Love Actually fans are only just realising why it took Rowan Atkinson so long to wrap that necklace & more film secrets

AS CHRISTMAS draws near, most of us will be curled on the sofa watching the nation’s favourite festive film, Love Actually.

Despite it being released 20 years ago it seems to continue to surprise fans.

The film directed by Richard Curtis follows multiple people on their quest to find love at Christmas, and as there are so many storylines to keep up with, fans spot different details each time.

One of fans’ favourite storylines plays out between Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman, whose characters Karen and Harry have been married for years.

But it comes crashing down when Harry has his head turned in the office by his attractive younger assistant Mia.

In the storyline, Rowan Atkinson plays a small, but important role as a shop assistant who wraps up an expensive gift that Harry is buying for Mia, behind his wife’s back.

In one of the most frustrating but comedic scenes, Atkinson takes his sweet time after offering to gift wrap the present – a luxurious necklace.

He takes longer and longer, with the gift-wrapping becoming more elaborate by adding cinnamon sticks, mistletoe and glitter.

And Harry becomes more and more tense, fretting that his wife will be back any moment and see his illicit purchase – which isn’t for her.

You might have thought the scene was added to show off Rowan’s comedy skills, but it turns out there’s a deeper meaning behind the scene.

Emma Freud, the script editor of the film (and Richard Curtis’ wife) took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to reveal the secret.

She wrote: “Rowan Atkinson‘s character over-wrapped the gift on purpose to stop Alan Rickman being able to buy the necklace. Because he was an angel.”

Essentially, his character is meant to have clocked Harry was up to no good and took his time so that Karen could catch her husband out.

In the scene, Harry eventually becomes so frustrated and worried his wife is about to arrive back that he stops Atkinson in his tracks altogether and leaves without a gift-wrapped present.

Emma also confirmed on the social media platform that Alan’s character did in fact have an affair with his assistant Mia, although viewers don’t see it on screen.

Atkinson’s character comes back later in the film to fulfill yet another good deed.

During the airport scene he helps the young boy Sam get through airport security to get a kiss form his school crush by hiding him under his coat.

Originally, Richard Curtis said he was meant to disintegrate to show off his angelic side, but he decided against it in the end.

It’s also been revealed that in the scene where Jamie played by Colin Firth loses his books to the river he and Aurelia jump in to save what they can.

But the river was actually just 18 inches deep and the pair had to kneel down and pretend they were in deep water.

It was also overrun by mosquitos and Colin was bitten so badly his elbow swelled up to the size of an avocado, requiring medical attention.  

We all love the scene where Colin heads to the US and finally gets some attention from girls, and it turns out, he did too..

According to IMBD, Kris Marshall who played the loveable character didn’t get paid for the scene.

Apparently, the star was so pleased he got to spend a whole day “getting undressed by three American girls” that he handed his paycheque back to the director Richard Curtis.

Many fans were left stunned by Emma’s admission and took to the comments to share their thoughts.

One person wrote: “You blow my mind.”

Another commented: “That scene makes much more sense with that ‘explanation’ now.”

“I ALWAYS thought he was an angel; that he was wrapping slowly on purpose; And that’s why he was at the gate. Angels everywhere,” penned a third.

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