Rowan Atkinson has confirmed a wild Love Actually theory that explains why his character takes so long to wrap Alan Rickman’s present.
The Richard Curtis film is one of the most beloved Christmas movies around, featuring some huge names like Keira Knightley, Hugh Grant, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Emma Thompson, and Alan Rickman.
In the film, Rowan Atkinson plays a shop clerk in an iconic scene in which he takes absolutely ages to wrap up a Christmas present Alan Rickman’s character is buying for his mistress, something that almost leads to him being caught out by his wife.
Fans have theorised for years on social media over why he does this, but Atkinson has finally confirmed the theories.
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The Mr Bean actor spoke in a new interview with Scott Mills on BBC Two’s Breakfast show, promoting his new Netflix show Man vs Baby.
As part of this Mills asked about popular online claims that, in earlier versions of the script, he had been playing a Christmas angel and was set to have more screen time than his two short scenes.
Speaking about this, Atkinson said: “Well actually, I mean in theory [being a Christmas angel] is still his role when my character is doing the wrapping in Selfridge’s of the gift.”
After the earlier drafts in which he was a Christmas angel leaked, many Reddit theories have suggested that the reason Rufus (Atkinson) wraps Harry’s (Rickman’s) gift so slowly is because he was a Christmas angel trying to get him caught.
Atkinson confirmed this was why he was doing it in the film, something that completely changes Love Actually.
The actor went on to say that, mirroring the film itself, Rickman was ‘driven insane’ by the scene due in part to them filming it late into the night in Selfridges.
The idea that Atkinson is still an angel even if it isn’t explicitly spelled out has been a popular one amongst fans, with one popular Reddit comment on a thread of the fact he was written as one in an early draft saying: “I don't see why he still can't be an angel.
“I always assumed he was. He was clearly trying to prevent the purchase of the necklace, and knew exactly what was going on with drummer boy.”
Another comment on the same thread said: “Yea I've honestly always thought that was what the viewer was supposed to infer.
“I never considered him not being an angel.”
This was first revealed by Emma Freud, the script editor of the film, who said on X: “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.”
Now, after 23 years, we finally now that was still the case.
Love Actually is available to stream on Netflix now.
Topics: Rowan Atkinson, Netflix, Richard Curtis, Film, TV and Film
Michael Slavin