View source for Love Actually

{{Short description|2003 film by Richard Curtis}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Love Actually
| image          = Love Actually movie.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Richard Curtis]]
| writer         = Richard Curtis
| producer       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Duncan Kenworthy]]
* [[Tim Bevan]]
* [[Eric Fellner]]
* [[Debra Hayward]]
* [[Liza Chasin]]
}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Hugh Grant]]
* [[Liam Neeson]]
* [[Colin Firth]]
* [[Laura Linney]]
* [[Emma Thompson]]
* [[Alan Rickman]]
* [[Keira Knightley]]
* [[Martine McCutcheon]]
* [[Bill Nighy]]
* [[Rowan Atkinson]]
}}<!-- Cast list is per the film poster per MOSFILM -->
| cinematography = [[Michael Coulter]]
| editing        = [[Nick Moore (film director)|Nick Moore]]
| music          = [[Craig Armstrong (composer)|Craig Armstrong]]
| studio         = {{plainlist|
* [[StudioCanal]]
* [[Working Title Films]]
* [[DNA Films]]
}}
| distributor    = {{Plainlist|
* [[Universal Pictures]] (International)
* [[BAC Films|Mars Distribution]] (France)<ref>{{cite web|title=Film #20310: Love Actually|website=[[Lumiere (website)|Lumiere]]|access-date=20 June 2021|url=http://lumiere.obs.coe.int/web/film_info/?id=20310}}</ref>
}}
| released       = {{Film date|df=y|2003|11|14|United States|2003|11|21|United Kingdom|2003|12|3|France}}
| runtime        = 135 minutes
| country        = {{ubl|United Kingdom|United States|France<ref name=bfi>{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b885c5bbb|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160518024611/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b885c5bbb|archive-date=18 May 2016|title=Love Actually (2003)|publisher=[[British Film Institute]]|access-date=7 December 2017}}</ref>}}
| language       = English
| budget         = $40{{nbsp}}million
| gross          = $250.2{{nbsp}}million
}}

'''''Love Actually''''' is a 2003 [[Christmas film|Christmas]] [[romantic comedy]] film written and directed by [[Richard Curtis]]. The film features an [[ensemble cast]], composed predominantly of British actors, many of whom had worked with Curtis in previous projects. An international co-production of the United Kingdom, United States and France, it was mostly filmed on location in London. The film delves into different aspects of love as shown through 10 separate stories involving a variety of individuals, many of whom are interlinked as the plot progresses. The story begins six weeks before Christmas and is played out in a weekly countdown until the holiday, followed by an [[epilogue]] that takes place in the New Year.

The film, Curtis's first as director, was released in the US on 14 November 2003 and a week later in the UK during its theatrical run. ''Love Actually'' was a box-office success, grossing $250.2{{nbsp}}million worldwide on a budget of $40{{nbsp}}million. The film received mixed reviews and a nomination for the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy]]. In recent years, it has developed a [[cult following]], and is often a staple film shown during the Christmas period in both the United Kingdom and United States. A [[made-for-television]] [[short film|short sequel]], ''[[Red Nose Day Actually]]'', aired in two different versions on [[BBC One]] and [[NBC]] in 2017, as part of the fundraising event [[Red Nose Day 2017]].

==Plot==
A voice-over<!--by whom?--> opens the film, commenting that whenever the narrator gets gloomy about the state of the world, he thinks of the arrivals gate at [[Heathrow Airport|London Heathrow Airport]], and the pure and uncomplicated love of lovers, friends and families welcoming their loved ones. He also points out that the messages from the [[September 11 attacks|9/11]] [[Casualties of the September 11 attacks|victims]] were [[Reactions to the September 11 attacks|messages]] of love and not hate. The story then switches among the interconnecting "love stories" of many people:

===Billy Mack and Joe===
With his long-time manager Joe, [[rock and roll]] legend Billy Mack records a Christmas version of the [[The Troggs|Troggs]]' 1967 song "[[Love Is All Around]]", titling it "Christmas Is All Around". Although believing the record is terrible, Mack promotes the release in the hope it will become the [[Christmas number-one singles in the UK|Christmas number-one single]], which it does. He forgoes a victory party hosted by [[Elton John]] to celebrate Christmas with Joe, since he realised that Christmas was the time to be with the people one loved. Billy then confesses to Joe that he turned out to be the love of his life. After hugging each other, Billy suggests that they get drunk and watch [[pornography|porn]].

===Juliet, Peter and Mark===
The wedding of Juliet and Peter is videotaped by the [[best man]], Mark, where a surprise band plays the [[Beatles]]' "[[All You Need Is Love]]" as they walk out of [[Grosvenor Chapel|the church]]. Although Juliet believes Mark dislikes her, he is actually in love with her.

When he evades her requests to see the video he shot at the wedding, she shows up at his flat. Juliet insists she wants them to be friends, but when she views the wedding video Mark recorded, she sees many extreme close-ups of herself and few of Peter's face. She realises Mark's true feelings towards her. After an uncomfortable silence, Mark blurts out that he acts coldly toward her out of "self-preservation".

On [[Christmas Eve]], Juliet answers the doorbell to find Mark carrying a [[boombox]] playing a [[Silent Night|Christmas carol]] and large [[cue cards]]. While Peter is inside watching television, Mark shows a message of his love to Juliet through a series of cue cards. As he walks away down the street, Juliet runs after him, gives him a quick kiss, and returns inside. Mark walks away, uttering "Enough", to imply he can move on and be content as friends.

===Jamie and Aurélia===
Writer Jamie is pushed by his girlfriend to attend Juliet and Peter's wedding alone because she is ill. He returns before the reception to check on her, discovering she is having sex with his younger brother. Crushed, Jamie withdraws to his French cottage, where he meets Portuguese housekeeper Aurélia, who does not speak [[English language|English]]. Despite not sharing a common language, a mutual attraction grows.

Jamie returns to the [[United Kingdom]], realises he is in love with Aurélia and begins learning [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]. He returns to [[Marseille]], France, <!-- Please do not change to Portugal. Jamie leaves the Marseille airport before proceeding to Aurelia's home. He knows where it is because he dropped her off there several times. --> to find her and ends up walking through town with her father and sister, gathering additional people as they walk to her waitressing job. In basic, and often grammatically incorrect, [[European Portuguese|Portuguese]], he declares his love for her and proposes. She says yes in broken English, showing she too had been studying [[British English|English]] "just in cases", as the crowd erupts in applause.

===Harry, Karen and Mia===
Harry is the managing director of a design agency. Mia is his secretary. Harry is married to Karen, a stay-at-home mother. They have two children, Bernard and Daisy. Mia behaves in an overtly sexual way with him at the office and asks him for a Christmas present. At the company Christmas party held at Mark's gallery, they dance closely.

