Every Rowan Atkinson Film & TV Project Ranked From Worst To Best

Having since become a staple of Christmas viewing, as well as the inspiration for countless card and marker pen based marriage proposals, it is easy to forget that Love Actually was initially met with a pretty lukewarm reception by critics.

Empire magazine would be one of few major contemporary cheerleaders for the film, awarding it Best British Film in 2004, pipping Johnny English to the title in a busy year for Atkinson.

Bill Nighy would actually win a BAFTA for his role, but the movie had little traction stateside, with a few nominations at the Golden Globes, and not so much as a mention at the Oscars.

Atkinson's appearance is fleeting but memorable. Scenes showing gradually more absurdist gift wrapping as a jewellery salesman, and his distraction of airport staff, make full use of his physical skills and comedic timing.

The film's creators would later reveal that they had originally planned for Atkinson's character to be a literal Christmas angel, à la It's a Wonderful Life. Which does make us wonder about the more supernatural version of Love Actually that was meant to be.