Love Actually celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, and that has meant a reunion of cast and crew members and the reveal of some long unspoken facts about the making of the movie. Writer-director Richard Curtis was among those reminiscing about the film, and at one point touched on late actor Alan Rickman and how one scene in the film caused the star a lot of annoyance due to some takes lasting for up to 11 minutes.

Alan Rickman played Harry in Love Actually, a man who has a crush on his young colleague and sneaks away from his wife (Emma Thompson) during a shopping trip in order to buy a surprise gift for the girl. However, he doesn’t factor in Roman Atkinson’s eccentric and somewhat precise jewellery counter clerk Rufus. After promising that the gift would be put together in the best way possible, Rufus begins crafting a package full of the most unnecessary additions, all to the frustration of a restless and hurried Harry.

As it turns out, Rickman’s frustration was a very real thing. While speaking during the special reunion, Curtis explained:

The scene itself is massively elevated by the deadpan expression and completely unenthusiastic attitude of Rickman’s character to the never ending joy of wrapping displayed by Atkinson’s Rufus. Knowing that Rickman was feeling almost as frustrated as his character somehow is likely to make the scene seem even funnier the next time it is viewed this Christmas.

“Rowan was just taking his time, so he would do 11 minute takes. [Rowan would say], ‘Let’s go back and do that. Let’s start again.’ And poor Alan would be there all the time going, ‘Grr, ugh.’”

Alan Rickman’s Diaries Have Recently Been Released.

     Warner Bros.

As one of the most loved actors of a generation, whether it was for his Nakatomi Plaza fall in Die Hard, or his dour Professor Severus Snape in Harry Potter, the release of Alan Rickman’s personal journals in October this year revealed many of the actors thoughts on his years in the business. This included extracts revealing his opinions on certain Harry Potter co-stars, and his iconic role as Snape.

One extract in particular shared the actor’s view on the development of Snape in the movies, seemingly worrying about where his story was going. This led to a further entry, where he mused on the death of Snape and how his original thoughts of it were given a different perspective by his future wife Rima Horton. He wrote:

“David Y stubborn as ever about V[oldemort] killing me with a spell. (Impossible to comprehend, not least the resultant wrath of the readers.) Great working with Ralph, though. Direct and true and inventive and free. Back home and Rima (narrative brainbox) says, ‘He can’t kill you with a spell – the only one that would do that is Avada Kedavra and it kills instantly – you wouldn’t be able to finish the scene.’ … The Death of Snape. Nearly 10 years later. At least it’s just down to two actors … David is vulnerable and endearing when he’s excited. And he is by this scene. It’s the absolute example of what can happen when a couple of actors pick up a scene off the page and work with the story, the space and each other.”