Before Christmas shopping at a [[Selfridges|department store]], Harry calls Mia and asks what she wants for Christmas. He is almost caught by his wife purchasing an expensive necklace with a gold heart pendant from the jewellery [[Department store|department]] when the salesman, Rufus, takes an inordinate amount of time to wrap it. Later, Karen finds the necklace in Harry's coat pocket and assumes it is for her. Opening a similarly shaped box on Christmas Eve, she is heartbroken to find it is a [[Joni Mitchell]] CD, realises he bought the necklace for someone else, and cries in their bedroom alone. She keeps a happy face so as not to ruin her family's holiday. She later confronts Harry and asks what he would do if he were her. She feels he has made a mockery of their marriage and of her. Harry comes clean and admits that he has been foolish.

===David and Natalie===
David, Karen's brother and the recently elected [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]], is single. Natalie is a new junior member of the household staff at [[10 Downing Street]]. During a meeting with the [[President of the United States|US President]], they pass Natalie, and the president makes inappropriate comments to David about her. Later, David walks in on Natalie who is serving tea and biscuits to the president, and finds him kissing her. Natalie seems embarrassed, and the president has a sly grin on his face. At the following 
[[United Kingdom–United States relations|joint press conference]], David is uncharacteristically assertive while taking a stand against the president's intimidation techniques.

Feeling uncomfortable around Natalie, David has her moved to another position. He is spurred to action on Christmas Eve when he finds a [[Christmas card]] from her in his [[Red box (government)|red box]], declaring that she is his and only his. He finds her after a door-to-door search of her street. Her entire family is on their way to a multi-school [[Nativity play|Christmas play]], and he offers to drive them so he can talk to her. As Natalie sneaks him into the school, he runs into his heartbroken sister, Karen, who believes he is there for his niece and nephew. As David and Natalie try to keep from being seen and watch from backstage, they finally kiss. Everyone sees them kissing as the back-cloth is raised.

===Daniel, Sam, Joanna and Carol===
Daniel, Karen's close friend, mourns the recent death of his wife, Joanna, as he tries to care for his stepson Sam. Sam has fallen for an [[Americans in the United Kingdom|American]] classmate, also named Joanna, and after talking with his stepfather, decides to learn the drums to accompany her in the big finale of their school's Christmas pageant at Karen and Harry's children's school.

Sam feels he has missed his chance to impress her, but Daniel convinces him to try to tell Joanna how he feels at [[Heathrow Airport|the airport]] before she returns to the [[United States|US]]. Sam slips through [[airport security]] and catches up with her. She acknowledges him by name, which surprises him. Sam returns to Daniel to tell him, and Joanna follows him, surprising him again, and kisses him on the cheek.

A subplot in this storyline involves Daniel stating a few times his wish to date [[Claudia Schiffer]]. Eventually, Daniel meets Carol, played by Claudia Schiffer, who is the mother of Sam's schoolmate, and there is a mutual spark.

===Sarah, Karl and Michael===
Sarah first appears at Juliet and Peter's wedding, sitting next to Mark. An American working at Harry's graphic design company, she is in love with the creative director, Karl. Prompted by Harry, they finally connect at the Christmas party, and Karl drives her home. Sarah invites Karl in and they immediately pull off their clothes and begin to get intimate when Michael, her [[mental disorder|mentally ill]] brother, telephones from a psychiatric hospital, aborting their tryst. On Christmas Eve, they are both working late. Karl tries to find words but just wishes her a merry Christmas and leaves. In tears, Sarah calls Michael and visits him to give him a Christmas gift.

===Colin, Tony and the American girls===
After unsuccessfully attempting to woo various [[British people|British]] women, including Mia and Nancy (Juliet and Peter's wedding caterer); Colin Frissell from Basildon informs his friend Tony that he plans to go to the [[United States|US]], convinced that his [[Britishness]] will be an asset. Landing in [[Milwaukee]], [[Wisconsin]], US, Colin hails a [[taxi]] and asks the driver to take him to the nearest bar. There, he immediately meets Stacey, Jeannie, and Carol-Anne, three stunningly attractive women who instantly fall for his [[Estuary English]] accent, and invite him to stay at their home, where they are joined by their "sexiest" roommate Harriet.

===John and Judy===
John and Judy are professional [[stand-in]]s for films. They meet doing the [[sex scene]]s for a film for which Tony is a production assistant. John tells Judy, "It's lovely to find someone I can actually chat to." While they are perfectly comfortable being naked and simulating sex on-set, they are shy and tentative off-set. They carefully pursue a relationship, attending the Christmas pageant (involving David and Natalie, Harry and Karen's children, Daniel and Sam) at the local school with John's brother. They get engaged by the end of the film.

===Epilogue===
A month later, all the characters are seen at [[Heathrow Airport]]. Billy's Christmas single has spurred a comeback. Juliet, Peter, and Mark meet Jamie and his bride, Aurélia. Karen and the kids greet Harry, but Karen's stilted reaction suggests they are struggling to move past his affair.

Sam greets Joanna, who has returned from the US, and Daniel is joined by his new girlfriend, Carol, and her son. Newlyweds John and Judy, heading off to their honeymoon, run into Tony who is awaiting Colin's return from the US. Colin returns with Harriet and her sister Carla, who meets Tony for the first time and greets him with a hug and a kiss on the lips. 
[[File:Love Actually (2003) Interconnections.svg|thumb|Interconnections between the ''Love Actually'' characters|upright=1.4]]

Natalie welcomes David back from [[Royal Air Force Voyager Vespina|his flight]] in view of the press, showing that their relationship is now public. These scenes dissolve into footage of actual arrivals at Heathrow, as the screen is divided into an increasing number of smaller segments to form a [[photographic mosaic]] of a heart.

