Secrets of ‘new Love Actually’

IT has been billed as the new Love Actually and with a Christmas theme, music by George Michael and star-of-the-moment Emilia Clarke in the lead role, chances are it is going to be a hit.

We take a look at some of the secrets behind Last Christmas...

What’s the Story?

Unlucky in love singer, Kate – played by Emilia – takes a Christmas job as a department store elf and her life is turned upside down.

Hidden Talents

Emilia was nominated for an Emmy for Game Of Thrones. However, Last Christmas also reveals that she is a talented singer.

Emilia said: “I don’t do my own stunts but I do my own singing.”

However, the actress admits that she was nervous to take on the tunes as she wanted to do them justice.

Musical Seal of Approval

George Michael allowed Love Actually actress Emma Thompson – who stars in the film and co-wrote the screenplay – to include his songs in the soundtrack.

She just wishes he was alive to see the final product. She said: “He was just the loveliest guy you could imagine. He loved all of these themes in the movie.”

Sweet Secrets

The bird poo that drops in Emilia’s mouth in the movie is yoghurt.

She says: “It took so many takes. It got to the point where I was like, ‘You guys hate me.’ It went everywhere. I’m like, ‘That tastes good. Thanks for missing my face completely’.”

New Tunes

The film contains 15 of Wham! and George’s songs, including, Faith and Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.

However, there is also a new track at the end. The song is called “This Is How (We Want You To Get High)” and was taken from the album that George was recording before he passed away in 2016. The movie plays the track – which is nearly six minutes long – in full and Emma Thompson said: “It’s like the song was written for the movie.”

Tricky Timings

The movie was shot in London around Christmas-time last year.

But surprisingly, Emilia says that the actors did most of their filming throughout the night.

She said: “Because we were in Covent Garden and Regent Street, we started at midnight and finished at midday and I was in a perpetual hangover state.”

However, she admits it didn’t always run smoothly. She explained: “There were a lot of drunk people wandering around and shouting at us.”