‘Heartbreaking’ Love Actually scene hits you ‘so much harder’ when you know the tragic truth behind it

Emma Thompson has shared the absolutely saddening reason why this vital Love Actually scene is more of a tear-jerker than you realised.

Let's throw ourselves back to the noughties for this one. It's 2003, we're on the sofa, Christmas decorations are up (those paper ones on the ceiling), and the family have all sat down with tissues to prepare for the hilarious comedy that has equal parts romance and heartbreak.

The festive classic created by Richard Curtis is everything anyone could ever ask for in a flick. There's the A-list ensemble cast, and it has the perfect soundtrack, too.

You've got a slimy Alan Rickman, noble Hugh Grant, raunchy Bill Nighy, loved-up Colin Firth, married Keira Knightley, struggling Liam Neeson and, of course, a betrayed Emma Thompson.

The classic rom-com is hard not to love- but there's one scene that isn't a fan favourite.

In the Christmas film, various storylines unfold before our eyes, all culminating in a grand celebration.

We have people to root for - Neeson, for example, who plays Daniel, and we have people that make us seethe with rage - the late, great Rickman, who plays Harry.

The reason for our anger is obvious.

He breaks his wife Karen's heart (played by Emma) as she finds out the beautiful necklace he bought from a jeweller is actually for another woman - his assistant, whom he's been flirting with at work - and she winds up with a Joni Mitchell CD.

We all love a bit of Joni, but that cuts deep.

And now, it turns out there's even more reason to be totally heartbroken by the scene, as Emma's emotions weren't entirely rooted in fiction.

The 'necklace scene' in Love Actually is heartbreaking. (Universal Pictures)

It turns out Emma has been through adulterous heartbreak in real life.

The Cruella star was married to renowned actor Kenneth Branagh between 1989 and 1995, but Kenneth embarked on an affair with fellow actress Helena Bonham Carter.

Emma told the Telegraph: "That scene where my character is standing by the bed crying is so well known because it’s something everyone’s been through.

“I had my heart very badly broken by Ken. So I knew what it was like to find the necklace that wasn’t meant for me. Well, it wasn’t exactly that, but we’ve all been through it."

She continued: "I’ve had so much bloody practice at crying in a bedroom. Then having to go out and be cheerful, gathering up the pieces of my heart and putting them in a drawer.”

As for where Emma and Helena stand now?

Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson were married from 1989 to 1995 (Larry Ellis Collection/Getty Images)

Well, the Sense and Sensibility star told the Times: "You can’t hold on to anything like that. It’s pointless. I haven’t got the energy for it. Helena and I made our peace years and years ago."

A Harry Potter meme recently refreshed everyone's memory about the illicit tryst - and that all three of them starred in the wizard flick.

One person commented: "This makes the scene in love actually hit even harder."

Another said: "This is so heartbreaking."