Whatever Happened to the Americans from ‘Love Actually’?
What To Know
- The American cast from Love Actually have each pursued diverse careers since the film’s 2003 release.
- Elisha Cuthbert remains active in film and television, while Shannon Elizabeth has shifted her focus from acting to wildlife conservation, founding The Shannon Elizabeth Foundation.
- January Jones achieved major fame starring as Betty Draper on Mad Men.
In 2003, film fans and Christmas-movie aficionados were introduced to one of cinema’s saddest groups of women ever assembled on celluloid: the American women of Love Actually.
For those who need a reminder, Sarah (Laura Linney) endured an unrequited crush on Karl (Rodrigo Santoro) that was doomed from the start, her attention constantly pulled away by her brother. And then there were the poor Wisconsinites, who were so cash-strapped they seemingly couldn’t afford pajamas or extra beds, yet so full of Midwestern goodwill that they opened their homes (and hearts) to any stranger wandering in from abroad.
But what happened to these actresses who played this motley crew of misfortunates from Richard Curtis‘s classic Christmas film about inappropriate workplace relationships and the Christmas spirit? Let’s take a gander.
Elisha Cuthbert
Carol-Anne, the American Goddess
Universal Pictures; Kopaloff/Getty Images
Known as the one who “loves British guys,” Carol-Anne was the third member of the Wisconsinite welcoming party to meet Colin Frissell (Kris Marshall) when he first landed in America.
Already a famous face for her role as Kim Bauer on the hit series 24, Elisha Cuthbert would get her big break on the silver screen the following year with The Girl Next Door. She is still an active presence on TV, starring in popular shows such as ABC’s Happy Endings, Netflix’s The Ranch, and the television movie Monster in the Family: The Stacey Kananen Story.
She recently completed filming Bandit opposite Josh Duhamel and Mel Gibson, and also appeared in the horror film The Cellar. Cuthbert has joined the cast of the upcoming Amazon Prime Video series Every Year After, an adaptation of the bestselling YA novel Every Summer After. She’s set to play Sue Florek, the mother of one of the main characters, in a recurring role.
Shannon Elizabeth
Harriet, the Sexy One
Universal Pictures; Kayla Oaddams/Getty Images
As the fourth roommate, Harriet has been deemed by the others as “the sexy one.” Audiences don’t actually see her face until the very end, when she arrives in London with Colin, bringing her sister Carla along for the ride. Decked out in a cowboy hat and a smile, Harriet immediately dazzles Colin’s best mate, Tony, with her charm and good looks.
Shannon Elizabeth‘s cameo was a fun surprise for the end of Love Actually. The actress was well known for her raunchy and well-received turns as Nadia in American Pie and Buffy in Scary Movie.
Elizabeth occasionally pops up in bit roles and cameos in popular shows and movies such as 2019’s Jay and Silent Bob Reboot and the holiday film A Home for the Holidays, but for the most part, she has shifted much of her energy away from Hollywood to focus on wildlife conservation and animal welfare. She founded The Shannon Elizabeth Foundation, which began as a dog & cat rescue called Animal Avengers and has now expanded into broader conservation work, especially in South Africa.
January Jones
Jeannie, American Angel
Universal Pictures; Presley Ann/Getty Images
The second American girl to welcome Colin to the States, Jeannie is just as taken with the Basildon native as her roommate, Stacey. She saunters over from the jukebox to the bar to meet him, dressed in hot pink leggings, faux fur, and an electric blue halter top, an outfit that makes her stand out among the bar’s patrons.
January Jones was a steadily working actress in the early 2000s when she landed a role in Love Actually, having appeared in films such as American Wedding, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, and We Are Marshall, as well as occasional roles on Law & Order. But she truly became a household name in 2007 when she nabbed the role of Betty Draper on AMC’s Mad Men, a part that catapulted her to superstardom. As Don Draper’s (Jon Hamm) lovely but emotionally distant wife, Jones crafted a character who was equal parts fragile, frustrated, and formidable, creating a haunting portrait of mid-century womanhood that remains one of the show’s most enduring performances.
After Mad Men, Jones starred in The Last Man on Earth, The Politician, and Spinning Out, but her acting is sporadic these days. She recently shared her struggles with misophonia, a neurological condition that makes certain everyday sounds extremely uncomfortable for her.
Laura Linney
Sarah
Universal Pictures; Kotinsky/Getty Images
Poor Sarah. For years, she adored Karl from afar, quietly pining while never mustering the courage to act. When she finally gets a moment alone with him, her chance to turn fantasy into reality disappears as her cell phone rings. Unable to ignore the never-ending calls from her brother, she answers, shattering the mood and, with it, her one real shot at romance with the man she’s dreamed about.
Laura Linney is a force of nature. Linney has delivered some of her most acclaimed work on television, from her Emmy-winning performances in The Big C and John Adams to her powerhouse turn as Wendy Byrde on Netflix’s Ozark. On the film side, she’s earned Oscar nominations for standout roles in You Can Count on Me, Kinsey, and The Savages, showcasing her blend of emotional precision and quiet intensity. She’s also received five Tony noms for her work on the stage, most recently for the play My Name Is Lucy Barton.
Recently, Linney appeared in the 2024 Sundance drama Suncoast with Woody Harrelson and Nico Parker and will headline the upcoming MGM+ comedy series American Classic alongside Kevin Kline and Jon Tenney. Filming took place through 2025, and the show is expected to debut in 2026.
Ivana Milicevic
Stacey, the American Dreamgirl
Universal Pictures; Vertical Entertainment / Courtesy Everett Collection
Stacey is the first American that Colin meets at the first bar he walks into, and boy, did he hit the jackpot. At first hidden by an oversized pink hood, her beauty and chipper attitude convince Colin he made the right choice.
Prior to Love Actually, Milicevic was in episodes of popular shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Friends, and Felicity, as well as films like Vanilla Sky opposite Tom Cruise and Down with Love opposite Renee Zellewegger.
Miličević is best known for her work as the complex and captivating Anastasia/Rabbit in Cinemax’s Banshee, opposite Antony Starr, which showcased her emotional range and action chops. She also delivered standout performances in series like The 100, Love Monkey, and HBO’s Mind of the Married Man, proving her versatility across genres. On film, she’s memorable for roles in Casino Royale, Just Like Heaven, and Paycheck, carving out a steady career as a charismatic and commanding screen presence.
Denise Richards
Carla, the Real Friendly One
Universal Pictures; Phillip Faraone/Getty Images
The cherry on top of Love Actually is the brief appearance of Denise Richards as Carla, Harriet’s impossibly friendly sister who pops over to London and instantly charms everyone in sight. The cameo was especially funny because, by this point, Richards was well known for bombshell roles like the scheming Kelly in Wild Things and the improbably sexy nuclear physicist Christmas Jones in The World Is Not Enough, making her sweet, rom-com moment feel like a playful wink.
After Love Actually, Richards continued to work steadily in both film and television, becoming a pop-culture fixture in the 2000s and 2010s. She starred in series like Blue Mountain State, appeared in Two and a Half Men, led her own reality show, Denise Richards: It’s Complicated, and later joined The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. She also took on roles in films such as Scary Movie 3, Undercover Brother, and the cult hit Starship Troopers reunions, all while building a successful career in modeling, brand partnerships, and occasional Hallmark-style movies.
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