This Is What Joanna From 'Love Actually' Looks Like 15 Years After The Movie's Release
We are just a couple of weeks away from the most wonderful time of the year. A time for indulging in delicious foods, spending quality time with loved ones, exchanging gifts, oh, and for putting on your family's go-to Christmas movie. Whether it's a classic film you're after, a kid's flick, or a romantic comedy, there really is a festive movie for everyone. One of my personal favourites, for instance, is the beloved 2003 rom-com Love Actually.
The beautifully made flick is perfect for the holiday season. It's just all kinds of heartwarming and one you can watch with all the family. With scenes of Emma Thompson crying, Andrew Lincoln holding up "secret" messages for love interest Keira Knightley and an adorable homage to Titanic - it really knows how to tug on our delicate, little heartstrings.
Credit: Studio Canal
Included in the film are nine intertwined stories about complicated relationships and our pursuit of love. And one of my favourite pairings growing up was the one centring around Sam and Joanna.
In the movie, Sam, played by Game Of Thrones actor Thomas Brodie-Sangster, is a young boy who has tragically lost his mom and is being raised by his stepdad.
Credit: Studio Canal
Joanna, played by Olivia Olson, is an American exchange student who immediately catches Sam's eye. Needless to say, 15 years since the movie was released, the former child star is now all grown up.
Check out her 2007 interview on The Ellen Show:
On Wednesday, she made an appearance on Australian television, taking part an interview for Channel Seven's The Morning Show.
The 26-year-old actress was just nine years old when she sang 'All I Want For Christmas' in Love Actually, and said she was surprised that so many people were still watching the movie more than a decade after it came out in cinemas.
Credit: Studio Canal
"I can't believe people still care, that they're still talking about [the movie] it's so awesome... 15 years is a long time," she said.
"I remember how excited my mom was [about Love Actually]. She was a fangirl for Hugh Grant. I didn't know who anyone was! I was only nine, but it's such a blessing that I was part of this huge service cast."
Credit: Instagram / Olivia Olson
Since starring in the movie, the Los Angeles native has appeared in the Love Actually "sequel" Red Nose Day Actually and has even released an album, Nowhere Land, in June. When asked if she had any plans to return to the big screen, Olson didn't give anything away.
"We'll see... Actually, this past weekend I just wrapped up a short film, we'll see what happens," she said.
Credit: Instagram / Olivia Olson
Olson, who is of Swedish and Jamaican descent, has been compared to the Duchess of Sussex due to her mixed heritage and olive skin. "I have not been invited to tea with the Queen yet, but maybe [one day]?' she said, after being asked about being compared to Meghan Markle.
These days, Olson tends to stick to voice acting roles. She has worked on Phineas and Ferb and Marceline the Vampire Queen.
Who knows whether she has any plans to return to the big screen, but in any case, we'll continue praising Love Actually as one of the best Christmas movies to grace our screens.