25 things you didn’t know about your favorite rom-coms

Love Actually: Alternate title: A Whole Gaggle of Wizards

You may have thought we were joking when we said most British movies have a Harry Potter connection, but alas, it’s true.

Love Actually is a beloved holiday rom-com that follows the interrelated lives of different couples in England during Christmastime. It’s a movie that’s not only great during the holidays, but all year round.

Now back to Harry Potter. When David the Prime Minister (played by Hugh Grant) gives a speech to the President of the United States (played by Billy Bob Thornton) in the film, he mentions Harry Potter as one of the great things about Britain. While that’s definitely true, what makes it funny is the fact that so many cast members are actually a part of the Harry Potter universe!

Like we mentioned in the previous slide, Grant was one of the many people in Bridget Jones’s Diary who had a Harry Potter connection. Well, he’s also  in Love Actually, because almost every English actor is, and like we said, if you’re an English actor, chances are you have a link to the beloved franchise.

You may not know this, but Hugh Grant was supposed to play Gildeory Lockhart in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Unfortunately, he had to drop the role due to scheduling conflicts, but plenty of his Love Actually co-stars were part of the Harry Potter universe!

Emma Thompson was Professor Trelawney, Alan Rickman was Severus Snape, and Bill Nighy was Rufus Scrimgeour. Frances de la Tour, who appeared in deleted scenes in the film, was also in the Harry Potter universe as Madame Maxime, the headmistress of Beauxbatons.

Honestly, if you’re a British actor and you weren’t in the Harry Potter series, who even are you?