Love Actually director addresses Keira Knightley age gap in movie which fans are still shocked by

Twenty whole years since it first came out, Love Actually is still an absolute Christmas classic.

But while most fans love to switch on the Richard Curtis film for those festive feels, there has been controversy over the age gap between some of the stars.

For those who somehow don’t know, or perhaps have forgotten the storyline since last Christmas, Love Actually gives us a window into the tangled and complicated love lives of several couples during the festive season.

Directed and written by Curtis, one of these characters is Juliet, of course, played by Keira Knightley.

However, fans of the rom-com end up shocked each year to learn there was only a five-year age gap in real life between her and Thomas Brodie-Sangster, who plays young lad Sam.

Kiera was just 18 at the time of filming Love Actually and Thomas 13.

Don't forget to add into the mix that newlywed Juliet who married Peter - played by Chiwetel Ejiofor - was 26 at the time!

Universal

So yep, the age gap between those two was eight years – bigger than the one with little Thomas.

Ahead of the release of his new Christmas film, Genie, LADbible sat down with Curtis and mentioned the controversial age difference.

The director admitted it ‘didn’t seem too peculiar’ at the time.

Those age gaps were pointed out to Curtis, who went on to admit the casting would probably be approached differently now opposed to back in 2003.

“I'm really interested in whether or not I would think ‘don't do that’ now. And that actually now we probably wouldn't have gotten someone as young as Kiera was in.” he said.

Keira Knightley and Chiwetel Ejiofor in Love Actually.

“The great thing now is that everybody is bold enough to say anything they don't particularly like in what you do - kind of gives you a filter these days.

“But on the other hand, I'm thrilled we cast Keira because I thought she was perfect. And I don't think she reads in the film as being a teenager, I think she reads as being about 23. But it's interesting that they were far apart.”

Whichever way you look at it, Love Actually is still an absolute must-watch at Christmas. Although, Curtis is hoping his new film starring Melissa McCarthy and Gangs of London’s, Paapa Essiedu, can be an ‘alternative’.

Stephanie Mei-Ling/ Universal Pictures

He said: “Someone was talking to me the other day, saying they'd sat down and watched Love Actually with their kids and forgotten that there are quite a few scenes of explicit nudity.”

Not featuring those famous nude scenes or cheating husbands, Genie is more of a ‘fairy-tale comedy’ about a workaholic bloke (Essiedu) in New York City, who enlists the help of magical genie Flora (McCarthy) to help him win his wife and daughter back before Christmas Day.

“So I've tried to offer some clean family entertainment for a change,” Curtis added.

Sky Original, Genie, will be available on Sky Cinema and streaming service NOWTV from 1 December