The Love Actually cast member who competed at Eurovision

Every year, like clockwork, Love Actually returns to television screens as part of the Christmas viewing routine.

The film is a modern festive classic, with audiences revisiting its star-studded ensemble cast and familiar storylines every December.

What many viewers may not realise is that among those cast members is a former Eurovision Song Contest performer.

It's Eurovision actually

One of the film’s most memorable storylines centres on the Portuguese woman who becomes the love interest of Colin Firth’s character.

The relationship unfolds across language barriers, handwritten cue cards and a trip to Portugal, and has become one of the film’s most talked-about arcs.

That character, Aurélia, was played by Portuguese actor and singer Lúcia Moniz.

Before appearing in Love Actually, Moniz had already represented Portugal at the Eurovision Song Contest.

She competed at Eurovision 1996 in Oslo with the song O Meu Coração Não Tem Cor.

The entry finished in sixth place, which was at the time Portugal’s best result in the contest.

It would remain the country’s strongest Eurovision performance until Portugal claimed its first victory in 2017.

Life after Eurovision and Love Actually

Following Eurovision and her international film appearance, Moniz continued to balance music and acting in Portugal.

She released several albums and appeared across film, television and theatre.

While international audiences may primarily associate her with Love Actually, her Eurovision appearance remains a defining moment in her career at home.

She even returned to Portugal's national final Festival da Canção in 2021 to perform her entry on the 25th anniversary of the song.

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