===Story association===
All the stories are linked in some way; while Mack and his manager do not connect with the other characters physically, Billy appears frequently on characters' radios and TVs, his music video twice providing an important plot device for Sam's pursuit of Joanna, and they also cross paths with the other characters in the closing Heathrow scene. John and Judy work with Tony, who is best friends with Colin, who works for a catering company that services the office where Sarah, Karl, Mia, and Harry work. Mia is friends with Mark, who runs the art gallery where the Christmas office party takes place. Mia also lives next door to Natalie. Mark is in love with Juliet and friends with Peter. The couple is friends with Jamie and Sarah. Harry is married to Karen, who is friends with Daniel, and her brother is David, who works with Natalie. Harry and Karen's children (and thus David's niece and nephew), Natalie's siblings (and thus Mia's neighbours), and Carol's son are all schoolmates of Sam and Joanna. Daniel proclaims that his late wife was the only one for him unless he met Claudia Schiffer. Carol is played by Schiffer.
{{clear}}

==Cast==
{{colbegin|colwidth=25em}}
* [[Chiwetel Ejiofor]] as Peter
* [[Colin Firth]] as Jamie
* [[Gregor Fisher]] as Joe
* [[Hugh Grant]] as David, the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]]
* [[Sienna Guillory]] as Jamie's girlfriend
* [[Keira Knightley]] as Juliet
* [[Andrew Lincoln]] as Mark
* [[Laura Linney]] as Sarah
* [[Martine McCutcheon]] as Natalie
* [[Lúcia Moniz]] as Aurélia
* [[Liam Neeson]] as Daniel
* [[Bill Nighy]] as Billy Mack
* [[Alan Rickman]] as Harry
* [[Thomas Brodie-Sangster]] as Sam
* [[Rodrigo Santoro]] as Karl
* [[Emma Thompson]] as Karen
* Joanna Bacon as Natalie's Mum
* [[Brian Bovell]] as Radio Watford DJ
* [[Kris Marshall]] as Colin
* [[Abdul Salis]] as Tony
* [[Heike Makatsch]] as Mia
* [[Martin Freeman]] as John
* [[Joanna Page]] as Judy
* [[Olivia Olson]] as Joanna
* [[Billy Bob Thornton]] as the [[American President]]
* [[Rowan Atkinson]] as Rufus - Jewellery Salesman
* [[Claudia Schiffer]] as Carol
* [[Nina Sosanya]] as Annie
* [[Margery Mason]] as Harris Street old lady
* [[Gillian Barge]] as cabinet minister
* [[Ivana Miličević]] as Stacey - American dreamgirl
* [[John Sharian]] as Wisconsin taxi driver
* [[Wyllie Longmore]] as Jeremy
* [[Dan Fredenburgh]] as Jamie's bad brother
* [[Lynden David Hall]] as the wedding singer
* [[Sheila Allen (English actress)|Sheila Allen]] as Jamie's Mum
* [[Junior Simpson]] as Wedding DJ
* [[Jo Whiley]] as Radio DJ
* [[January Jones]] as Jeannie - American angel
* [[Elisha Cuthbert]] as Carol-Anne - American goddess
* [[Laura Rees]] as record company executive
* [[Wes Butters]] as Radio 1 Chart Show DJ
* [[Lulu Popplewell]] as Daisy
* [[Marcus Brigstocke]] as Mikey
* [[Julia Davis]] as Nancy
* [[Ruby Turner]] as Jean
* [[Adam Godley]] as Mr Trench
* [[Élisabeth Margoni]] as Eleonore
* [[Edward Hardwicke]] as Sam's grandfather
* [[Caroline John]] as Sam's grandmother
* [[Meg Wynn Owen]] as Mary, the PM's secretary
* [[Nancy Sorrell]] as Greta
* [[Shannon Elizabeth]] as Harriet - the sexy one
* [[Denise Richards]] as Carla - the real friendly one
* [[Richard Curtis]] as trombone player (uncredited)
* [[Rebecca Frayn]] as Joanna, Daniel's wife (uncredited)
* [[Jeanne Moreau]] as taxi passenger Marseille Airport (uncredited)
* [[Ant McPartlin]] as TV host Ant (himself) 
* [[Declan Donnelly]] as TV host Dec (himself)
* [[Michael Parkinson]] as TV host Parkinson (himself)
{{colend}}

==Production==
===Development===
[[File:Richard Curtis (26749114016).jpg|thumb|The film's director, [[Richard Curtis]]]]
Initially, Curtis started writing with two distinct and separate films in mind, each featuring expanded versions of what would eventually become storylines in ''Love Actually'': those featuring Hugh Grant and Colin Firth.<ref name="JW3Curtis">{{cite interview |last= |first= |subject-link= |interviewer=Vanessa Kirby |title=WATCH: Richard Curtis & Vanessa Kirby in Conversation – AH / JW3 Speaker Series |work= |date=28 February 2018 |publisher=Alan Howard/JW3 Speaker Series |location=London |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4VMTzGqUnk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/a4VMTzGqUnk |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|access-date=18 March 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He changed tack and became frustrated with the process. Partly inspired by the films of [[Robert Altman]] as well as films such as ''[[Pulp Fiction]]'', and inspired by Curtis having become "more interested in writing a film about love and what love sort of means" he had the idea of creating an ensemble film.<ref name="Vulturelove">{{cite web|last1=Finger|first1=Bobby|title=Richard Curtis on About Time, Love Actually, and Being a 'Fool for Love'|url=http://www.vulture.com/2013/10/rom-com-king-richard-curtis-is-a-fool-for-love.html|website=Vulture|date=30 October 2013 |access-date=6 March 2017}}</ref> The film initially did not have any sort of Christmas theme, although Curtis's penchant for such films eventually caused him to write it as one.<ref name="VH">{{cite web|last1=Lambo|first1=Stacy|title=The Love Actually Cast Reveal 10 Things You Didn't Know About The Film|url=https://www.vh1.com/news/tar26a/unknown-facts-love-actually|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625204303/https://www.vh1.com/news/tar26a/unknown-facts-love-actually|url-status=live|archive-date=25 June 2022|website=VH1|access-date=6 March 2017}}</ref>

Curtis's original concept for the film included fourteen different scenarios, but four of them were cut (two having been filmed).<ref name="theguardian1">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/dec/16/how-we-made-love-actually|title=How We Made Love Actually|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=16 December 2013}}</ref> The scene in which Colin attempts to chat up the female caterer at the wedding appeared in drafts of the screenplay for ''[[Four Weddings and a Funeral]]'', but was cut from the final version.<ref name=audiocommentary>''Love Actually'' audio commentary</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=It turns out this Love Actually scene was stolen from Four Weddings and a Funeral |url=https://www.womanandhome.com/life/news-entertainment/it-turns-out-this-love-actually-scene-was-stolen-from-four-weddings-and-a-funeral/ |website=Woman and Home |date=16 December 2021 |access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref> The music video for Billy Mack's song, "Christmas Is All Around", is a tribute to [[Robert Palmer (singer)|Robert Palmer]]'s 1986 video, "[[Addicted to Love (song)|Addicted to Love]]".<ref name="theguardian1"/> Curtis has spoken negatively about the editing process for the film, which he labelled in 2014 as a "catastrophe" and "the only nightmare scenario that I've been caught in". The film was rushed in order to be ready for the 2003 Christmas season which he likened to "[[three-dimensional chess]]".<ref name="GuardianChess">{{cite news|last1=Child|first1=Ben|title=Richard Curtis: Love Actually a 'catastrophe'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/oct/06/richard-curtis-love-actually-a-catastrophe-film-hugh-grant|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=5 March 2017}}</ref> For the scene in which Rowan Atkinson's character Rufus annoys Harry, Alan Rickman's reaction was reportedly genuine, having been "driven insane" by the time constraints.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Alan Rickman Was Apparently Driven "Insane" by One Love Actually Scene |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/11/alan-rickman-was-apparently-driven-insane-by-one-love-actually-scene |magazine=Vanity Fair |date=30 November 2022 |access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref> Hugh Grant disliked filming the dance scene as he called it "excruciating" and "absolute hell".<ref>{{cite web |title=Hugh Grant describes Love Actually dance as "absolute hell" |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/hugh-grant-hated-love-actually-dance/ |website=RadioTimes.com |access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Hugh Grant Says 'Love Actually' Dance Scene Was "Excruciating" And Didn't Want To Do It |url=https://deadline.com/2022/11/hugh-grant-love-actually-dancing-scene-excruciating-1235182107/ |website=Deadline |date=27 November 2022 |access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref> In a 2023 interview, Curtis would later call the card scene "a bit weird".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/richard-curtis-genie-paapa-essiedu-christmas-b2454766.html | title=King of Christmas Richard Curtis: 'In the corner, fuming with anger, was Hugh Grant' | website=[[Independent.co.uk]] | date=30 November 2023 }}</ref>

