Love Actually star recreates iconic moment 22 years later – he’s hardly changed at all

With December just around the corner, fans are eagerly anticipating festive traditions—from visiting Christmas markets and sipping mulled wine to decorating homes and watching holiday movies. Among these, Love Actually remains a firm favourite for many.

The 2003 rom-com has become a staple of Christmas viewing, beloved for its heartwarming stories and star-studded cast. Alongside actors like Andrew Lincoln, Keira Knightley, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Bill Nighy, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, and Hugh Grant, a young Thomas Brodie-Sangster captured hearts as Sam, a boy coping with his mother’s death while navigating first love.

Now 35, Brodie-Sangster has revisited the film in a new Christmas-themed ad for Google Pixel, recreating some of the movie’s most memorable moments. The one-minute spot sees him wandering the streets of London, with the River Thames and St Paul’s Cathedral in the background.

Speaking to the camera, he reflects on filming Love Actually at the location, saying he returns each Christmas to give back to fans and often gets recognised by passersby.

In the ad, a woman spots him and excitedly takes a photo, referencing the famous “lobster” nativity costume worn by one of Emma Thompson’s children in the original film.

Brodie-Sangster also nods to other iconic moments, including Hugh Grant’s Prime Minister dance, while engaging in playful interactions with fans along the riverside.

The campaign celebrates the enduring charm of the 2003 classic, combining nostalgia with lighthearted humour, and reminding viewers of why Love Actually continues to be a holiday favourite year after year.