Photo: Simon Mein/Sony/Kobal/Shutterstock
When it comes to romantic holiday movies, nothing quite topsThe Holiday.
StarringKate WinsletandCameron Diaz, the 2006Nancy Meyersfilm follows two women who decide toswitch homes(and continents) for the holidays after facing major heartbreak. What ensues is a heartwarming tale as they each find love with new people (Jack BlackandJude Law) overChristmas. The film premiered in New York City on Nov. 29, 2006, before it was theatrically released on Dec. 8, 2006, and has since become a classic over the years.
“People look at Nancy’s movies as a statement, in a way,” Diaztold Vultureabout the film in 2020. “It’s set in the real world, but it’s like,Who’s getting on first class, and flying, and taking this cute little cottage in the middle of England?Who gets to do that? You always wish that was you. You want to go do that.”
She added, “When people watchThe Holiday, it’s just so aspirational. They’re like, ‘One day, I’ll be able to do that.’ It’s almost like a modern-day Prince Charming, but not a helpless princess. It’s more like the fully capable princess who could have whatever she wants, but she can’t have it until she breaks open her heart and is vulnerable, and lets in the right man. And not just Prince Charming, but the guy who’s actually capable of showing up in all the ways she needs him to.”
See what the cast has been up to sinceThe Holidaywas released.
Jude Law as Graham Simpkins
Before Law played sensitive, bookish, single father Graham (a.k.a.Mr. Napkin Head), the two-timeOscarnominee was already revered for his work on the screen and stage.
No stranger to adventure and fantasy films, Law is known for his role as Dr. Watson in 2009’sSherlock Holmesand its 2011 sequel. He appeared as the alien military commander Yon-Rogg in 2019’sCaptain Marveland was featured as youngAlbus Dumbledorein the second and third installments of theFantastic Beastsfranchise. Law also starred asCaptain Hookin the 2023 Disney+ live-action movie adaptation ofPeter Pan and Wendy.
Law has achieved success on the small screen as well, most notably on the HBO seriesThe Young Pope,The New PopeandThe Third Day. In 2018, the actor earned aGolden Globenomination for his performance as Lenny Belardo onThe Young Pope. Law is also gearing up to portraya Jedi on the Disney+ seriesStar Wars: Skeleton Crewin 2024.
Beyond acting, he is actively involved with UNICEF and philanthropy related to climate change and cancer research. Law married psychologistPhillipa Coanin alow-key ceremony in Londonin 2019, and he’s thefather of seven children: He and Coanwelcomed two kids together. He shares two sons —Raffertyand Rudy — and daughterIriswith ex-wife Sadie Frost. Law has two more daughters, Sophia andAda, from previous relationships.
Cameron Diaz as Amanda Woods
Simon Mein/Sony/Kobal/Shutterstock; JB Lacroix/WireImage
As one of Meyers' leading ladies, Diaz played Amanda, the Los Angeles movie trailer executive who breaks her famous promisenotto fall in love with Graham. Fresh off the heels ofThe Holidayand critically acclaimed performances in 2009’sMy Sister’s Keeperand 2010’sKnight and Day,the actress transitioned into comedy — starring in films likeBad Teacher(2011),What to Expect When You’re Expecting(2012),The Other Woman(2014) andSex Tape(2014). Diaz is also known for voicing the animated character Princess Fiona in theShrekfranchise.
During her time off-screen, Diaz has focused mainly on wellness and food ventures. In 2016, she publishedThe Longevity Book: The Science of Aging, the Biology of Strength, and the Privilege of Time(a follow-up to 2013’sThe Body Book: The Law of Hunger, the Science of Strength, and Other Ways to Love Your Amazing Body), aNew York Timesbest seller. Diaz invested in health and biotech startups like Modern Acupuncture and Seed Health, and, in 2022, she co-launched an organic wine brand:Avaline.
Diaz has beenmarried to Good Charlotte musicianBenji Maddensince January 2015, and the couple welcomed their first child, daughterRaddix, in December 2019.
Kate Winslet as Iris Simpkins
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By the time Winslet played Iris — a witty wedding columnist for theDaily Telegraph— she had already achieved notoriety as Rose in 1997’sTitanicand blue-haired Clementine in 2004’sEternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind, for which she earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. (Nearly a decade after playing star-crossed lovers inJames Cameron’sTitanic, Winslet andLeonardo DiCaprioreunited on-screenin 2008’sRevolutionary Road.She played the strong-willed housewife April, receiving a Golden Globe for best actress.)
Winslet later gave an Oscar-nominated performance in 2006’sLittle Childrenbefore winning Best Actress for 2008’sThe Reader. In 2016, she nabbed another Oscar nomination for her role as Apple marketing executive Joanna Hoffman inSteve Jobs. Winslet also appeared in the first and second installments of theDivergentfranchise as villain Jeanine Matthews.The 2017 survival dramaThe Mountain Between Us, costarringIdris Elba, featured Winslet as photojournalist Alex Martin.
