London – Actress Emma Thompson has said she is not taking part in a short “Love Actually” sequel for Britain’s Comic Relief charity appeal because it is “too soon” to reprise her role in the romantic comedy after the death last year of co-star Alan Rickman.
Thompson and Rickman played wife and husband Karen and Harry in the hit 2003 movie, which also starred Hugh Grant as the British prime minister and Bill Nighy as an ageing rock star, as well as Keira Knightley, Liam Neeson and Colin Firth.
A short film revisiting the characters is in the works for the annual charity appeal, which holds its fundraising Red Nose Day and televised evening of celebrity comedy sketches on March 24.
Speaking to the BBC last week, director Richard Curtis confirmed some of the big names would take part but added there was a question mark over Thompson’s return.
“Richard Curtis wrote to me and said ‘Darling I can’t write anything for you because of Alan’ and I said ‘No, of course you can’t, it would be sad, too sad, it’s too soon,'” Thompson told Reuters at the UK launch of Disney’s new “Beauty and the Beast” film on Thursday night.
“It’s absolutely right” said Thompson regarding her decision, however she added,the idea of the sequel was appealing. “To revisit the wonderful fun characters of Bill Nighy and Hugh Grant and all of that, that’s fantastic.”
Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat is the world’s premier pan-Arab daily newspaper, printed simultaneously each day on four continents in 14 cities. Launched in London in 1978, Asharq Al-Awsat has established itself as the decisive publication on pan-Arab and international affairs, offering its readers in-depth analysis and exclusive editorials, as well as the most comprehensive coverage of the entire Arab world.
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