Heike Makatsch, who famously played mistress Mia in the 2003 hit festive film Love Actually, is now starring in Apple’s first German-language series Where’s Wanda? – and she looks completely different
Heike Makatsch is barely recognisable, two decades since starring in Love Actually. The actress is taking on a fresh role in Apple’s debut German-language show. Known for her breakout role in 2003 as Mia the tempting secretary of Alan Rickman’s character in Love Actually, she now finds herself plunging into the darkly humorous thriller series Where’s Wanda?
Having premiered on Wednesday, October 2 on Apple TV+, the series spins the tale of Dedo and Carlotta Klatt, a couple played by Axel Stein and Heike respectively, who are frantically searching for their missing daughter Wanda, portrayed by Lea Drinda. The family decides to take the investigation into their disappearance of their 17 year old into their own hands when authorities come up short. They embark on an intense journey, looking deep into their community while employing surveillance tech to monitor potential suspects across the ten-part series, reports OK!.
Time has seen Heike evolve from her role in Love Actually as the “office tart” who infamously flirted with her boss Harry, leading to the heartbreak of his wife Karen, all whilst she sported dark hair. Now, stepping into the world of gritty drama, she presents a new appearance that leaves her Love Actually image far behind.
In the iconic film, the temptress rocked a short, choppy black bob, but these days, at 53, she’s unrecognisable with her flowing blonde locks, leaving many to not even connect her with the Love Actually star. Heike played what some might call the most loathed character in the 2003 classic, yet the movie never explicitly confirms whether Harry, played by Alan Rickman, was unfaithful to his wife Karen with the alluring office vixen. Nonetheless, the storyline left viewers feeling both enraged and heartbroken.
Towards the film’s climax, Karen, portrayed by Emma Thompson, discovers a necklace in Harry’s coat and mistakenly thinks it’s a gift for her. The potential infidelity comes to light when, instead of the jewellery, she unwraps a Joni Mitchell CD as her present. Later, audiences see Mia scantily dressed, smugly donning the necklace that Karen had earlier stumbled upon. Despite hopes that an actual affair hadn’t occurred, script editor Emma Freud eventually confirmed that it indeed did.
One unforgettable moment shows Mia, played by Makatsch, alongside Rickman’s Harry at a festive party where she dons a revealing dress and devil horns, aiming to lure him in. After Henry gifts Mia a locket, she provocatively tells him: “I don’t want something I need. I want something I want something pretty.”
In addition to her role as Mia in Love Actually, Heike has also starred in notable films such as Resident Evil (2002) and The Book Thief (2013). Following her iconic role, she continued her acting career in various German films and TV shows.
She was famously in a relationship with James Bond actor Daniel Craig for seven years after meeting on the set of the romantic drama Obsession. Post their split in 2004, Heike began dating Max Martin Schroder, a musician from a German indie band, with whom she has two children.
