I had a small role in Love. Actually, I still earn royalties every year

As he snuggles on the couch with his wife Emma, ​​Junior Simpson sits down to watch Love Actually the thirtieth time.

But Junior, 61, isn’t just a die-hard fan; he stars in the film and its popularity has seen it rake in royalties since the film first hit the big screen in 2003.

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Junior had no idea how big the movie would become if he got the role of DJ in the wedding scene. Or that his fleeting 15-second performance would still make him money from royalties 21 years later.

“It was a huge honor to star in the hit film,” the actor and comedian tells Fabulous in this exclusive interview.

“I had no idea it would be such a big hit.

“I still get recognized now – people often come up and ask for selfies.

“I’m glad I’m still here to spread the joy of Love Actually this holiday season.”

His character, dubbed “the world’s worst DJ,” appeared in the wedding reception scene of Juliet (Keira Knightley) and Peter (Chiwetel Ejiofor).

However, Junior, who lives in south London, with singer Emma, ​​56, and their daughters aged 18 and 5, did not actually audition for the role.

Junior was forty when he was unexpectedly offered the role in the iconic Richard Curtis film.

He was working as a stand-up comedian at Brixton Academy when he made a joke about the lack of diversity in Richard Curtis’ film Notting Hill.

The comment opened the door for Junior as Richard was in the audience watching his set.

“That one-liner caught Richard’s attention. It led to them being offered the role in Love Actually,” Junior explains.

‘I went to Richard Curtis’ office to read the book and was surrounded by all the stars.

“Bill Nighy was incredible, every time he opened his mouth he was hilarious.

“Performing with Keria Knightly and Chiwetel Ejiofor was a lot of fun. We were supposed to shoot for three days. We achieved it in just a few shots.

“The day we filmed, everyone was hoping the film would do well. None of us thought this little British film would take the world by storm.”

The film was released in November 2003 and cost £30 million to make. It was a box office sensation, grossing a whopping £194 million.

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A December 2023 Sun Poll found that Love Actually was the nation’s favorite Christmas film, watched by 39.2% (or four in ten) of us over the festive period.

It was followed by Home Alone, which 18% of filmgoers enjoy watching at Christmas, followed by 11.1% who watch Elf.

Referring to Love Actually at the top of the Christmas movie list, Junior says:

“That’s mind-boggling. It’s proof that the story has something that appeals to everyone.”

Although his appearance in the film was brief, Junior still makes money from his cameo.

“Even to this day I still get royalties – I have no idea at this point how much, but not millions,” he admits.

“The film has taken on new meaning for me because it helped me find love and that woman saved my life.”

Junior and Emma think their love story would be worth a movie.

They first met in 2017 and had an affair that ended. But then they met on a dating app in 2020.

Even to this day I still receive royalties – I have no idea how much at this point

Junior Simpson

“She lived in London, and I lived in Birmingham,” Junior explains.

“We only met a few times. But we spoke on the phone for hours and declared our love for each other on Christmas Day 2020.”

At the end of January, Junior was feeling sick at work when Emma came to help.

He had Covid and quickly became extremely unwell, but it was Emma who saved his life.

“I went home and called Emma and told her I wasn’t feeling well and that I would call her the next day,” he says.

“When I didn’t call after three days, she panicked – she knew I wouldn’t have ghosted her.

“She drove to my apartment and found me lying on the floor, barely breathing.

“I had Covid and had fallen into a diabetic coma and was hours away from death.

“She woke me up and I was convinced I had already slept for a few hours – I would be gone for three days. I don’t remember much about it after that.”

Junior was rushed to the hospital and was on a ventilator for a month. During his recovery, he strengthened his feelings for Emma.

“Emma came to live with me in Birmingham and I proposed to her over Christmas 2021 when I was back in hospital after a mini stroke,” he recalls.

“It was a very tough time, but I would go through it all twice again if it meant I ended up with Emma.”

The couple married in May 2022 and now live together in Streatham, South London.

Junior says Emma is also a ‘super fan’ of Love Actually and is so obsessed that she has been nicknamed ‘Aunt Claus’ after Santa’s older sister in the big hit film.

Watching Love Actually reminds me how lucky I am to be alive

Junior Simpson

“For a Christmas addict, she had never watched Love Actually until she met me. Now it is a Christmas tradition for us,” adds Junior.

Junior began his career as a comedian after the tragic loss of his eldest brother, Calvin, who died in a traffic accident in 1990 at the age of just 31.

“He was my hero,” Junior remembers.

“The person I looked up to, my north star.

“He was a great actor and encouraged me to take up comedy because I was constantly making jokes around the house.

“But I felt that one artist in the family was enough. When he died, doing what he would have wanted for me was my way of celebrating and remembering him.

“Laughter is a great release from pressure and it’s a great feeling to create that in a room full of strangers all connecting over the same thing.”

This Christmas marks five years since Junior’s brush with death, and he says watching his favorite movie helps maintain his zest for life.

Although he still has a long way to go to fully recover, he plans to return to the comedy circuit next year.

“I am 60 percent recovered; After the stroke I had to learn to walk properly again. It took months of rehabilitation,” he says.

“I’m working on new material and plan to hit the comedy circuit next year. Emma appears in the comedy The Bavarian Boyz Oompah Show.”

He adds: “Watching Love actually reminds me how lucky I am to be alive.”

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