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Richard Curtis has admitted that Love Actually’s lack of diversity now makes him feel “uncomfortable” and “a little silly” as he reflects on the film’s 20th anniversary.
The 66-year-old screenwriter, who directed and wrote the 2003 Christmas classic, said there are things he would “change” about the film when he thinks about it 20 years later.
Speaking to host Diane Sawyer for the ABC special The Laughter & Secrets of Love Actually: 20 Years Later, he admitted that he thinks Love Actually is “obsolete” at times.
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Diversity: Richard Curtis has admitted that Love Actually’s lack of diversity now makes him feel “uncomfortable” and “a little silly” when speaking for the film’s 20th anniversary
“There are things you would change, but thank goodness society is, you know, changing. So my film is bound to feel outdated at times,” he said.
To which Diane, 76, asked, “What’s the one that makes you shiver?”
Richard admitted that the film’s “lack of diversity” makes him feel “uncomfortable” as he also discusses his boss-employee romances in the film.
“I mean, there are things about the movie, you know, the lack of diversity makes me feel uncomfortable and kind of stupid,” he said.
“You know, I think there are sort of three lots with bosses and people who work for them.”
Changes: The screenwriter, 66, who directed the 2003 Christmas classic, said he would “change” things about the film (pictured Keira Knightley and Andrew Lincoln in the film)
In the intertwining storylines, Harry (Alan Rickman) has an affair with his secretary, played by Heike Makatsch, while Prime Minister David (Hugh Grant) also romances Natalie (Martine McCutcheon), who is one of his domestic servants.
Meanwhile, writer Jamie (Colin Firth) and his housekeeper Aurélia (Lúcia Moniz) also form a close bond as they spend time together while Jamie works.
The star-studded ensemble cast also includes Emma Thompson, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy, Liam Neeson, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Martin Freeman, Joanna Page, and Rowan Atkinson, among others.
Since its release in 2003, Love Actually, which follows the intertwining stories of various characters leading up to Christmas Day, has become a true holiday classic.
The film follows eight London couples who try to deal with their relationships in different ways.
And the cast has now reunited for a one-hour special – which aired November 29 on ABC but has no UK air date yet – to mark the film’s 20th anniversary.
The Laught & Secrets of Love Actually: 20 Years Later journalist Diane interviewed the actors as well as writer and director Richard.
The one-off special “watched the film become a beloved Christmas tradition and a global sensation, providing new insight into its behind-the-scenes secrets and iconic scenes.”
Elsewhere in the reunion special, Richard also admitted that the multi-layered romance story was a gamble at the time.
Romances: Richard also addressed the characters’ romances between bosses and employees. PM David (Hugh Grant) has a romance with his co-worker Natalie (Martine McCutcheon)
Cast: The star-studded ensemble cast also includes Emma Thompson (right), Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy (left), Liam Neeson, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, and Martin Freeman, among others
“I think the 20 years show what a youthful optimist I probably was when I wrote it,” he said.
“We get thousands of movies about serial killers and there have only been about nine. And yet a million people will fall in love, feeling that this is the most interesting moment of their lives. Good deeds within families and good deeds within communities.’
“If you look at what happened during COVID and the extraordinary kind of courage and heroism. I think the way to think about life is that every day has the potential, in all its simplicity, just to be beautiful,” he added.
Funny: Richard also touched on Hugh Grant’s famous dance scene in the Christmas classic, admitting the actor hoped the scene would be cut from the final edit
Richard also talked about Hugh Grant’s famous dance scene in the Christmas classic, admitting that the actor hoped the scene would be cut from the final edit.
In the famous scene, he danced as a PM around 10 Downing Street to The Pointer Sisters’ song Jump before realizing someone was watching him and quickly stopped.
Speaking of the sequence, Richard said “I think he was hoping I’d get sick or something and we’d say, ‘Oh, well, what a shame, we’re going to have to lose that dance sequence'”.
Richard went on to say that Hugh was “grumpy” the day they filmed the dance scene, but “it was a contractual obligation” that he honored.
Hugh, who appeared alongside Richard in the interview, added: “I saw it in the script and I thought, ‘Well, I’m going to hate doing that. I didn’t feel like dancing at all, let alone rehearsing.”
Despite his reservations, Hugh said proudly that he came up with the idea of having the Prime Minister’s secretary catch him dancing.
He said, “And to this day there are many people – and I agree with them – who think this is the most excruciating scene ever committed on celluloid.
“But some people like it!”
Hugh, who played David in the film, admitted he wasn’t sure he could pull off the now-famous Downing Street dance scene.
Oh no! In the famous scene, he danced as a PM around 10 Downing Street to The Pointer Sisters’ song Jump before realizing someone was watching him and quickly stopped