Keira Knightley Reflects on ‘Love, Actually’ Cue Card Scene, 20 Years Later

According to the rules of Christmas, one has a heart of stone if they don’t melt a little bit for Love, Actually, the ultimate holiday rom-com that continues to endure more than 20 years after its release. The Richard Curtis film drips with sentimentality, and while detractors call it manipulative, its heart is in the right place, and it usually leaves viewers feeling warm and fuzzy inside. That said, there is one scene that has always been a tad problematic no matter how you spin it, and the co-star of the scene, Keira Knightley, believes it’s just as creepy as some viewers think it is.

During her appearance on this week’s edition of The Graham Norton Show (via People), the actress revealed that she once encountered a group of construction workers holding up cue cards reminiscent of the “To me you are perfect” cards held up by her co-star Andrew Lincoln in Love, Actually. When describing the experience, Knightley admitted that it was equal parts creepy and sweet, much like it was in the movie when it happened to her character:

“I was stuck in traffic for ages recently and a car full of builders next to me started holding up the signs like in the movie. It was creepy and sweet at the same time, much like it was in the film.”

It’s a moment that has been mimicked across social media, especially around this time of year, as people cue up Love, Actually to get in the holiday spirit. The scene is probably the signature moment in the film, and one of the reasons why Love, Actually is viewed as a romantic experience. And with actors like Knightley and a pre-Walking Dead Lincoln, it’s easy to see why audiences have latched onto the storyline, but a look deeper shows the scene isn’t quite as sweet as it appears.

The Keira Knightley and Andrew Lincoln Plot in ‘Love, Actually’ Is a Little Creepy

In the film, Juliet (Knightley) has just married Mark’s (Lincoln) best friend, Peter (Chiwetel Ejiofor), and Mark has been tasked with capturing the happy day on camera as the wedding videographer. At first, it appears Mark wants nothing to do with Juliet, perhaps coming off a bit jealous that his best friend will be too busy to hang out with the boys. However, when Juliet stops by to get the wedding footage, Mark is very reluctant to give it to her. The audience learns why after the pair sit down to watch it at her insistence. Mark’s camera has made Juliet the primary focus of the video, thus revealing his infatuation with her. To her credit, Juliet handles it well and isn’t creeped out (one of many moments when the film asks the audience to suspend their disbelief), and it appears the matter is awkwardly dismissed.

Related Love Actually Director Admits This Infamous Scene Is a ‘Bit Weird’

Director Richard Curtis reflects on Love Actually and calls the To Me, You Are Perfect scene “a bit weird” after careful reflection.

However, in a move that wouldn’t be tolerated by any best friend, Mark shows up on Juliet and Peter’s front porch to declare his affections via cue card. Juliet answers the door, and Mark is standing there with cue cards and a radio playing light Christmas music. The first cue card tells Juliet to tell Peter it’s just choral singers so he won’t come to the door as well. Through cue cards, Mark reveals his true feelings for Juliet, with the most notable card reading, “To me you are perfect,” as you are supposed to tell the truth on Christmas. Again, she’s not disturbed by this. Mark soon leaves, and Juliet runs out onto the street to give him a sweet kiss on the lips.

Adding another layer to all of this is Juliet’s age – it’s unclear exactly how old she’s meant to be in the film, but Knightley was just 17 when she shot Love, Actually, and she looks her age. Sure, out of context, the scene is very sweet, but when all the puzzle pieces are in place, it’s definitely problematic.

None of this has stopped Love, Actually from being a staple of the holiday season, annual discourse and all. Written and directed by Richard Curtis, the film features a stacked ensemble cast and focuses on different aspects of love through 10 separate stories that are intertwined. On a budget of $40 million, the movie grossed $250.2 million worldwide, and even though reviews were initially mixed, it remains a beloved holiday rom-com to this day.

Release Date September 7, 2003

Runtime 135

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