My, how they’ve grown! Love Actually’s child stars Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Olivia Olson look back
>
20 years after their beloved prepubescent romance stole the show in the iconic romantic comedy Love Actually, Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Olivia Olson reflect on their experiences.
Brodie-Sangster, 32, and Olson, 30, made their feature film debut in the 2003 film as the lovelorn Sam and his American crush Joanna.
They both spoke with Diane Sawyer for the new special The Laughter & Secrets of Love Actually: 20 Years Later — A Diane Sawyer Special, which aired Tuesday night on ABC and reflected on their first major roles.
Looking back: 20 years after their beloved pre-pubescent romance stole the show in the iconic romantic comedy Love Actually, Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Olivia Olson reflect on their experiences
Debuts: Brodie-Sangster, 32, and Olson, 30, made their feature film debut in the 2003 film as lovelorn Sam and his American crush Joanna
Reflective: They both spoke with Diane Sawyer for the new special The Laughter & Secrets of Love Actually: 20 Years Later — A Diane Sawyer Special, which aired Tuesday night on ABC, reflecting on their first major roles
Brodie-Sangster told Sawyer that he “couldn’t even believe it’s been 20 years” since the movie came out.
“I saw it last Christmas for the first time since the premiere. And I forgot how good it was,” Brodie-Sangster admitted.
His character Sam sees aging rock star Billy Mack (Bill Nighy) as a drummer and believes that if he can become a drummer, he can really win over Olivia.
Couldn’t believe it: Brodie-Sangster told Sawyer he ‘couldn’t even believe it had been 20 years’ since the movie came out
Win over: His character Sam sees aging rock star Billy Mack (Bill Nighy) as a drummer and believes that if he can become a drummer, he can really win over Olivia
He is guided in his search for love by his stepfather Daniel (Liam Neeson), whose wife Joanna recently passed away, while Brodie-Sangster reflects on his relationship with Neeson.
“I mean, Liam was great. He treats me like his son. He was absolutely sweet to me. I just created this environment where I felt very comfortable,” says Brodie-Sangster.
“At the time I thought, you know, I was kind of grown up, and I’ve been doing this for a few years now. I more or less knew what I was doing. So I was very serious about it. But no, looking back I forgot how small and new I was,” he added.
Daniel: He is guided in his search for love by his stepfather Daniel (Liam Neeson), whose wife Joanna recently passed away, as Brodie-Sangster reflects on his relationship with Neeson
Awesome: “I mean, Liam was awesome. He treats me like his son. He was absolutely sweet to me. I just created this environment where I felt very comfortable,” says Brodie-Sangster
He added that his favorite memory of that scene was getting pizza for lunch from a nearby store, but the interview was cut short in the strangest way possible: threat of arrest.
During their conversation, a crew member approaches them and tells them to leave because they “don’t have the proper permit and they’re going to arrest us.”
Brodie-Sangster called the interruption “abrupt,” while Sawyer responded with a joke.
Arrest: He added that his favorite memory of that scene was getting pizza for lunch from a nearby store, but the interview was cut short in the strangest way: threat of arrest
Abrupt: Brodie-Sangster called the interruption “abrupt,” while Sawyer responded with a joke
‘Oh, are they? Now we’re going to run,” Sawyer said, laughing.
Sawyer also caught up with Olson, who reprized her iconic rendition of All I Want For Christmas Is You, while Sawyer revealed she’s still a musician living in California.
“I mean, when I look back on it, I’m really proud to have been a part of something so big,” Olson said.
Caught up: Sawyer also caught up with Olson, who reprized her iconic rendition of All I Want For Christmas Is You, as Sawyer revealed she’s still a musician living in California
Really proud: “I mean, when I look back on it, I’m really proud that I was a part of something so big,” said Olson
“Every Christmas I get the calls and the texts. “Hey, look what I’m looking at.” I think it’s grown so much and it’s become such a nostalgic part of our vacation,” she added.
She also revealed that she kept the original Love Actually script signed by the entire cast.
“I’m so glad I lasted this long,” Olivia said, with Sawyer saying it reminded her of a high school yearbook.
Script: She also revealed that she kept the original Love Actually script signed by the entire cast