Cult movie director admits past failures: "I was stupid"

Can you believe that the classic films "Four Weddings and a Funeral", "Notting Hill", "Bridget Jones's Diary" and "About Time" were all from the same director? This commonality might be part of their success. Richard Curtis, the director of the holiday favorite "Love Actually", confesses his past mistakes today.

For many, watching "Love Actually" has become a holiday-season tradition. The romantic film interweaves eight distinct stories, all revolving around the broad theme of love. Released two decades ago, its restored version is set for a global release to mark its 20th anniversary—an opportune moment for the beloved director to reflect and take stock.

The New Zealand-born filmmaker has decided to address the recurring criticism surrounding body-shaming jokes and the lack of diversity within the cast in his films. As noted by LADbible, Curtis' daughter, Scarlett, raised this issue during a chat at a literature festival in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

In the widely cherished "Love Actually", almost all eight couples are portrayed by white actors. Curtis disclosed feeling "uncomfortable and a little stupid" due to this lack of diversity. He confessed to holding onto an assumption that he wouldn't know how to write roles for people of different ethnic backgrounds.

His perspective has since drastically evolved, leading to personal introspection. "I think I was just stupid, and I was wrong," said Curtis during the interview.

Curtis himself acknowledges a shift in his approach towards matters of diversity. He views it as a norm rather than an element of uncertainty in his artistic journey. "I think that's the idea, not to look back at your work and not say, 'That was odd'," noted LADbible, quoting his statement.

The director currently champions the film "Genie", written by Sam Boyd. It centers on the life of a black family whose patriarch, workaholic Bernard (played by Paapa Essiedu), seeks the help of a magical genie (Melissa McCarthy) to reunite with his wife and daughter before Christmas.