Fans of the beloved festive film Love Actually will struggle to recognise one of its most memorable stars in her latest role. German actress Heike Makatsch, who famously portrayed the seductive secretary Mia in the 2003 classic, has undergone a dramatic transformation for a dark new thriller on Apple TV+.
From Festive Flirt to Gritty Investigator
Two decades after her iconic role, Heike Makatsch is worlds away from the character that tempted Alan Rickman's Harry. She now stars in Apple TV+'s first German-language series, a darkly comic thriller titled Where's Wanda?. The show launched on Wednesday 2 October, 2024.
In the series, Makatsch plays Carlotta Klatt, who alongside her on-screen husband Dedo (Axel Stein), is desperately searching for their missing 17-year-old daughter, Wanda (Lea Drinda). When the police investigation stalls, the couple takes matters into their own hands, launching a private investigation across a ten-episode run.
A Complete Physical and Professional Metamorphosis
The actress's transformation is striking. In Love Actually, Makatsch sported a sharp, short black bob and played the "office tart" whose pursuit of her married boss caused heartache for Emma Thompson's character, Karen. Now, at 53, she appears with long blonde hair, a look that makes her virtually unrecognisable from her early-2000s persona.
This shift in appearance mirrors her move into grittier television drama. Her role as Mia remains one of the film's most debated characters. While the 2003 film left it ambiguous whether an affair truly occurred, script editor Emma Freud later confirmed the infidelity did take place, a plot point that left audiences both furious and devastated.
A Career Beyond the Christmas Classic
While Love Actually cemented her fame in the UK, Heike Makatsch's career is extensive. She has appeared in major films including Resident Evil (2002) and The Book Thief (2013), alongside numerous German film and television projects.
In her personal life, she was in a seven-year relationship with James Bond star Daniel Craig after meeting on the set of Obsession. Since 2004, she has been with musician Max Martin Schroder, with whom she shares two children.
Her latest project, Where's Wanda?, marks a significant new chapter, proving her versatility far beyond the role that made her a household name during the holiday season. The original film, Love Actually, remains available for streaming on Netflix.
