The Supporting Cast: Keira Knightley, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Andrew Lincoln, Martin Freeman, January Jones, Elisha Cuthbert, Ivana Millivevic, Bill Nighy, Thomas Brodie Sangster, Rodrigo Santoro, and more.

By its very design, Love Actually was meant to be a cavalcade of famous faces indulging in fun cameos and sweet, short storylines. Richard Curtis called upon the best and brightest British talents for his film. But what we’re impressed by is who rounded out all the small supporting roles. At the time, Keira Knightley was coasting on buzz from Pirates of the Caribbean, but it was unclear that she would maintain her stardom for the next decade. 12 Years a Slave’s Chiwetel Ejiofor, The Walking Dead’s Andrew Lincoln, Mad Men’s January Jones, and Game of Thrones’ Thomas Brodie Sangster all pop up in the contemporary Christmas classic — and they’ve all gone on to be defined by even bigger roles. [Where to Stream Love Actually]

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