===Casting===
[[Ant & Dec]] played themselves in the film with Nighy's character referring to [[Dec Donnelly|Dec]] as "Ant or Dec". This refers to the common mistaking of one for the other, owing to their constant joint professional presence as a comedy and presenting duo. The veteran actress [[Jeanne Moreau]] is seen briefly, entering a taxi at the Marseille Airport. The [[Soul music|soul]] singer [[Ruby Turner]] appears as Anderson's mother, one of the [[Backing vocalist|backing singers]] at the school Christmas pageant. Helder Costa plays Mr Barros, Aurelia's father. He is a veteran actor in Portuguese cinema.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7952826/|title=Helder Costa &#124; Actor, Writer, Director|website=IMDb}}</ref> Thompson used the experience of her own marriage breaking up for the role of Karen.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hedges-Stocks |first=Zoah |author-link=Zoah Hedges-Stocks |date=28 February 2018 |title=Emma Thompson on acting Love Actually betrayal: 'I had my heart very badly broken by Kenneth Branagh' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2018/02/28/emma-thompson-acting-love-actually-betrayal-had-heart-badly/ |newspaper=The Telegraph |via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref> [[Joe Alwyn]] auditioned for the role of Sam; Alwyn read scenes with Grant and Curtis.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/joe-alwyn-interview-2018|title=Joe Alwyn on working with Sir Ben Kingsley|date=25 November 2018|website=British GQ}}</ref>

Curtis cast his mother-in-law, actress Jill Freud, as the Prime Minister's cleaner.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/love-actually-facts/|title=Love Factually: 46 things you may not know about the Christmas classic|website=Radio Times}}</ref> Curtis cast his daughter [[Scarlett Curtis|Scarlett]] in the film; she was given the choice of being an angel or a lobster, and played the part of Lobster number 2 in the nativity play, on the condition that she meets Keira Knightley.<ref>[https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/keira-knightley-opens-up-about-her-battle-with-ptsd-and-talks-new-film-colette-nbt97gzj6 “Keira Knightkey opens up about her battle with PTSD and talks new film Colette”]. ''The Times''. {{Subscription required}}. Retrieved 12 August 2019</ref> Curtis originally had two actors in mind for the part of Mack, but he could not decide and then told casting director Mary Selway to find someone who would do the part well but whom he would never think to cast; she suggested Nighy.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/love-actuallys-10th-anniversary-the-cast-and-crew-reminisce-about-the-christmas-classic | title='Love Actually's' 10th Anniversary: The Cast and Crew Reminisce About the Christmas Classic | newspaper=The Daily Beast | date=7 November 2013 | last1=Stern | first1=Marlow }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=25 May 2017 |title=Paul Feig and Richard Curtis Discuss Love Actually |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/paul-feig-richard-curtis-discuss-love-actually/ |website=Empire}}</ref>

===Locations===
Most of the film was made on location in London, including [[Heathrow Airport]], [[Trafalgar Square]], the central court of [[Somerset House]] in the [[Strand, London|Strand]], [[Grosvenor Chapel]] on South Audley Street near [[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]], [[St Paul's Church, Clapham]], the [[Millennium Bridge (London)|Millennium Bridge]], [[Selfridges]] department store on [[Oxford Street]], [[Lambeth Bridge]], the [[Tate Modern]] in the former [[Bankside Power Station]], [[Canary Wharf]], [[Marble Arch]], St. Luke's Mews off All Saint's Road in [[Notting Hill]], [[Chelsea Bridge]], the [[OXO Tower]], [[City Hall, London (Southwark)|London City Hall]], Poplar Road in [[Herne Hill]], [[Elliott School (London)|Elliott School]] in Pullman Gardens, [[Putney]], and [[Aéroport de Marseille Provence|Marseille Airport]]. Scenes set in [[10 Downing Street]] were filmed at [[Shepperton Studios]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/l/loveact.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040305133824/http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/l/loveact.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 March 2004|title=Film locations for Film Locations for Love Actually|publisher=Movie-locations.com|access-date=8 September 2013}}</ref>

===Standing up to the US president===
Following [[Tony Blair]]'s resignation as Prime Minister, pundits and speculators commented on a potential anti-American shift in [[Gordon Brown]]'s [[Brown Ministry|cabinet]] as a "''Love Actually'' moment", referring to the scene in which Hugh Grant's character stands up to the US president.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sylvester |first=Rachel |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3617425/Blair-and-Bush-will-find-little-to-agree-on-at-Gleneagles-.html |title=Blair and Bush will find little to agree on at Gleneagles ... |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |location=London |date=6 June 2005 |access-date=16 August 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071113160509/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fopinion%2F2005%2F06%2F06%2Fdo0601.xml |archive-date=13 November 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Sylvester |first=Rachel |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3625149/Iraq-has-tested-Mr-Blairs-interventionism-to-destruction.html |title=Iraq has tested Mr Blair's interventionism to destruction |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |location=London |date=23 May 2006 |access-date=16 August 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208064805/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fopinion%2F2006%2F05%2F23%2Fdo2301.xml&sSheet=%2Fopinion%2F2006%2F05%2F23%2Fixopinion.html |archive-date=8 December 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Stinson|first=Jeffrey|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-09-07-blair_x.htm|title=Blair says he'll resign within a year, refuses to set a date|work=[[USA Today]]|date=7 September 2006|access-date=16 August 2011}}</ref>

