jamie and his new bride Aurelia, showing both that they have married. Karen and the kids greet a returning Harry confirming that they have remained together.

What happened to the cast of Love Actually? ›

Thomas Brodie-Sangster

Brodie-Sangster — who played lovelorn moppet Sam in Love Actually — has grown into a serious actor, trying his hand at everything from Phineas and Ferb to Game of Thrones and The Maze Runner franchise. Most recently, he starred as chess pro Benny Watts in the hit Netflix drama The Queen's Gambit.

Are the people at the end of Love Actually real? ›

Arguably one of the most joyful scenes of the whole film, the footage of loved ones reuniting in Heathrow Airport at the end of Love Actually is entirely real. The camera crew set-up shop at the bustling airport for a week, filming friends and families meeting once again.

What happened to Harry at the end of Love Actually? ›

Harry is happily married to Karen (Emma Thompson), a stay-at-home mother.

Who doesn't get a happy ending in Love Actually? ›

I accept that it was important to show that, sometimes, love actually doesn't work out. It is vital that Emma Thompson's Karen ends the film in a state of resigned grief in the crumbled ruins of her marriage, but her union with cheating Harry is still intact.

What happened to Sam in Love Actually? ›

It's revealed that Sam is with Joanna, his crush in the movie played by Olivia Olsen, who asks Daniel for his stepson's hand in marriage. And it was a reunion on screen and off.

What happened to Mia from Love Actually? ›

Heike dated Daniel Craig from 1996 until 2004. The Berlin-based beauty is currently dating Trystan Pütte and she has three daughters from past relationships.

Who is the girl singing at the end of Love Actually? ›

Olson moved into the mainstream with her role as Joanna Anderson in the 2003 holiday film Love Actually, singing the song "All I Want for Christmas Is You".

Did Karen leave her husband in Love Actually? ›

Fortunately, a fan asked that very question during the screening, and Freud said: “They stay together but home isn't as happy as it once was.” Which is actually more heartbreaking than if they had broken up.

What is the last line of Love Actually? ›

The final lines of LOVE ACTUALLY, are the Prime Minister telling his new lover, who is fit but about whom fat jokes have been made throughout, "God, you weigh a lot," to which she replies, "Oh shut your face." That's it. That's the end of the movie.

Did Kris Marshall get paid for Love Actually? ›

Kris Marshall returned his paycheck for the scene where the three American girls undress him. He said he had such a great time having three girls undress him for twenty-one takes that he was willing to do it for free, and thus returned his check for that.

Did they make a sequel to Love Actually? ›

Yep, there's a sequel to everyone's favourite Christmas film, and it ties up many of the storylines we thought we'd never hear of again.

What happens to Karen at the end of Love Actually? ›

One fan of the movie decided there was no better time to ask THAT question, and Freud's response finally tied up that old loose end. So yes, Karen and Harry stayed together. But their home was NEVER EVER the same again. We still think she should have run off with Liam Neeson.

What did Harry find out in the end? ›

Through Severus Snape's memory in the Pensieve, Harry Potter learned that he was one of Voldemort's final Horcruxes that had to be destroyed. This ultimately led him to the Forbidden Forest to face He Who Must Not Be Named alone, a Harry Potter ending that many had been waiting for.

How are Karen and Daniel connected in Love Actually? ›

Meanwhile, Daniel relied on his good friend Karen to help him through losing his partner, with care and some tough love. Sam attended the same school as Karen's children.

Are Harry and Karen together at the end of Love Actually? ›

One fan of the movie decided there was no better time to ask THAT question, and Freud's response finally tied up that old loose end. So yes, Karen and Harry stayed together. But their home was NEVER EVER the same again.

Did they stay together in Love Actually? ›

Karen and Harry's relationship is strained but they're still together, while characters like Billy Mack and Rufus are still pursuing their passions.

Who does Peter end up with in Love Actually? ›

Though Peter and Juliet don't end up together romantically in the movie (despite a fleeting kiss), Lincoln's character does have a happy ending, as chronicled in the Love Actually mini-sequel released in honor of Red Nose Day in 2017: He ends up married to Kate Moss.

Do Juliet and Mark end up together in Love Actually? ›

The short film revealed that Juliet indeed stayed with Peter, while Mark is revealed to have married his longtime celebrity crush, Kate Moss.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Nicola Considine CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 5777

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (69 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Nicola Considine CPA

Birthday: 1993-02-26

Address: 3809 Clinton Inlet, East Aleisha, UT 46318-2392

Phone: +2681424145499

Job: Government Technician

Hobby: Calligraphy, Lego building, Worldbuilding, Shooting, Bird watching, Shopping, Cooking

Introduction: My name is Nicola Considine CPA, I am a determined, witty, powerful, brainy, open, smiling, proud person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.