Martine McCutcheon: ‘I thought my career was over – then Love Actually came’

Despite being a role that propelled her to unforeseen stardom, Martine McCutcheon was on the verge of quitting showbiz completely before Love Actually came knocking.

Martine, who was in her mid-twenties during filming, almost missed out on her big shot at fame, having decided she was ready to find another career path away from the spotlight.

Speaking exclusively to Metro, she explains how much of an ‘honour’ it is to have been part of the ensemble cast.

‘Don’t get me wrong, I knew what an amazing, “pinch-me” opportunity it was, but I didn’t believe it had actually happened to me for a few years afterwards. I was so in shock.

‘My really specific dream for anything was to work with Richard Curtis and Hugh Grant, and because it happened at a time when I was considering leaving the industry after being in the West End. I thought maybe my time was done.

‘I’d been the golden girl, and everything I touched was doing so, so well, after EastEnders and my music, then the theatre shows, but still, at the time, women didn’t really have a voice to tell the truth or answer to any criticisms, so I didn’t have a platform to share what I was doing.

‘[Love Actually] almost chose me in such a huge, huge way that I couldn’t ignore it.

‘It was also special to me because it took me back to what I love and doing things for the right reasons. It’s just snowballed and built more and more momentum ever since.’

Read our interview with Martine in full: https://metro.co.uk/2025/12/08/martine-mccutcheon-i-thought-career-love-actually-came-24922985/