‘Love Actually’ director feels ‘uncomfortable’ and ‘stupid’ about film’s lack of diversity

‘Love Actually’ just celebrated its 20th anniversary and is already poised to once again become one of those films that will be returning this holiday season. But Richard Curtis’ film has also long been under scrutiny for all those details that haven’t aged so well in the past two decades, from certain displays of toxic love to the lack of diversity in the main cast.

The director and screenwriter of ‘Love Actually’ himself took advantage of the television special broadcast in the United States on the occasion of the anniversary to speak about these criticisms of the film. Far from defending yourself it is relieved that “Thank God society is changing” and admits the lack of diversity is something she regrets: “My film is meant to make some moments feel from another era. The lack of diversity makes me feel uncomfortable and stupid”. Still, she appreciates the constant love the film receives, even as he adds: “Makes me wish my movie was better”.

The protagonists, however, prefer to stay with the power that the film has to warm hearts. Hugh Grant says so “history comes from the heart” and underlines: “When (Richard) writes about love, he really means it. And that’s pretty rare”. Emma Thompson is full of praise for the director: “He has a heart of gold, he’s a genuinely good person and in our industry that’s something to be treasured.”. Bill Nighy is surprised by the depth he has had in the audience over the years: “People come to tell me it’s helped them deal with chemotherapy or divorce, or that they see it when they’re alone. People throw “Love Actually” parties and know it by heart. They play the soundtrack with a live orchestra. He has become very loved and it’s a wonderful thing to have been a part of that.”. The director and screenwriter explains the idea behind the film: “I think you have to think about life as every day has the potential to be valuable. I think when you understand that, movies can act as a reminder of how good things can be and how there are all kinds of things that can happen. unnoticed, but which are actually the best moments of our lives”.

The most “atrocious” dance in the history of cinema

It’s true that there are many scenes from ‘Love Actually’ that are already part of popular culture, like that declaration by Andrew Lincoln’s character with signs on the door of a (sic) newlywed Keira Knightley. One of the most famous is that of Hugh Grant dancing through the corridors of Downing Street to the tune of ‘Jump’. The actor recalled in the special what he thought when he discovered the scripted scene: “I thought, ‘I’m going to hate doing that. No Brit can dance when he’s sober at 8 in the morning. And today there are a lot of people, and I agree with them, who believe it’s the most heinous scene ever committed on celluloid. But there are also people who like it”. Tell that to the impersonations that populate TikTok every Christmas. Hugh Grant says it was he who had the idea of ​​getting caught by his secretary in the middle of the show. Richard Curtis recalls that the actor tried in every way to get out of the filming of the dance, but he knew that in the end he would give in: “I was grumpy but I knew I was bound by a contract”. Grant says he dared to see her again, but only drunk and in the company of his wife: “All for the pain, for the suffering”.

The ‘Love Actually’ 20th anniversary special does not yet have a broadcast date or location in Spain. The film is available for streaming on Prime Video and Movistar+.