Love Actually, whether you're a fan or not, has become a staple of Christmas viewing for many. However, what most viewers may not know is that the film was originally intended to take a very different direction.
The 2003 romantic comedy, directed by Richard Curtis, weaves together the stories of eight couples in the lead-up to Christmas. The star-studded cast includes Hugh Grant as the Prime Minister, Emma Thompson and the late Alan Rickman as married couple Karen and Harry, and Andrew Lincoln as Mark, who is secretly in love with his best friend's wife Juliet (played by Kieran Knightley).
Recently voted the UK's favourite feel-good film, Love Actually was initially planned to include a supernatural character with the power to change the characters' lives. While it might seem far-fetched, there are subtle hints of this supernatural plotline scattered throughout the movie.
So, who was this mystical character meant to be? Emma Freud, script editor for Love Actually, took to X, previously known as Twitter, to reveal the truth about one of the film's most cherished characters, reports the Mirror.
Rowan Atkinson's character Rufus is a jewellery salesman we meet through Harry (portrayed by Rickman). He caught viewers' attention with his excessively slow gift-wrapping of a gold necklace that Harry intends to secretly buy for his secretary during a shopping trip with his wife. Rufus meticulously packages the piece, carefully placing it in a box, then into a bag, and artistically adorning it with cinnamon sticks.
The reason behind Rufus' prolonged gift-wrapping, particularly as Harry urges him to hurry, has been the subject of fan theories for years. Freud has now shed light on the matter, explaining: "Originally Rowan's character over-wrapped the gift on purpose to stop Alan Rickman being able to buy the necklace. Because he was an angel."
If Rufus' original purpose to thwart Harry's attempt to buy the necklace had remained, one of the film's most heartbreaking moments where Karen discovers the necklace wasn't for her would have been avoided.
Although the plot took a different turn, Rufus still plays the role of a good Samaritan in Love Actually, despite a lack of any celestial abilities. Towards the end, Rufus makes another appearance at the airport, this time distracting an employee which allows young Sam (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) to reach Joanna (Olivia Olson) and reveal his feelings for her.
Following the disclosure about Rufus' original plotline, one admirer remarked: "That scene makes much more sense with that 'explanation' now," while another exclaimed: "OMG I KNEW IT! My husband and my family never believe me when I say he was a Christmas angel! Rowan Atkinson FTW!"
