With December now in full swing and Christmas just around the corner, many of us are hoping to rekindle some of that festive magic by rewatching our favourite holiday flicks.

From comedy classic Elf, through to silver screen favourite White Christmas, there’s surely a film to appeal to every taste.

Yet one festive favourite from recent years that continues to resonate with audiences is 2003 rom-com Love Actually.

Perfectly blending feel good vibes, plenty of laughs and more laughably doomed romances than you can shake a stick at, Love Actually continues to be a household favourite, with millions of us gathering around the TV ever year to relive the magic once again.

But now, almost twenty years on, we take a look back at the star studded cast to see where they are now.

Thomas Brodie-Sangster

Easily one of the heartwarming staples of the movie, a bright eyed Thomas Brodie-Sangster captured the hearts of the nation as lovestruck youth Sam as he tried to win the heart of his high school crush.

Since the film, the talented young star had continued to go from strength to strength, with meaty roles in everything from the Maze Runner to Game of Thrones, helping him to flex and hone his already formidable acting chops.

The star, who is now 32 years old, is currently dating Talulah Riley, the ex-wife of tech mogul CEO Elon Musk.

The couple first went public with their relationship earlier this year, as they walked the carpet together after appearing in Danny Boyle's Sex Pistols drama Pistol as popstar Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood respectively.

Emma Thompson

Best known for her role as Professor Trelawney in the Harry Potter movies, Emma Thompson appeared on our screens in Love Actually as the wife of Alan Rickman’s character, as she wrestles with the knowledge of his infidelity.

In real life however, she is far more lucky in love, with the star happily married to Greg Wise as they raise their two children.

In addition to starring in Love Actually, Emma has also featured in a number of much loved films including Nanny McPhee, Beauty and the Beast, Brave, Dolittle, and even period classic Sense and Sensibility.

Keira Knightley

She first shot to megastardom as football mad Juliette in Bend it like Beckham and swashbuckled her way through Pirates of the Caribbean, but it was Keira Knightley's role as Juliet in Love Actually that truly tugged at the heart strings of many fans, as her character found herself embroiled in an awkward love triangle between her husband and his best friend.

With an impressive slate of films under her belt even before Love Actually, her career trajectory continued to skyrocket in the following years, with performances in Pride and Prejudice, The Imitation Game and Anna Karenina continuing to earn her the adoration of fans around the globe.

Now aged 37, she it a doting mother to two children, who she shares with husband James Righton.

Chiwetel Ejiofor

Known to fans in Love Actually as Keira Knightley’s doting husband Peter, who remained oblivious to the advances of his best friend Mark towards his wife, Chiwetel charmed the nation with his likeable personality and impeccable acting.

In the years that followed the film’s release he has continued to make a name for himself in Hollywood, with a wealth of roles under his belt that allowed him to showcase the diversity and ingenuity of his skills.

From playing drag queen Lola in 2005 hit comedy Kinky Boots, through to joining Marvel’s star studded cast in Doctor Strange Chiwetel has been no stranger to our screens – or to awards shows.

After his stellar performance in Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave, Chiwetel even managed to scoop nominations at the Golden Globes, Oscars and BAFTAs for his hard work.

Andrew Lincoln

One of the most memorable scenes to feature in the 2003 movie, is of course Andrew’s declaration of love to Juliet (who is incidentally his best friend’s wife) with a series of cardboard signs outside her house.

Although she famously ran out to kiss him, Juliet ultimately chose to stay true to her own marriage in a shocking twist that baffled many viewers at home.

Since appearing in the movie, Andrew’s career has skyrocketed, with his most famous role to date being in the AMC series The Walking Dead, where her starred as sheriff deputy Rick Grimes, the show’s central lead.

Although his character didn’t manage to find true love, Andrew himself did, with his own fairytale ending coming in the form of Gael Anderson, with the couple marrying just three years after the film was released.

Together they have two children, Matilda and Arthur.

Joanna Page

Another memorable star of the classic film, is Joanna Page, who played Judy during some of the most laughable scenes of the film.

Starring as one half of a loveably awkward duo who stood in for sex scenes in a porn film, fans at home could’t get enough of her cheerful delivery and comedic timing.

After Love Actually, she went on to star in a wealth of small TV dramas, including Midsomer Murders and even Doctor Who.

But her most memorable role to date is undoubtedly Stacey Shipman in the BBC sitcom Gavin and Stacey, which ran for three years from 2007 until 2010.

Joanna has been married to James Thornton since 2003 and has four children.

Martin Freeman

Appearing in Love Actually as the other half of the sex stand in, alongside Joanna Page, many viewers may even have forgotten that Martin Freeman was once one of the charming stars of the hit movie.

Since appearing on our screens, Martin has rarely left it, with roles in BBC’s Sherlock, Fargo, The Office (UK) and even Marvel’s Black Panther films to name but a few.