In 2009, during President [[Barack Obama]]'s first visit to the UK, [[Chris Matthews]] referred to the president in ''Love Actually'' as an example of [[George W. Bush]] and other former presidents' bullying of [[NATO|European allies]]. Commenting on this, [[Mediaite]]'s Jon Bershad described the U.S. president character as a "sleazy Bill Clinton/George W. Bush hybrid".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mediaite.com/tv/chris-matthews-explains-republican-strategy-with-a-scene-from-love-actually/|title=Chris Matthews Explains Republican Strategy With A Scene From ''Love Actually''|first=Jon |last=Bershad |publisher=Mediaite|date=21 December 2010|access-date=16 August 2011}}</ref>

In the scene in question, the swaggering president bullies the prime minister and then sexually harasses a member of the household staff. In September 2013, [[David Cameron]] made a speech in reply to Russia's comment that Britain was "a small island no one listens to", which drew comparisons with Hugh Grant's speech during the film.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/10290835/David-Camerons-Love-Actually-moment-as-he-defends-Britain-against-small-island-jibe.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/10290835/David-Camerons-Love-Actually-moment-as-he-defends-Britain-against-small-island-jibe.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=David Cameron's Love Actually moment as he defends Britain against 'small island' jibe|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=9 August 2013|access-date=8 September 2013|location=London|first=James|last=Kirkup}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===Cut storyline===
One storyline consisting of two scenes, featuring the only gay love story, was cut and not included.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wakefield |first=Lily |date=12 December 2020 |title=A tearjerking lesbian love story was cut from Love Actually |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2020/12/12/love-actually-lesbian-deleted-scene-christmas-film-anne-reid-frances-de-la-tour/ |access-date=6 November 2023 |work=PinkNews}}</ref> In the first scene, [[Anne Reid]], as the headmistress of Karen's children's school, is revealed to be going home to her terminally ill partner, Geraldine, played by [[Frances de la Tour]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 September 2022 |title=Frances de la Tour reflects on 'odd' decision to cut gay Love Actually scene |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/frances-de-la-tour-love-actually-b2167653.html |access-date=6 November 2023 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> In the second scene, while speaking at the Christmas concert, Karen acknowledges Geraldine's recent death. Curtis said he regretted losing this storyline.<ref>{{Citation |title=Love Actually Deleted Scene - How is Today? | date=16 November 2013 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmhXjCQPa24 |access-date=6 November 2023}}</ref>

==Soundtrack==
{{Anchor|Music|Score}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Love Actually
| type       = soundtrack
| artist     = Various artists
| cover      =
| border     = yes
| alt        =
| released   = 17 November 2003
| recorded   =
| venue      =
| studio     =
| genre      = 
| length     =
| label      =
* [[Universal Music Group|Universal]]
* [[Island Records|Island]]
| producer   =
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title =
| next_year  =
}}

{{Track listing
| headline      = UK soundtrack
| extra_column  = Artist

| title1        = [[Jump (Girls Aloud song)|Jump]]
| note1         = 
| writer1       = 
| extra1        = [[Girls Aloud]]
| length1       =

| title2        = [[Too Lost in You]]
| note2         = ''Love Actually'' version
| writer2       = 
| extra2        = [[Sugababes]]
| length2       =

| title3        = [[The Trouble with Love Is]]
| note3         = 
| writer3       = 
| extra3        = [[Kelly Clarkson]]
| length3       =

| title4        = [[Here with Me (Dido song)|Here with Me]]
| note4         = 
| writer4       = 
| extra4        = [[Dido (singer)|Dido]]
| length4       =

| title5        = [[Love Is All Around|Christmas Is All Around]]
| note5         = 
| writer5       = 
| extra5        = [[Bill Nighy]] as Billy Mack
| length5       =

| title6        = [[Turn Me On (Norah Jones song)|Turn Me On]]
| note6         = 
| writer6       = 
| extra6        = [[Norah Jones]]
| length6       =

| title7        = [[Songbird (Fleetwood Mac song)|Songbird]]
| note7         = 
| writer7       = 
| extra7        = [[Eva Cassidy]]
| length7       =

| title8        = Sweetest Goodbye
| note8         = 
| writer8       = 
| extra8        = [[Maroon 5]]
| length8       =

| title9        = [[Wherever You Will Go]]
| note9         = 
| writer9       = 
| extra9        = [[The Calling (band)|The Calling]]
| length9       =

| title10       = [[I'll See It Through]]
| note10        = 
| writer10      = 
| extra10       = [[Texas (band)|Texas]]
| length10      =

| title11       = [[Both Sides, Now|Both Sides Now]]
| note11        = 2000 version
| writer11      = 
| extra11       = [[Joni Mitchell]]
| length11      =

| title12       = [[White Christmas (song)|White Christmas]]
| note12        = 
| writer12      = 
| extra12       = [[Otis Redding]]
| length12      =

| title13       = Take Me as I Am
| note13        = 
| writer13      = 
| extra13       = [[Wyclef Jean]] and [[Sharissa]]
| length13      =

| title14       = [[All I Want for Christmas Is You]]
| note14        = 
| writer14      = 
| extra14       = [[Olivia Olson]]
| length14      =

| title15       = [[God Only Knows]]
| note15        = 
| writer15      = 
| extra15       = [[The Beach Boys]]
| length15      =

| title16       = [[All You Need Is Love]]
| note16        = 
| writer16      = 
| extra16       = [[Lynden David Hall]]
| length16      =

| title17       = Sometimes
| note17        = 
| writer17      = 
| extra17       = [[Gabrielle (singer)|Gabrielle]]
| length17      =

| title18       = Glasgow Love Theme
| note18        = 
| writer18      = 
| extra18       = [[Craig Armstrong (composer)|Craig Armstrong]]
| length18      =

| title19       = PM's Love Theme
| note19        = 
| writer19      = 
| extra19       = Craig Armstrong
| length19      =

| title20       = Portuguese Love Theme
| note20        = 
| writer20      = 
| extra20       = Craig Armstrong
| length20      = 
}}

===US version===
The US edition of the soundtrack removed two pieces of the score and "Sometimes" by [[Gabrielle (singer)|Gabrielle]] and reordered the tracklist. It also replaced the [[Girls Aloud]] cover of "[[Jump (For My Love)]]" with the original by [[The Pointer Sisters]], and replaced [[Maroon 5]]'s "Sweetest Goodbye" with a medley of "Sweetest Goodbye" with "[[Sunday Morning (Maroon 5 song)|Sunday Morning]]".

