Yahoo News Thompson says its 'too sad' to return to Love Actually
Emma Thompson has confirmed herself that she will not be returning for the Love Actually sequel, revealing it was "too sad, too soon" following Alan Rickman's death.
The actress played the late star's wife in the original 2003 movie, though Martine McCutcheon and Richard Curtis both suggested this week that Thompson would not be taking part in the Comic Relief sequel. Rickman, who played Thompson's character's husband in Love Actually, died in January 2016.
Speaking to PA, Thompson explained: "Richard wrote to me and said, 'Darling, we can't write anything for you because of Alan', and I said, 'no of course, it would be sad, too sad'.
"It's too soon. It's absolutely right because it's supposed to be for Comic Relief – but there isn't much comic relief in the loss of our dear friend really, only just over a year ago.
"We thought and thought but it just seemed wrong... to revisit the wonderful fun characters of Bill Nighy and Hugh Grant and Liam [Neeson] and all of that, that's fantastic – but obviously what would he [Richard Curtis] have done?"
In the original movie the stars played couple Harry and Karen, though their marriage hits trouble after Rickman's character has an affair with a colleague.
Suggesting what would have happened to them, Thompson revealed: "Both of them would be in therapy by now and I would be working on some kind of ward.
"It was absolutely the right decision."
Thompson and Rickman worked together numerous times throughout their careers, including roles in 1995's Sense and Sensibility, 1998's Judas Kiss and 2010's Song of Lunch. She also led the late actor's 1997 movie The Winter Guest.
Last year, Thompson paid a moving tribute to her dear friend, saying: "He was, above all things, a rare and unique human being and we shall not see his like again."
The Love Actually sequel will see returns from the likes of Rowan Atkinson, Liam Neeson, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Hugh Grant, Martine McCutcheon, Keira Knightley, Colin Firth and Bill Nighy.
It will broadcast on BBC One on Red Nose Day – Friday, March 24.
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