Whether it’s niche trivia, think pieces or fan theories, our obsession with Love Actually knows no bounds. We are fascinated by everything that went into making the film, as well as everything that got cut, so we're also interested in what Emma Freud had to say about the iconic Christmas romantic comedy.
In 2018 Emma, Love Actually's Script Editor and long-term partner of the film’s director, Richard Curtis, gave an interview to Australian news site, news.com.au responding to some of the biggest unanswered questions about the film.
Firstly, she gave her inside take on some of the most popular fan theories. She denied the theory that Daniel (Liam Neeson) is in love with Karen (Emma Thompson) despite the support she shows him after his wife's death. 'You know when they eat breakfast cereal in the kitchen together? Liam plays that scene without any romantic spark', Emma said.
'It would have been quite a neat storyline though.'
Emma has also previously revealed that Rowan Atkinson’s character, Rufus, was originally going to be implied to be an angel. This led to speculation that Mia (Heike Makatsch) is meant to represent the Devil.
'No,' Emma contradicts. 'She didn’t represent anything, although I can see why they’d think that, because she does wear those little devil horns at the party. I truly hate Mia. She’s a piece of work, isn’t she?'
Emma also addresses the scene where the Prime Minister (Hugh Grant) fails to look up Natalie’s address (Martine McCutcheon) and instead goes door to door. 'Hugh knocking on doors was my favourite scene so knowing the address would have f***ed that up, wouldn’t it?' she points out.
'When you are Prime Minister and everything is done for you, his ability to manage and process his own life would have been so diminished by the fact he was surrounded by staff who were in charge of every single thing that he had to do. And now he has this big secret so he has to sort it out himself and can’t say to a member of staff, "Find her address," without it looking suspicious,’ Freud suggests.
And what about arguably the most famous scene of all when Mark (Andrew Lincoln) appeared on Juliet’s doorstep (Keira Knightley) with the cards? What would have happened if Peter (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor) was the one to answer?
'Maybe he would have given him the CD player as a Christmas gift and hidden the cards behind his back.'
Emma also divulged the one scene she wished had ended up on the cutting room floor. 'The scene where Colin is seen through the window of the American girls’ apartment was one I battled and lost, and it still makes me wince,' she said. She's referring to Kris Marshall's plot line, which sees the goofy, sex-mad Englishman head to the US in the hopes of pulling. He immediately meets three beautiful Americans who take him home to share their bed, sans pyjamas.
While Emma did not address a much-requested sequel, she did share who she would like to see in a 2018 version of the film. 'Lots of them would be the same,' she said.
'Hugh was a surprisingly young Prime Minister, but would be searingly realistic now. And there will never be a better Karen than Emma (Thompson), even when she’s 90. But I know Richard (Curtis) would cast either Saoirse Ronan or Lily James as the young bride (played by Keira Knightley). And definitely Asim Chaudhry as Colin Frissell.'
READ MORE: Why Were The Two Most Diverse Storylines Cut From Love Actually?