Love Actually’s Joanna Page reveals Judy role wasn’t her first choice amid worries over the part-Lucy Norris-Entertainment – Metro

Joanna Page admits her role in Love Actually wasn’t her first choice (Picture: WireImage)

Love Actually’s Joanna Page admitted she never intended to take on the role of Judy when it came to auditioning for the Richard Curtis mega-hit. 

The Welsh actress, 45, revealed she auditioned for the project with hopes of playing Laura Linney’s Sarah – a broken-hearted office worker who struggled to tell her co-worker she harboured romantic feelings towards him – but ultimately appeared in the flick as Just Judy. 

Acting opposite Martin Freeman, 51, Joanna’s storyline centered around her character’s work as a film body double who met her match in John while on set, with the pair subbed in to block out a sex scene. 

The Gavin and Stacey star shared that producers felt she was ‘far too young’ for Sarah and offered her the opportunity to tackle Judy instead.

Speaking exclusively with Metro.co.uk she remembered: ‘Knowing that I was actually going to be in a Richard Curtis film was huge.

‘I originally auditioned for the Laura Linney part and I met them and they said I was far too young for it but would I read for the part of Judy?

Martin Freeman starred opposite Joanna in the 2003 film (Picture: Shutterstock)

‘So I was a bit worried thinking, “oh my gosh I don’t know if I’ll be able to do that part”.’

The famous face went on to share her worries over who her co-star would be and admitted the casting team’s choice made the decision for her.

‘I found out it was Martin Freeman and he’s so adorable and such a lovely fella so I said yes definitely of course, of course, I’d love to do that,’ she said.

Joanna was busy with more than just movie work way back in 2003, as she also revealed it was the year she tied the knot with fellow actor James Thornton. 

She recounted the unique wedding gift which director Richard presented to her following wrapping scenes for the 2003 cult classic.

Joanna originally auditioned for the part of Sarah played by Laura Linney (Picture: ABC)

The star married her actor husband James Thornton in the same year the film was shot (Picture: Getty Images)

‘When John and Judy kiss and I say “all I want for Christmas is you” and then in that scene along the road there’s this huge blow up penguin and I remember Richard gave it to me as a wedding present,’ the mother-of-three shared. 

Joanna continued: ‘That Christmas we blew it up and it was absolutely huge in our garden and it was lovely!’ 

When she’s not treating fans to behind the scenes secrets, the actress is working with the National Lottery to give away free cinema tickets to Love Actually on 23 December. 

She said of her involvement in the campaign that hopes to say thanks to its players and bring them together this Christmas: ‘I think it’s brilliant because when you play the money goes towards really good charities. 

‘I went to visit Cariad Pet Therapy where they have gorgeous dogs and we took them to a care home and spending the day with them and seeing the difference it made was so lovely.

‘I hope it brings some happiness, community spirit and loveliness.

‘It’s quite difficult around Christmas time with everyone’s coughs and colds and illness and the strikes keeping us all apart – it’s just nice to bring everyone together and being involved with that is really nice.’ 

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