Travelers coming home for the holidays at Heathrow Airport in London got their very own “Love Actually”-inspired welcome this week.
One of the film’s stars, Martine McCutcheon, surprised travelers at Terminal 5 after they got off their flights on Tuesday, the airport said in a press release. McCutcheon is one of the volunteers participating in Heathrow’s program that offers people the “opportunity to give their loved ones a personal welcome home at arrivals if they can’t be there themselves.”
In “Love Actually,” McCutcheon plays Natalie, the junior staffer who falls in love with Hugh Grant, the British prime minister. In the Christmas classic, she surprises him at the airport with a massive hug. McCutcheon offered that same warm welcome to real-life travelers at Heathrow.
“I get so excited every time I’m at Heathrow. Welcoming someone home is such a great feeling that never gets old,” McCutcheon told the airport during the event. “At Christmas, this is truer than ever. I love that Heathrow is giving everyone the chance to welcome home their loved one through this amazing team of volunteers who are spreading Christmas joy at the airport and bringing us all a bit closer together this Christmas.”
Friends and family members share the flight details and the name of the traveler, along with a personal message, with the airport through a direct message on Twitter. A Heathrow volunteer will then greet the traveler at arrivals “with a big, warm welcome and a personal message from home.”
The program begins today and runs until Saturday, Dec. 23, the airport said.