While there are a plethora of popular Christmas movies, Love Actually is especially beloved. The 2003 holiday romantic comedy explores complex topics like death, cheating and politics, while still remaining lighthearted and focusing on Christmas. Rowan Atkinson, famous for playing Mr. Bean, makes two cameos -- but his role was originally intended to have a higher purpose.Atkinson first appears as Rufus, a jewelry salesman who takes too much time wrapping the gift Harry (Alan Rickman) bought for his mistress, which results in him getting caught by his wife, Karen (Emma Thompson). Atkinson appears a second time at the end of Love Actually, where he makes an airport ticket agent hold all of his coats, allowing Sam (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) to say goodbye to his crush, Joanna, before she boards a plane to America. However, one abandoned plot point from an early draft established Rufus as an angel.RELATED: How Bill Nighy Was Tricked Into Auditioning for Love Actually

Rufus' Original Role in Love Actually

Rowan Atkinson's Love Actually character serves at the jewellery counter

Rufus' actions ultimately lead to good outcomes for both Thompson and Brodie-Sangster's character, as he was actually an angel in an earlier draft of the script. In December 2015, Love Actually script editor Emma Freud tweeted, "Originally Rowan's character over-wrapped the gift on purpose to stop Alan Rickman being able to buy the necklace. Because he was an angel."

According to Freud, Atkinson's character was originally meant to stop the affair between Harry and Mia from happening. Comparing this to the final cut of Love Actually shows how many changes were made during the scriptwriting process, raising the question of what Atkinson's character was like in earlier drafts. However, including the affair in the finished film gives audiences the chance to see Thompson's iconic scene in which she realizes her husband is cheating on her.

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The Significance of Rowan Atkinson's Love Actually Character

Rowan Atkinson's Love Actually character hands a jacket to airport check-in

Ultimately, having Rufus be an angel would have shown that even the smallest acts of kindness from strangers can change the course of someone's life. That aspect definitely is in line with the Christmas spirit. Even though Atkinson's character didn't end up as an angel in the final draft of the script, his comedic presence in Love Actually shows audiences that random, seemingly insignificant actions can have a huge ripple effect.