In 2021, she executive produced and starred on HBO’sMare of Easttown,adopting Pennsylvania’s Delaware County accentto play a grieving murder detective. Winslet won anEmmy, Golden Globe andSAG Awardfor her performance as the titular Mare Sheehan. The actress then stepped into a motion capture suit (andheld her breath for more than five minutes!) toplay Na’vi warrior Ronalin 2022’sAvatar: The Way of Water— her second project with filmmakerCameron. She is slated to reprise the role in an upcoming third installment of theAvatarfilm series.
In 2012, Winslet andRichard Branson’s nephew,Edward Abel Smith,tied the knot. The couple welcomed their son,Bear Blaze, in 2013. Winslet shares older son Joe (born in 2003) withAmerican BeautydirectorSam Mendes. The two split in 2011. Winslet also has a daughter,Mia, with her ex-husband and director Jim Threapleton, whom she was married to from 1998 to 2001.
Jack Black as Miles Dumont
Sony Pictures/Kobal/Shutterstock; Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
Before starring in the holiday rom-com as Hollywood composer Miles, Black was already famous for his roles as Barry inHigh Fidelity(2000), stoner Lance inOrange County(2002) and substitute teacher–turned–middle school music hero Dewey Finn inSchool of Rock(2003).
Black is one half of the bearded comedy rock duoTenacious Dwith collaborator Kyle Gass. The band has released four studio albums:Tenacious D(2001),The Pick of Destiny(2006),Rize of the Fenix(2012) andPost-Apocalypto(2018). In 2015, they brought home aGrammyforbest metal performance for"The Last in Line."
Black married musicianTanya Hadenin March 2006. Together, they sharesons Samuel Jason and Thomas David.
Rufus Sewell as Jasper Bloom
Columbia Pictures; Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
Since playing Iris' cheating ex, Jasper,Rufus Sewellhas made a name for himself both in Hollywood and on stage, appearing in the moviesThe Tourist(2010),Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter(2012), Hercules(2014),Judy(2019) andM. Night Shyamalan’sOld(2021). He notably led the cast of the British playRock ‘n’ Roll, in its West End and Broadway productions, alongsideSuccessionstarBrian Cox. For Sewell’s role as Jan, he received his first-everTony Awardnomination in 2008.
In 2008, Sewell portrayed Alexander Hamilton in the HBO miniseriesJohn Adams.He followed that up with a starring role on CBS’Eleventh Houras Dr. Jacob Hood — a biophysicist and science adviser to the FBI. After a guest appearance onThe Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Sewell earned an Emmy nomination in 2019 for his performance.
He was also featured on the British historical dramaVictoriaand a regular on the Amazon Prime Video dystopian seriesThe Man in the High Castle. As of 2023, Sewell has led the cast of Netflix’s heist anthologyKaleidoscopeand political thrillerThe Diplomat, starring oppositeKeri Russellas her on-screen husband, Hal Wyler.
In December 2023, Sewellbecame engagedto actressVivian Benitez. The actor shares a daughter, Lola, with ex-girlfriend Ami Komai and a son, William Douglas, with ex-wife Amy Gardner — whom he divorced in 2006.
Shannyn Sossamon as Maggie
Columbia Pictures; Paul Archuleta/Getty
After playing Maggie, an aspiring actress and Miles' unfaithful girlfriend,Shannyn Sossamonlanded several roles in indie and horror films. She appeared inOne Missed Call(2008),Life Is Hot in Cracktown(2009),The Day(2011), Sinister 2(2015) andGrimcutty(2022).
Beyond acting, Sossamon was the frontwoman and drummer for the rock band Warpaint started with her sister, Jenny Lee Lindberg.
The actress has two sons — Audio Science and Mortimer.
Emma Pritchard as Olivia Simpkins
Emma Pritchard hasn’t appeared on-screen since playing Law’s younger daughter, Olivia, who famously asks her father to “do Mr. Napkin Head.” Her role inThe Holidayis Pritchard’s only documented acting credit.
Miffy Englefield as Sophie Simpkins
Columbia Pictures; Miffy Englefield/Instagram
Since then, she has kept a relatively low profile, absent her life updates as a mother and punk rock musicianon TikTok. Englefieldrevealed toThe New York Timesin November 2019 that she works as a barista between music gigs.
In 2020, Englefield and her partner, Alex Whivley-Conway,welcomed daughter Frances Rosanna Lee— who, according to the actress, doesn’t recognize her inThe Holiday. “[My daughter’s] seen it. She was a bit confused why I had ginger hair and I wasn’t the darker-haired one, seeing as I’ve had black hair her whole life,” shetold Metro.co.ukin 2023. “If you ask her now what film mummy was in she’s like, ‘The Holiday,’ which is lovely.”
Englefield continued, “My family and friends like to see it as just a constant running joke to bring it up as much as possible to embarrass me around Christmas.”
Eli Wallach as Arthur Abbott
He earned Emmy nominations for his guest appearances onStudio 60 on the Sunset Stripin 2007 andNurse Jackiein 2010. In 2011, Wallach received an Honorary Academy Award for his decades-long contributions to the film industry.
The actor’s final role was in 2015’sThe Train, a short film where he played a Holocaust survivor and mentor to a young man. The short premiered at the Rhode Island International Film Festival after Wallach’s death.
Wallach was married to actress Anne Jackson from 1948 until his death in June 2014. The couple shared three children, Peter, Roberta and Katherine. He died at age 98 of natural causes.
source: people.com
