Love Actually’s Casting Director Names 1 Lead Actor Who Would Not Be Cast Now

For many of us, Christmas just isn’t Christmas until we’ve settled down to watch the likes of Bill Nighy, Martine McCutcheon, Keira Knightley and Colin Firth in our annual viewing of Love Actually.

But while the festive film has become a firm fan favorite over the years, the team behind the film have said there would be a major shake-up for the cast if the film was released today.

“The first thing is that I wanted to cast a female prime minister,” casting director Fiona Weir told me Subway.

“I think if we did it today, Richard (Curtis, the film’s director and screenwriter) would write it very differently. Twenty years later, it’s a different country, it’s a different world, a lot has changed.

“So I think it’s going to be a very different script, you can’t really cast actors on it. But the one thing I can declare is that we would definitely cast a female prime minister.”

Fiona even has someone in mind for the role, Bridgerton’s Adjoa Andoh, who she thinks would be “wonderful”.

Writer and director Richard Curtis has previously voiced some of his regrets about the Christmas rom-com, including comments in the script about the weight of Martine’s character and a general lack of diversity.

“I think I was inattentive and not as clever as I should have been,” he said.

Richard has also noticed: “There are things you would change (about the film), but thank God society changes.

“My film will feel dated at some moments. The lack of diversity makes me feel uncomfortable and a bit stupid.”

And now Fiona has echoed those sentiments.

“Obviously there are a few things in it that I’d rather not be,” she told Metro. “There is a certain comment about Martine McCutcheon’s physicality that Richard himself would say he wished wasn’t in there.

“It was something he felt was humorous at the time, but now realizes it’s not appropriate. I think that’s the case, of course.”

Fiona continued: “But where it holds up is that the emotions in it are completely authentic. As the saying goes, love is everywhere, it’s not always seen. All the characters, they’re wonderful actors.

“Nothing is posted, it is not cynical in any way. It is joyful and festive. I think that’s why it holds up, because it was done with the complete lack of cynicism that is Richard. Richard is completely without cynicism.”

Love Actually can be streamed on Now.