Entertainment
Richard Curtis admits he’s ‘uncomfortable’ by lack of diversity in Love Actually: ‘Feel a bit stupid’-Alicia Adejobi-Entertainment – Metro
The Christmas classic features a predominantly white cast and heterosexual couples.
Hugh Grant delivered a memorable performance as the Prime Minister in Love Actually (Picture: Rex Features)
Richard Curtis has some major regrets about his Christmas classic Love Actually, most notably the film’s glaring lack of diversity.
The star-studded cast of the festive rom-com, including Hugh Grant and Dame Emma Thompson, are celebrating its anniversary with the flick released in cinemas in November 2003.
With almost two decades to reflect on the positive impact of Love Actually – it’s widely regarded as one of the best Christmas films ever – director Curtis has also had time to realise where the movie falls short.
‘There are things that you would change, but thank God society is changing,’ Curtis told Diane Sawyer in a one-hour special titled The Laughter & Secrets of Love Actually: 20 Years Later, which aired in the US on Tuesday.
He continued: ‘My film is bound in some moments to feel out of date. The lack of diversity makes me feel uncomfortable and a bit stupid.’
‘There is such extraordinary love that goes on every minute in so many ways, all the way around the world, and makes me wish my film was better.
Richard Curtis has regrets about his classic festive rom-com (Picture: WireImage)
‘It makes me wish I’d made a documentary just to kind of observe it.’
Dame Emma heaped praise on the British filmmaker and his ‘golden heart’.
‘He’s truly a good person (and) in our business that’s something that (is) to be treasured,’ the actress said.
Lead actor Grant added: ‘He is funny, that’s a black and white thing… and (the story) comes from the heart, it’s true.’
Sharing an insight into his mindset, Curtis explained: ‘I do think that the way to think about life is that every day has the potential just to be gorgeous.
The cast, including Martine McCutcheon, was predominantly white and heterosexual (Picture: Universal/Dna/Working Title/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)
Love Actually was one of Keira Knightley’s earliest roles (Picture: Rex Features)
Dame Emma Thompson starred alongside the late Alan Rickman (Picture: Alamy Stock Photo)
‘I think when you get it right, films can act as a reminder of how lovely things can be and how there are all sorts of things which we might pass by, which are in fact the best moments to our lives.’
Bill Nighy said the film had been ‘wonderful to be a part of’ and recalled fans telling him how Love Actually helped get them through life-changing events such as undergoing chemotherapy and divorce.
The actor, who won a Bafta for best actor in a supporting role in the film, added that it’s ‘amazing the way it’s entered the language’.
Love Actually follows different aspects of love as shown through 10 separate stories involving a wide variety of individuals, many of who are shown to be interlinked as the tales progress.
The story begins five weeks before Christmas and is played out in a weekly countdown until the holiday.
Other notable cast members included Colin Firth,Keira Knightly, Liam Neeson, Martine McCutcheon and the late Alan Rickman.
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