{{Track listing
| headline      = US soundtrack
| extra_column  = Artist

| title1        = The Trouble with Love Is
| note1         = 
| writer1       = 
| extra1        = Kelly Clarkson
| length1       =

| title2        = Here with Me
| note2         = 
| writer2       = 
| extra2        = Dido
| length2       =

| title3        = Medley: Sweetest Goodbye/[[Sunday Morning (Maroon 5 song)|Sunday Morning]]
| note3         = 
| writer3       = 
| extra3        = Maroon 5
| length3       =

| title4        = Turn Me On
| note4         = 
| writer4       = 
| extra4        = Norah Jones
| length4       =

| title5        = Take Me as I Am
| note5         = 
| writer5       = 
| extra5        = Wyclef Jean and Sharissa
| length5       =

| title6        = Songbird
| note6         = 
| writer6       = 
| extra6        = Eva Cassidy
| length6       =

| title7        = Wherever You Will Go
| note7         = 
| writer7       = 
| extra7        = The Calling
| length7       =

| title8        = Jump (For My Love)
| note8         = 
| writer8       = 
| extra8        = [[The Pointer Sisters]]
| length8       =

| title9        = Both Sides Now
| note9         = 2000 version
| writer9       = 
| extra9        = Joni Mitchell
| length9       =

| title10       = All You Need Is Love
| note10        = 
| writer10      = 
| extra10       = Lynden David Hall
| length10      =

| title11       = God Only Knows
| note11        = 
| writer11      = 
| extra11       = The Beach Boys
| length11      =

| title12       = I'll See It Through
| note12        = 
| writer12      = 
| extra12       = Texas
| length12      =

| title13       = Too Lost in You
| note13        = ''Love Actually'' version
| writer13      = 
| extra13       = Sugababes
| length13      =

| title14       = Glasgow Love Theme
| note14        = 
| writer14      = 
| extra14       = Craig Armstrong
| length14      =

| title15       = White Christmas
| note15        = 
| writer15      = 
| extra15       = Otis Redding
| length15      =

| title16       = Christmas Is All Around
| note16        = soundtrack version
| writer16      = 
| extra16       = Bill Nighy as Billy Mack
| length16      =

| title17       = All I Want for Christmas Is You
| note17        = 
| writer17      = 
| extra17       = Olivia Olson
| length17      = 
}}

===Score===
The film's original score was composed, orchestrated, and conducted by [[Craig Armstrong (composer)|Craig Armstrong]]. It was commercially unreleased until 19 November 2021, when it was released digitally by [[Universal Pictures]]' Back Lot Music, and on CD by La-La Land Records.<ref>{{MusicBrainz release group|mbid=fb250026-9cd6-44f4-962b-47a46cf80884|name=Love Actually}}</ref>
{{Track listing
| headline      = Original score

| title1        = Opening Titles
| length1       = 1:31

| title2        = Christmas Is All Around (Montage)
| length2       = 5:23

| title3        = First Day
| length3       = 0:48

| title4        = Natalie with Tea Trolley
| length4       = 0:18

| title5        = In Love with Karl
| length5       = 0:54

| title6        = Sam's Bedroom
| length6       = 0:48

| title7        = On the Bench
| length7       = 0:58

| title8        = I'm in Love
| length8       = 0:42

| title9        = Total Agony
| length9       = 1:57

| title10       = Saucy Minx / Aurélia Arrives
| length10      = 1:52

| title11       = Bad Policies
| length11      = 0:57

| title12       = Discovery of Kiss / Press Conference
| length12      = 2:22

| title13       = Croissants in France
| length13      = 1:07

| title14       = The Lake Scene
| length14      = 1:35

| title15       = Saddest Part of Day
| length15      = 1:13

| title16       = Glasgow Love Theme
| length16      = 2:05

| title17       = PM Redistributes Natalie
| length17      = 0:34

| title18       = Jamie Leaves Aurélia
| length18      = 2:44

| title19       = Sarah & Karl Go Wrong
| length19      = 1:34

| title20       = Karen in Bed
| length20      = 0:37

| title21       = Harry & Mia
| length21      = 1:08

| title22       = Wrapping the Necklace
| length22      = 2:55

| title23       = Natalie on the Stairs
| length23      = 2:08

| title24       = Natalie at the School
| length24      = 1:27

| title25       = Natalie Revealed / Karen Confronts Harry
| length25      = 1:49

| title26       = Joanna Drives Off
| length26      = 6:02

| title27       = Sam & Joanna
| length27      = 1:14

| title28       = Portuguese Love Theme
| length28      = 3:10

| title29       = Christmas Is All Around
| note29        = film version) (performed by [[Bill Nighy]] as Billy Mack
| length29      = 4:52

| title30       = Greenshoots
| length30      = 0:18

| title31       = Restaurant Band
| length31      = 0:32

| title32       = PM's Love Theme
| length32      = 2:12

| title33       = Christmas Is All Around
| note33        = soundtrack version) (performed by [[Bill Nighy]] as Billy Mack
| length33      = 3:48
}}

===Certifications===
{{certification Table Top}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Australia|artist=Soundtrack|title=Love Actually|award=Platinum|certyear=2004|relyear=2003|access-date=3 May 2019}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United Kingdom|artist=Original Soundtrack|title=Love Actually|award=Platinum|number=2|certyear=2013|certmonth=7|id=4000-1140-2|relyear=2003|access-date=3 May 2019}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United States|artist=Soundtrack|title=Love Actually|award=Gold|certyear=2003|relyear=2003|access-date=21 December 2022}}
{{Certification Table Bottom}}

The soundtrack album reached number one on the [[UK Albums Chart]], and by Christmas 2018 it had spent 348 weeks on the Chart.<ref>{{cite news |title=Official Soundtrack Albums Chart Top 50 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/soundtrack-albums-chart/20181228/140/ |access-date=12 August 2019 |work=Official Charts Company}}</ref> It reached the top forty on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] in 2004 and ranked second on the [[Top Soundtracks]] chart.

===Use in film===
The UK and US versions of the actual film contain two instances of alternative music. In the UK cut, the montage leading up to and continuing through the first part of the office party is set to the song "[[Too Lost in You]]", by the British group [[Sugababes]]. In the US version of the film, this song is replaced with "[[The Trouble with Love Is]]", performed by the American singer [[Kelly Clarkson]]. Subsequently, in the UK version's end credit roll, the second song is a cover of "[[Jump (For My Love)]]" performed by [[Girls Aloud]]; in the US version, this song is replaced with "Too Lost in You".