However his most famous role is that of Bilbo Baggins in the Hobbit franchise.

He is currently in a relationship with Rachel Mariam, and has two children from his previous relationship with Amanda Abbington.

Martine McCutcheon

Former Eastenders star Martine McCutcheon charmed the nation as the Prime Minister’s secretary in Love Actually, and has continued to act since appearing in the much loved Christmas Film.

Starring in everything from Jump! To Elf: The Christmas Spectacular, Martine has continued to delight audiences with her relatable and often endearing roles, even appearing in a number of stage productions such as My Fair Lady to critical acclaim.

Outside of acting, Martine has also appeared as a panelist on Loose Women, alongside regular hosts Andrea McLean and Ruth Langsford.

In 2012 she married her husband Jack McManus with the couple currently sharing one son together.

Although her life may seem idyllic to many, it hasn’t been without it’s difficulties, with the star even filing for bankruptcy in 2013. Martine has also been open about her ongoing health battles after being diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia, two conditions which often leave the star exhausted and in considerable pain.

Earlier this year she also suffered an additional tragedy, after her brother sadly died at the age of just 31.

Hugh Grant

Best known for playing a quirky even if decidedly aloof Prime Minister in Love Actually, Hugh Grant put on an unforgettable performance as he skirted around a blossoming office romance with his secretary.

Since appearing in the film, Hugh has continued to star in a wealth of highly acclaimed films, including Florence Foster Jenkins, The Man from U.N.C.L.E, Paddington 2, and even Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.

Alongside his acting, Hugh has also been a leading campaigner against phone hacking, and also serves as a patron for Pancreatic Cancer Action.

Following his mother’s death in 2001, he has also continued to work for Marie Curie Cancer Care both as a fundraiser and ambassador for the charity’s vital work.

Laura Linney

Breaking our hearts in one of the most gut wrenching scenes of Love Actually, was Laura Linney’s stunning portrayal of workaholic Sarah as she tried to take care of her mentally ill brother.

In one memorable scene, a potential romance with her colleague is interrupted by her brother, bringing a poignant dose of realism and tragedy to the film.

Since appearing in Love Actually, Laura spent a year starring in US comedy series Frasier, before picking up roles in American Dad! and even Netflix drama Ozark.

Although she doesn’t appear on screen with fellow Love Actually star Liam Neeson, the two are actually close friends in real life, with the Irishman even walking her down the aisle during her 2009 wedding.

Alan Rickman

Alan Rickman was already an acting heavyweight long before he starred in Love Actually, with roles in movies such as Die Hard, Robin Hood:Prince of Thieves and even Harry Potter all under his belt.

For his turn in the romantic comedy however, Alan played the role of Harry, a successful design director, who cheats on his wife with his pretty young secretary.

Unlike his life on screen, Alan’s own romantic life was far more content, with the star having been happily married to his childhood sweetheart Rita Horton, after falling for her in his teenage years.

Tragically, Alan passed away in 2016 at the age of 69 after privately battling pancreatic cancer.

Liam Neeson

Starring in Love Actually was actually quite a change of pace for star Liam Neeson after much of his career prior to the performance had been in serious dramatic roles.

From historical biopic Schindler’s List through to Star Wars: Episode I, there was no shortage of roles for him to sink his teeth into, with countless more such as Taken, Blacklight and Batman Begins also following since his Love Actually role.

Most recently, he has even been spotted in Irish comedy Derry Girls, much to the delight of his fans as once again he returned to form with a clear sense of humour.

Olivia Olson

One of the most unsung heroes of the film was young star Olivia Olson, who at the age of just 11 years old, stole the show with her stunning performance of Mariah Carey’s Christmas hit: All I want for Christmas is You.

Now aged 30, the star has continued to pursue a musical career, with the LA based singer even taking part on The X Factor: Celebrity in 2019 where she ended up coming 12th.

More recently however, she has turned her impressive voice towards more animated pursuits, with Olivia picking up several jobs as a voice artist on Cartoon Network’s hit series Adventure Time, where she plays Marceline the Vampire Queen.

She also surprised many fans by working on Disney’s animated series Phineas and Ferb, where she voices Vanessa Doofenshmirtz.

Bill Nighy

No round up of the Love Actually cast would be complete without mentioning Bill Nighy’s unforgettable performance as aging rocker Billy Mack who tickled audiences with his bid for a Christmas number one single.

No stranger to the acting world, Bill had already wracked up an impressive list of credentials long before his role in the film, and has continued to do so long after the film’s release all the way back in 2003.

Since then, he has appeared in About Time, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (he was Davy Jones), and even Harry Potter and the Deathy Hallows: Part 1.

Bill also took a turn on the boards of Broadway, when he appeared alongside actress Carey Mulligan in the 2015 production of Starlight – a role which even bagged him a Tony Award nomination.

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