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Love Actually script writer weighed in on theory two characters were secretly in love

Home> Entertainment> Film

Published 17:32 17 Dec 2025 GMT

Love Actually script writer weighed in on theory two characters were secretly in love

It's all because of one tiny line of dialogue

Michael Slavin

Michael Slavin

The script writer for Love Actually has weighed in on the theory that two characters in the film are secretly in love.

Just recently Rowan Atkinson spoke out about a popular fan theory from the Christmas film, confirming that his character was indeed a Christmas angel who takes so long to wrap Alan Rickman’s character’s gift to try and get him caught.

And if you think that's a crazy take, wait until you hear what people think Kevin's dad from Home Alone does for a living.

One major Love Actually theory that many fans have isn’t about a love story that we see on screen, but one that is vaguely hinted at through a line that viewers have picked up on.

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This involves Daniel and Karen, played by Liam Neeson and Emma Thompson.

Fans think he had a secret romance with Emma Thompson's character (Universal)
Fans think he had a secret romance with Emma Thompson's character (Universal)

The precise relationship between the two characters has long confused viewers.

Some think they're siblings, some think their children just go to the same school, others reckon Karen is Daniel's late wife's best friend - the consensus is that they're just good pals.

That was until one X user noticed one blink-and-you'll-miss-it line of dialogue.

This comes because, when he meets a potential love interest Carol played by Claudia Schiffer, he uses the wrong name and mistakenly calls her Karen.

One X user wrote: "I’ve watched Love Actually 4,000 times. HOW DID I NEVER REALIZE THAT LIAM NEESON IS IN LOVE WITH EMMA THOMPSON?"

For fans hoping that this was some sort of Friends 'I take you Rachel' style secret admission of love though, you’re going to be disappointed.

Emma Freud, the film’s script editor and longtime wife of director Richard Curtis, revealed that this was actually just a comical c*ck-up from Curtis rather than some major secret.

Speaking to news.com.au, she said: “That was genuinely a mistake by Richard who had forgotten that Emma Thompson’s character was called Karen.

“He just wanted it to be awkward for Liam in front of Claudia Schiffer and it was genuinely a coincidence.

She'd be much better off with Daniel anyways if you ask me (Universal)
She'd be much better off with Daniel anyways if you ask me (Universal)

“You know when they eat breakfast cereal in the kitchen together? Liam plays that scene without any romantic spark.”

She does add that it would be ‘quite a neat storyline’ but unfortunately it’s not canon.

Over the years Freud has let slip a number of hilarious and frustrating secrets about Love Actually, such as stating that Rickman and Thompson’s Harry and Karen do actually stay together despite him having an affair with his assistant Mia.

I think most of us would much rather she end up with Neeson’s Daniel.

The most fun fact Freud has revealed however is the reason behind Colin Firth’s character being called Jamie.

She tweeted in 2015: “Richard only called colin firth's character 'jamie' so the kids could say 'I hate uncle jamie'. His brother is called jamie.”

Featured Image Credit: Universal Pictures

Topics: Richard Curtis, TV and Film, Film, Christmas

Michael Slavin
Michael Slavin

Michael Slavin is LADbible's dedicated specialist Film and TV writer. Following his completion of a Masters in International Journalism at Salford University, he began working for the Warrington Guardian as a reporter. Throughout this he did freelance work about Entertainment for publications such as DiscussingFilm, where he was the Film and TV editor. Now, he is LAD's go to voice on all things Netflix, True Crime, and UK TV, as well as interviewing huge global stars such as Jake Gyllenhaal, Daisy Ridley, and Ben Stiller.

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@michaelslavin98

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