Several songs were heard in the film but did not appear on either soundtrack:
* "[[Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby Goodbye)|Bye Bye Baby (Baby Goodbye)]]" performed by [[Bay City Rollers]]
* "[[Puppy Love/Sleigh Ride|Puppy Love]]" performed by [[S Club 8|S Club Juniors]]
* "[[All I Want for Christmas Is You]]" performed by [[Tessa Niles]]
* "[[River (Joni Mitchell song)|River]]" performed by [[Joni Mitchell]]
* "Rose" from the ''[[Titanic (1997 film)|Titanic]]'' score, written by [[James Horner]]
* "[[Like I Love You]]" performed by [[Justin Timberlake]]
* "[[All Alone on Christmas]]" performed by [[Darlene Love]]
* "[[Smooth (Santana song)|Smooth]]" by [[Santana (band)|Santana]] featuring [[Rob Thomas (musician)|Rob Thomas]]
* "[[Silent Night]]" performed by Pre Teens
* "[[Good King Wenceslas]]" performed by [[Hugh Grant]] (as David) and Andrew Tinkler (as Gavin)
* "[[Catch a Falling Star]]" performed by child cast

==Reception==
===Box office===
''Love Actually'' grossed $59.7{{nbsp}}million in the United States and Canada, $62.7{{nbsp}}million in the United Kingdom, and $122.6{{nbsp}}million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $244.9{{nbsp}}million, against a budget of $40{{nbsp}}million.<ref name=BOM>{{Cite Box Office Mojo |access-date=8 December 2023}}</ref> It spent its first five weeks in the Top 10 at the U.S. box office.<ref name=BOMWeek>{{cite web |title=''Love Actually'' {{!}} Domestic Weekly |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |publisher=[[IMDb]] |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3798042113/weekly/?ref_=bo_rl_tab#tabs |access-date=8 December 2023}}</ref>

===Critical response===
{{RT prose|{{RT data|score}}|{{RT data|average}}|{{RT data|count}}|A sugary tale overstuffed with too many stories. Still, the cast charms.|ref=yes|access-date=8 December 2023}} {{MC film|55|41|ref=yes|access-date=8 December 2023}} Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemascore.com|title=Find CinemaScore|format=Type "Love Actually" in the search box|publisher=[[CinemaScore]]|access-date=November 12, 2025}}</ref>

[[Michael Atkinson (writer)|Michael Atkinson]] of ''[[The Village Voice]]'' called it "love British style, handicapped slightly by corny circumstance and populated by colorful neurotics".<ref>{{cite news|first=Michael |last=Atkinson|url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2003/11/04/odd-couplings-brit-stars-flounder-in-singleton-dysfunction/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916093317/https://www.villagevoice.com/2003/11/04/odd-couplings-brit-stars-flounder-in-singleton-dysfunction/|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 September 2018|title=Odd Couplings: Brit Stars Flounder in Singleton Dysfunction|work=[[The Village Voice]]|date=4 November 2003|access-date=16 August 2011}}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave the film three and a half out of four stars, describing it as "a belly-flop into the sea of romantic comedy ... The movie's only flaw is also a virtue: ... It feels a little like a gourmet meal that turns into a hot-dog eating contest."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/love-actually-2003|first=Roger |last=Ebert|author-link=Roger Ebert|title=Love Actually |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|access-date=16 August 2011|date=7 November 2003}}</ref>

Nev Pierce of the [[BBC]] awarded it four of a possible five stars and called it a "vibrant romantic comedy ... Warm, bittersweet and hilarious, this is lovely, actually. Prepare to be smitten."<ref>{{cite news|first=Nev |last=Pierce |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2003/11/06/love_actually_2003_review.shtml|title=Love Actually (2003)|publisher=BBC|date=20 November 2003|access-date=16 August 2011}}</ref> In his review in ''[[The New York Times]]'', journalist [[A. O. Scott]] called it "a romantic comedy swollen to the length of an Oscar-trawling epic" and added, "It is more like a record label's greatest-hits compilation or a ''very special'' sitcom clip-reel show than an actual movie."<ref>{{cite news | first=A. O. | last=Scott | author-link=A. O. Scott | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/07/movies/film-review-tales-of-love-the-true-and-the-not-so-true.html | title=Tales of Love, the True and the Not-So-True | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=7 November 2003 | access-date=7 April 2019}}</ref>

In ''[[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone]]'', [[Peter Travers]] rated it two stars out of a possible four, saying "there are laughs laced with feeling here, but the deft screenwriter Richard Curtis dilutes the impact by tossing in more and more stories."<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-reviews/love-actually-126713/ | first=Peter |last=Travers |author-link=Peter Travers |title=Love Actually |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=3 November 2003 |access-date=16 September 2018}}</ref> [[Christopher Orr (film critic)|Christopher Orr]] of ''[[The Atlantic]]'' was negative toward the work and described it as the least romantic movie of all time, considering its ultimate message to be "It's probably best if you give up on love altogether and get on with the rest of your life."<ref>{{cite news | last=Orr | first=Christopher | author-link=Christopher Orr (film critic) | title=Love Actually Is the Least Romantic Film of All Time | date=6 December 2013 | url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/12/-em-love-actually-em-is-the-least-romantic-film-of-all-time/282091/ | work=The Atlantic | access-date=28 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last=Orr | first=Christopher | author-link=Christopher Orr (film critic) | title=Love Actually: Still Awful | url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/12/-em-love-actually-em-still-awful/282273/ | work=The Atlantic | date=11 December 2013 | access-date=28 December 2013}}</ref>

