‘Love Actually’ Script Editor Reveals The Fate Of Emma Thompson’s Character

Classic Christmas rom-com Love Actually graced the big screen way back in 2003 and it’s fair to say it’s taken its place in the pantheon of essential Christmas viewing since, right up there with It’s A Wonderful Life, Home Alone and Die Hard. There’s one plot element that has continued to remain something of a mystery, however, but thanks to script editor Emma Freud we’re finally getting answers on the eventual fate of Emma Thompson‘s character, Karen.

‘Love Actually’ Writer Reveals Fate Of Emma Thompson’s Character

Poor Karen has her heart utterly torn to shreds when husband Harry (Alan Rickman) gives a golden necklace she thought had been for her to his assistant. It’s never made explicitly clear if Rickman’s character goes the whole hog and cheats on Karen, and many fans would seek comfort in the belief that he didn’t, thereby making he and Thompson’s reconciliation more bearable.

In a recent live-blogging on the film, however, screenwriter Freud revealed this is not the case, that Harry did cheat on Karen and that Karen must live with the knowledge of his betrayal for the rest of their marriage.

@carlotta429 DEFINITELY had an affair. i begged richard just to make it a flirtation, but no. the whole way.

— emma freud 💙 🔴 (@emmafreud) December 13, 2015

“DEFINITELY had an affair,” Freud wrote in response to a concerned fan, and when asked how their marriage fared, wrote “they stay together but home isn’t as happy as it once was.”

Very cheery indeed.

@JPerlstrom they stay together but home isn't as happy as it once was.

— emma freud 💙 🔴 (@emmafreud) December 13, 2015

Freud live-blogged from a screening of the film she and husband Richard Curtis, writer and director of the film, attended in New York on Sunday. It marked the first time Curtis had seen the film since it premiered twelve years ago.