Love Actually has become synonymous with Christmas for many, but not all celebrities share this festive enthusiasm. Keira Knightley, who starred in the romantic comedy, revealed surprising sentiments about the film and the holiday season during her recent appearance on ITV's Lorraine.
Knightley, now 39, disclosed she has only watched the film once since its release, stating, “I’ve only seen it once – which is nothing to do with it [the movie itself]. I’ve only ever watched anything I’ve done once so it’s amazing it has this whole life outside me.” Her memories of the 2003 film are intertwined with her experiences as an actress, reflecting on its emergence as a Christmas classic, emphasizing how “amazing Love Actually just sort of grew and grew.”
Meanwhile, Hugh Grant, who played the charming UK Prime Minister David, was less enthusiastic about his experience filming the movie. He infamously critiqued it as “psychotic,” stating after the first viewing, “Is this the most psychotic thing we’ve ever been in?” Recognizing the emotional depth Richard Curtis, the film's writer, tried to highlight, he noted, “But the thing is with him, what you have to recognize is when he writes about love, he means it.” It’s this honesty about love, even when dressed up absurdly, which has endeared the movie to many, regardless of its perceived quirks.
Grant’s discomfort wasn’t limited to the script. He characterized filming his iconic dance scene as “absolute hell.” He described the dreaded moment: “Imagine you’re a grumpy 40-year-old Englishman... It was absolute hell.” Co-star Colin Firth confirmed this sentiment, remembering Grant making “a terrible fuss” about the dance but allowing it to become one of the film’s highlights.
While some celebrities embrace the joy of Christmas through films like Love Actually, others are openly scornful of the holiday's traditions. Larry David, for example, has been vocal about his disdain for Christmas, saying, “I detest all holidays but none as much as Christmas.” His sentiment emphasizes the loathsome music and overwhelming consumerism associated with the season, viewing it fundamentally as negative.
Ozzy Osbourne's grievances echo those of David when he proclaimed, “I f—king hate Christmas.” Meanwhile, Colin Firth himself admitted he struggles with the season, expressing, “It’s sad, really,” sharing how the overabundance of jingles and festive noise drives him to darkness. Oscar-winning actress Marion Cotillard also shied away from the holiday spirit, once stating, “I’m not a Christmas person,” even recounting childhood battles with her mother over gift-giving.
Miley Cyrus has been candid about embracing sadness at this time of year, reflecting on the “excessiveness and greed” surrounding Christmas, emphasizing her hope for love and acceptance instead. Such varied perspectives reveal the complex feelings many celebrities harbor about the holiday.
Notably, Noel Gallagher expressed his disdain for Christmas through humor, criticizing the holiday’s consumerist excess, declaring there is “too much food, too much ‘We Are The World.’” His elaborate ambivalence—filled with both sarcasm and genuine discomfort—captures the holiday's somewhat contradictory nature.
Even Jennifer Aniston shared ambivalent feelings about her Christmas experiences, describing her childhood traditions as “humiliations,” casting light on her complicated relationship with the holiday spirit.
Karl Lagerfeld took the matter even farther, dismissing holidays altogether, stating, “Holidays were invented for people who go to the same place every day and do the same thing.” His view underlines the harshness some celebrities feel toward mandatory cheerfulness during the festive season.
Despite Love Actually embodying the spirit of Christmas for many, these divergent celebrity opinions reflect the complex feelings surrounding not just the film, but the holiday itself. From Hollywood’s sweet rom-coms to the unique bitterness often voiced by their stars, the conversations sparked by Love Actually extend far beyond romance.
Through the lens of celebrity opinions on both Love Actually and Christmas, it’s evident this beloved film exists as much as a source of reverence as one of discomfort and disdain. The nuanced responses encourage audiences to reflect on their own holiday sentiments as we plunge headlong once again this season.