Since its initial release some publications have come to regard ''Love Actually'' as a [[cult film]] as it is habitually watched by many people as a [[Christmas traditions|holiday staple]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Perier |first=Maries |date=13 December 2019 |title="Love Actually" in 20 cult scenes |url=https://www.vogue.fr/fashion-culture/galerie/love-actually-in-vintage-pictures-cult-scenes |access-date=13 December 2023 |website=Vogue France |language=fr-FR}}</ref> Despite this, the film continues to be highly divisive amongst critics and audiences. Publications such as [[CNN]],<ref name="Christmas">{{cite web|url=http://thelead.blogs.cnn.com/2013/12/20/is-love-actually-a-new-christmas-classic/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903190918/http://thelead.blogs.cnn.com/2013/12/20/is-love-actually-a-new-christmas-classic/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 September 2014 |title=Is 'Love Actually" a new Christmas classic? |last1=Tapper |first1=Jake |last2=Berryman |first2=Kim |publisher=CNN |date=20 December 2013 |access-date=12 December 2016}}</ref> ''[[The Atlantic]]''<ref>{{cite web | last=Green | first=Emma | title=I Will Not Be Ashamed of Loving ''Love Actually'' | date=10 December 2013 | url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/12/i-will-not-be-ashamed-of-loving-i-love-actually-i/282160/ | work=[[The Atlantic]] | access-date=28 December 2013}}</ref> and ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]''<ref>{{cite news |title=The best Christmas movies on Netflix UK |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/best-christmas-movies-netflix-uk/love-actually/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213102351/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/best-christmas-movies-netflix-uk/love-actually/ |archive-date=13 December 2017 |access-date=24 February 2019 |work=The Telegraph}}</ref> have written positively about ''Love Actually'' whilst others such as ''[[The Independent]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-27 |title=Why Love Actually is not the heartwarming romcom you're remembering |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/love-actually-age-gap-controversy-b2251858.html |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> ''[[Cosmopolitan (magazine)|Cosmopolitan]]''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-12-27 |title=Actually, Love Actually Is a Terrible Dumpster Fire of a Movie |url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/a8539064/love-actually-terrible-movie/ |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=Cosmopolitan |language=en-US|last1=Odell|first1=Amy}}</ref> and ''[[The Guardian]]''<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Freeman |first=Hadley |date=2017-03-21 |title=What killed the romcom? It was Love, Actually |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/21/love-actually-romcom-richard-curtis-tv |access-date=2024-09-07 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> have panned the film. Some publications in later years have labelled it as one of the [[List of films considered the worst|worst Christmas films ever made]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Mary Elizabeth |date=2012-12-19 |title="Love, Actually": The worst Christmas movie ever |url=https://www.salon.com/2012/12/19/love_actually_the_worst_christmas_movie_ever/ |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=Salon |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-11-21 |title=So I Hate 'Love Actually' and I'm 100 Percent Not Sorry About It |url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/movies/a25104507/i-hate-love-actually/ |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=Cosmopolitan |language=en-US|last1=Baty|first1=Emma}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Harrington |first=Katy |title=I Rewatched 'Love Actually' & It's Still The Worst |url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/love-actually-is-the-worst |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=www.refinery29.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In 2025, it was one of the films voted for the "Readers' Choice" edition of ''[[The New York Times]]''{{'}} list of "The 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century," finishing at number 248.<ref>{{cite web |title=Readers Choose Their Top Movies of the 21st Century |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/movies/readers-movies-21st-century.html |website=The New York Times |date=2 July 2025 |access-date=2 July 2025}}</ref>

==Accolades ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Ceremony
!Award
!Nominee(s)
!Result
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[British Academy Film Awards|BAFTA]]
|[[BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Film|Best British Film]]
|''Love Actually''
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role|Best Actor in a Supporting Role]]
|Bill Nighy
|{{won}}
|-
|[[BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role|Best Actress in a Supporting Role]]
|Emma Thompson
|{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Golden Globe Awards]]
|[[Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy|Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy]]
| rowspan="4" |''Love Actually''
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay|Best Screenplay]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[9th Critics' Choice Awards]]
|[[Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble|Best Acting Ensemble]]
|{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="4" |[[Empire Awards]]
|Best British Film
|{{won}}
|-
|Best British Actress
|Emma Thompson
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Newcomer
|Martine McCutcheon
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Newcomer
|Andrew Lincoln
|{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Evening Standard British Film Awards]]
|Best Actress
|Emma Thompson
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Peter Sellers]] Award for Comedy
|Bill Nighy
|{{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[European Film Awards|European Film Award]]
|[[Jameson People's Choice Award for Best Actor]]
|Hugh Grant
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[European Film Academy Lux Award|Jameson Award]]
|Richard Curtis
|{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[London Film Critics Circle Awards 2003|London Film Critics Circle Award]]
|Best British Supporting Actor
|Bill Nighy
|{{won}}
|-
|Best British Supporting Actress
|Emma Thompson
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor|Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award]]
|[[Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
|Bill Nighy
|{{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Satellite Awards]]
|Best Supporting Actor, Musical or Comedy
|Bill Nighy and Thomas Sangster
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Supporting Actress, Musical or Comedy
|Emma Thompson
|{{nom}}
|}

==Other adaptations==
The screenplay by Richard Curtis was published by Michael Joseph Ltd. in the United Kingdom and by St. Martin's Griffin in the US.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Curtis|first1=Richard|title=Love Actually|date=5 December 2003|publisher=St. Martin's Griffin|isbn=0-312-31849-9}}</ref>

==''Red Nose Day Actually''==
{{Main|Red Nose Day Actually}}
In 2017, Richard Curtis wrote a script for [[Red Nose Day]] that reunited a dozen characters and picked up their storylines fourteen years later. Filming began in February 2017, and the [[short film]] was broadcast on [[BBC One]] on 24 March 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://screenrant.com/love-actually-red-nose-day-sequel-poster/|title=Love Actually Red Nose Day Sequel Gets A Poster|date=10 May 2017|publisher=Screen Rant|access-date=7 December 2017}}</ref>

== Home media ==
[[Universal Pictures Home Entertainment]] released the film on [[Blu-ray]] in November 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Love Actually Blu-ray Review {{!}} High Def Digest |url=https://bluray.highdefdigest.com/2624/loveactually.html |access-date=7 December 2023 |website=bluray.highdefdigest.com}}</ref> The film was released on [[Ultra HD Blu-ray]] on 21 November 2023 for the film's 20th anniversary, featuring a 4K restoration.<ref>{{cite web|last=Meza|first=Ed|title='Love Actually' Set for 20th Anniversary 4K Re-Release via Studiocanal, Universal Pictures (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2023/film/global/love-actually-4k-restoration-studiocanal-universal-1235776741/|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=2 November 2023|access-date=4 November 2023}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Christmas films]]
* [[List of fictional prime ministers of the United Kingdom]]
* ''[[Love Is All (2007 film)|Love Is All]]'' (Dutch: ''Alles is Liefde''), 2007 Dutch romantic comedy film inspired by ''Love Actually''
* ''[[Salaam-e-Ishq|Salute To Love]]'' (Hindi: ''Salaam-e-Ishq''), 2007 Indian film based on ''Love Actually''
* ''[[He's Just Not That Into You (film)|He's Just Not That Into You]]'', 2009 American romantic comedy film with multiple protagonists and stories similar to ''Love Actually''
* ''[[Yolki|New Year Trees]]'' (Russian: ''Yolki''), also known as ''Six Degrees of Celebration'', a 2010 comedy film that launched a successful movie franchise spanning multiple sequels
* ''[[Letters to Santa (film)|Letters to Santa]]'' (Polish: ''Listy do M.''), 2011 Polish film inspired by ''Love Actually''
* "[[Glee, Actually]]", a 2012 holiday episode from the fourth season of the American musical television series ''Glee''
* ''[[It All Began When I Met You]]'', 2013 Japanese film inspired by ''Love Actually''

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Spoken Wikipedia|Love_Actually.ogg|date=5 April 2009}}
* {{wikiquote-inline||''Love Actually''}}
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/3275283.stm |title= Love film premiere seduces fans |publisher= BBC |date= 16 November 2003 }}

{{Richard Curtis}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for ''Love Actually''
|list =
{{Empire Award for Best British Film}}
{{Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

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[[Category:Films set in London]]
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