- Real lovea holiday favorite, features a small but important cameo from Rowan Atkinson.
- Atkinson’s character was originally supposed to be an angel who tried to prevent the affair.
- Ultimately, Rufus symbolizes the importance of random acts of kindness and the spirit of Christmas in the film.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year to cozy up with a hot drink and watch the best holiday movies. And among them is the popular romantic comedy, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year: Real love. This entertaining romantic comedy stars some of the UK’s greatest actors, helping it become a holiday classic. A few notable names, e.g. Hugh grant, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompsonand late Alan Rickman. But among the other famous faces in the film, there is one small and special cameo by the British comedian, Rowan Atkinson.
Script writer and director Richard Curtis from Four weddings and a funeral, Real love follows the lives of eight interconnected couples as they navigate their complicated love lives. The story takes place during Christmas in London, England. Rowan Atkinson plays Rufus, a jewelry salesman who was originally written with much deeper intent. It’s an interpretation that gives a different perspective on Atkinson’s enigmatic character, who is vital to this film.
Real love
The various loosely interconnected stories follow the lives of eight very different couples as they navigate their love lives during the crazy month before Christmas in London, England.
- Date of issue
- September 7, 2003
- Director
- Richard Curtis
- Throw
- Bill Nighy, Gregor Fisher, Rory McGregor, Colin Firth, Sienna Guillory, Liam Neeson
- Rating
- R
- lead time
- 135 minutes
- Genres
- Comedy, Documentary, Drama, Romance
- Writers
- Richard Curtis
- Tagline
- The best romantic comedy.
- Main genre
- Comedy
- Studio
- universal studios
Who was Rowan Atkinson’s original character in Love Actually?
In 2015, Richard Curtis’ wife and film director Real love, Emma Freudrevealed that her husband had different plans for Rowan Atkinson’s character. Freud tweeted“Originally, Rowan’s character specially wrapped the gift to prevent Alan Rickman’s character, Harry, from buying the necklace. Because he was an angel.” Rufus is a jewelry salesman who first appears in the story of Harry (Alan Rickman) and Karen (Emma Thompson).
Harry is the managing director of a design agency and is married to Karen, a housewife and mother of two. Harry is seduced by his irresistibly gorgeous secretary Mia (Heike Makács), who repeatedly flirted with him in the office. Rufus plays into their story when Mia seduces Harry into giving her a Christmas present, which seems to give him a reason to have an affair. While Christmas shopping at the mall with Karen, Harry goes alone to the jewelry department to buy Mia a stunning gold necklace with a heart-shaped pendant. Desperate to avoid getting caught by his wife, Harry tries to lunge at Rufus, who takes too long to elegantly wrap the necklace.
Sorry, Richard Curtis, “Wishful thinking doesn’t really come true.”
Maybe we don’t want Hugh Grant to be Prime Minister?
In the original script, Richard Curtis wrote that the angel Rufus knew that Harry was about to have an affair with Mia and was sent to stop him from cheating. That’s why it took him an endless amount of time to wrap Harry’s gift. However, although this detail was cut from the script, this scene still establishes the importance of Rufus because he is not immediately visible when Harry first enters the jewelry department. As he looks at the necklace through the case, Atkinson gracefully appears on screen after the other employee leaves. Curtis may have cut this prominent detail from the script (as well as several other stories from the film), but Atkinson’s smooth entrance to take care of Harry only further symbolizes how important his role is in this film.
How symbolic is Rowan Atkinson’s character in Love Actually?
Rufus makes his second and final appearance in Daniel (Liam Neeson) and Sam (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) story towards the end of the film. On Christmas Eve, airport security stops Sam from confessing his feelings to his beloved Joanna (Olivia Olson) before leaving for the USA While Daniel is thinking about how to help him, a stranger in a large dark coat accidentally helps them, distracting the guards. Daniel suggests that he sneak past them since he is small enough to avoid being noticed. After successfully running past them, Rufus tells security that he forgot his ticket and turns around to give Sam a subtle, knowing look that says, “You’re welcome.”
Rowan Atkinson’s role didn’t have to be an angel in the final version to help Daniel and Sam. This latest gesture demonstrates random acts of kindness from some strangers. Despite how Alan Rickman’s character treated Rufus, his open display of gift wrap comes from good intentions as it inadvertently stops him from ruining his happy marriage to Karen. Atkinson’s character doesn’t have to be an Angel to understand that any ordinary person can get a helping hand. To celebrate the spirit of Christmas, Real love offers this special message.
Real love available to stream on Netflix in the US.
Watch on Netflix
Source: Collider
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