Martine McCutcheon nearly missed Love Actually after quitting showbusiness, director tracked her down
The actor says she briefly relocated to the Spanish mountains to pursue photography before Richard Curtis revived the role that became Natalie in the festive hit.
Martine McCutcheon has revealed that she nearly missed her iconic role in Love Actually after stepping away from the industry to pursue photography in the Spanish mountains. The 49-year-old actress had long coveted playing Hugh Grant’s onscreen love interest, Natalie, in the 2003 holiday classic, but she had officially quit showbusiness that year and moved to a remote region of Spain with friends.
The decision to leave acting came after a string of years in which she had become a familiar face on television and in the pop sphere. McCutcheon describes a moment of upheaval when she began to doubt whether starring in films was still possible for a soap performer like herself. “When I did EastEnders, I thought, ‘It’s not going to happen for me now because not many people who do soaps go into film,’” she recalled. “That is ironic, as soap was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.” The plan, she said, was to travel, not to chase acting opportunities.
Three weeks into her trip, the phone rang, and it changed the course of her career. Her old agent told her that Richard Curtis had been in touch and wanted her to read for a part opposite Hugh Grant. “Richard Curtis has been in touch and he wants you to read for a part opposite Hugh Grant,” the agent said, prompting a dramatic return to the screen. McCutcheon says the moment “and the rest is history” as Curtis had apparently written the role of Natalie specifically for her. “Dreams do come true,” she later reflected on the turn of events that brought her back to Christmas cinema.
Since Love Actually, McCutcheon has leaned into the festive market in a different way, using the film’s enduring appeal to bolster her finances amid a series of personal life upheavals. This season she has appeared in five Christmas promotions, including campaigns with Costa, skincare and haircare brands, and a collaboration with Google. She also turned on the Christmas lights at a Hampton Court hotel, staging a meet-and-greet competition tied to her comeback narrative.
The public revival comes at a time of notable personal change. McCutcheon filed for insolvency in July, with public records noting a debt to a finance company. The bankruptcy occurred about 11 months after she and her husband, Jack McManus, separated and sold their Surrey home, a five-bedroom detached property, for £1,355,000 as they began separate lives. The year’s headlines also touched on her ongoing efforts to build a new life beyond the spotlight while maintaining a relationship with her fans who remember her as a star of both screen and music.
McCutcheon has been outspoken about prioritizing herself and turning 50 with a sense of agency. She has said she refuses to apologise for prioritising her own wellbeing and voice. “I feel excited about this next chapter because I know myself so much more,” she said. “I’m not sorry for my own opinions, my own voice, my own limitations… I want to have fun. I want to find out, away from career and family, what just brings me fun.”
The personal dimension of her journey includes a public rift with her mother, Jenny Tomlin, and the toll of the family’s losses in recent years. Tomlin has spoken publicly about grief following the death of McCutcheon’s brother LJ in 2022 and described distance from her daughter during that period. In interviews, Tomlin acknowledged she had withdrawn at the time and said she hoped for reconciliation. The family dynamics have colored headlines in a year already defined by McCutcheon’s professional resurgence and her efforts to chart a new path forward.
Looking ahead, McCutcheon has framed the recent chapter as one of reclaiming control and choosing opportunities that align with her wellbeing. With Love Actually continuing to resonate with audiences and her own business and media partnerships expanding, she presents a portrait of a performer returning to form on her own terms. As she approaches a milestone birthday, she is focused on balance, fun, and maintaining the clarity to say no when needed, while continuing to engage with fans who have followed her career for decades.