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Jude Law has become the Grinch who stole The Holiday magic by dropping a behind-the-scenes bombshell about the beloved romcom. In a recent BBC Radio interview, the star revealed that the iconic English countryside cottage where his character charms Cameron Diaz isn’t the real-life fairytale location we’ve all been dreaming of—it’s a Hollywood fabrication.
The 2006 film, directed by Nancy Meyers, follows two couples navigating romance over the Christmas season, and the charming cottage served as the setting for much of Law and Diaz’s storyline. Fans have long admired the picture-perfect home as the embodiment of cozy winter romance, but as Law revealed, it’s all smoke and mirrors. “That cottage doesn’t exist,” he said, explaining that Meyers, known for her meticulous eye for aesthetics, couldn’t find the idyllic home she envisioned. Instead, a set was constructed in a field to bring her vision to life.
If that revelation wasn’t enough to crush your Christmas spirit, Law also shared that the cozy interiors we see in the film weren’t even shot in England but on a soundstage in Los Angeles months later. “We were shooting in the winter [in the UK],” Law explained, “and every time I’d go in that door, we’d cut, and the interiors were filmed in L.A.” So much for those snow-dusted rendezvous!
Law was quick to acknowledge the disappointment he’d likely caused fans, admitting, “I just burst the bubble.” But he softened the blow by expressing his gratitude for the film’s enduring popularity. “I find it just, honestly, glorious,” he said, clearly appreciative of the affection audiences still hold for The Holiday.
While it’s a tough pill to swallow that this romcom staple isn’t as magical as it appears, let’s be real—The Holiday still holds a treasured spot in the holiday romcom canon. Whether it’s the chemistry between the cast, the swoon-worthy dialogue, or Eli Wallach’s scene-stealing performance as Arthur, there’s plenty to love beyond the fictional cottage. So, as you embark on your annual rewatch this season, remember: the magic of The Holiday lives on, even if the cottage was built on a lie.
