Hot Fuzz was able to ride the tide of goodwill created by Shaun of the Dead with aplomb not only were Wright and Pegg given more creative control over their film, they were also to provide un-credited cameos for two Oscar-winners director Peter Jackson and actress Cate Blanchett. Jackson whose film Dead Alive provided inspiration for the rom-zom-com plays the Santa Claus who stabs Angel through the hand in the films prologue. His disguise follows on in the tradition of violent Father Christmass from The French Connection, Silent Night, Deadly Night, Trading Places and Bad Santa.
Blanchett, who requested a cameo out of her love for Wrights first film, plays Janine, Angels estranged girlfriend and Scene of the Crime Officer who breaks up with our hero during a forensic investigation. Neither person is too recognisable Jacksons face is obscured by a fake beard and you can see Blanchetts eyes in her forensic uniform. Joe Cornish also snuck in his obligatory cameo during Blanchetts scene as Bob, the fellow SOCO who Janine spurns for the seemingly-identical looking Dave.