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Love Actually star is unrecognizable two decades after starring in beloved film

Home> Film & TV> News

Updated 12:30 24 Dec 2023 GMTPublished 12:31 24 Dec 2023 GMT

Love Actually star is unrecognizable two decades after starring in beloved film

It's mind-blowing what a change of hair color can do

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck

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Featured Image Credit: Universal Pictures

Topics: Christmas, Entertainment, Film and TV, World News

Poppy Bilderbeck
Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck is a freelance journalist with words in Daily Express, Cosmopolitan UK, LADbible, UNILAD and Tyla. She is a former Senior Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2021 with a First in English Literature and Drama, where alongside her studies she was Editor-in-Chief of The Tab Manchester. Poppy is most comfortable when chatting about all things mental health, is proving a drama degree is far from useless by watching and reviewing as many TV shows and films as possible.

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An actor from Love Actually looks very different to how she did when starring in the Christmas classic 20 years ago.

Yes, Love Actually came out a whopping 20 years ago. And no, despite it being two decades later, I'm still not over *that* moment.

For those of you who haven't seen the star-studded 2003 release, firstly what are you doing and secondly, I hope you've decided to correct your error this year.

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But if you have still yet to see Love Actually or can't remember the moment which didn't just break Karen's (Emma Thompson) heart, but all viewers' too, then here's a recap.

In the rom-com festive favorite, Karen is married to Harry (Alan Rickman) and is excited when she catches sight of him at the jewelry counter buying a necklace, thinking he might be surprising her with an extra special present this year.

Mia is the villain of Love Actually.
Universal Pictures

Alas, little does Karen know, but Harry has been falling for the overt flirting directed his way by colleague Mia (Heike Makatsch) - who even has the audacity to bat her eyelashes at him in front of Karen at the office Christmas party.

Mia tells Harry she doesn't want something she 'need[s]' for Christmas, but wants something 'pretty' and so off he pops, buying a gold heart locket for a woman who isn't his wife.

She looks very different now.
Tristar Media/Getty Images

Karen realises this when she opens up her gift on Christmas Day to discover that instead of a necklace, she's been gifted... Wait for it... A Joni Mitchell CD.

Despite her heart breaking - and all of us screaming at our TV screens for her to leave him - Karen stays with Harry nevertheless and Christmas is essentially ruined, not only for their relationship, but the rest of us holding onto our resentment for Harry and Mia 20 years down the line too.

However, while our fury towards Mia and Harry hasn't changed two decades on, something else has, and that's the actor who played Mia's appearance, so much so, she's almost unrecognizable.

Heike Makatsch now.
Getty Images/ Tristar Media/ WireImage

For the role of Mia, Makatsch sported a dark bob and fringe with very '90s eyebrows, dark makeup - as shady as her character - and red lips.

And now Makatsch look extraordinarily different, her hair a light blonde color and frequently sporting much more natural makeup.

Since the 2003 Christmas movie, Makatsch has gone on to star in German biographical movie Hilde, The Book Thief and 2020 release God,You're Such A P***k.

As well as her appearance being wildly different to when she appeared in Love Actually, Makatsch's personal life is also a far cry from Mia's - well, she is an actor after all - Makatsch currently in a relationship and mom to three kids.

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