The Holiday is one of the most well-loved Christmas films among Brits. But many fans might not know that one of the film’s most iconic scenes was improvised by cameo star
Alice Sjoberg Social News Reporter
12:41, 26 Dec 2025Updated 12:41, 26 Dec 2025
Fans were baffled that one of the iconic scenes in The Holiday was improvised (file)(Image: Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock)
People have been left baffled after learning that one of the most iconic scenes in festive classic The Holiday was improvised by a movie star in an impromptu cameo performance. For many, Christmas time means watching as many festive films as you can before the year comes to an end, and The Holiday is often cited as one of the best.
This 2006 romantic Christmas comedy stars Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, and Jack Black. The plot revolves around two women, played by Diaz and Winslet, who decide to swap homes for the holidays, crossing continents to escape their relationship woes. However they might not be as unlucky in love as they thought.
The film boasts picturesque country houses, an incredible play tent, plenty of festive cheer, and even cameo appearances from the likes of Dustin Hoffman, star of a plethora of screen gems, including 1967’s The Graduate. However, many fans have been left baffled to learn his surprise appearance wasn’t planned.
In an interview with NBC News, the film’s director, Nancy Meyers, revealed Hoffman’s cameo in the film had come up by accident after the actor walked onto set to say hello to her.
“Dustin was eating at a restaurant next door,” Nancy explained, saying he’d spotted all of the accompanying trailers and trucks outside. “And someone said they’re shooting in the Blockbuster.”
Dustin was told that the film was directed by Nancy, and since their daughters, who were in Middle School at the time, are best friends, decided to walk onto set to say hi. She then recalled Dustin sitting with her for an hour, just watching the shooting and having fun.
The scene they were filming took place inside the Blockbuster film store and sees Black’s character perform a number of iconic scores from different movies to Winslet’s character. “Well, it wasn’t an hour, but it was a long time, when I thought ‘what is wrong with me?” Nancy recalled, saying she invited the star to join the scene.
She said: “We’re talking about The Graduate, do you just want to be in the scene and we’ll just cut you, and you can just, whatever. And he went ‘alright’.”
Nancy went on to explain that she sent Dustin straight into the scene in the clothes he’d worn for this lunch earlier. They also didn’t do his hair or put any makeup on him.
“And he went over there, I had them do The Graduate thing, and he just said ‘can’t go anywhere’, and it was just great,” Nancy explained.
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Several people quickly took to the comment section to share their bafflement, as many thought the cameo made the film even better.
“LOVE THIS!!!! Wow what a fun story,” one person said, while someone else wrote: “I love to see Dustin in that scene! It made it look even more realistic.”
A third user said: “One of my all time favourite movies, and yes, he added so much fun to it, seems like a great guy.”
Someone else shared: “I love this story! I walked by the Blockbuster as they were filming this that night in Brentwood! Dustin must’ve been dining at Pizzicotto, next door.”
If you’re unimpressed with this year’s Christmas TV offerings, you can find a huge range of beloved festive classics on your favourite streaming services
09:21, 24 Dec 2025Updated 09:36, 24 Dec 2025
Another Christmas is finally here and the season is all about family, food and festive traditions.
However, there will undoubtedly come a moment when parents and kids alike will be so stuffed with turkey, trimmings and Christmas pudding that they won’t be able to move from the sofa.
That’s why it’s important to have several hours of entertainment lined up, especially if the idea of board games or a long walk is too exhausting to contemplate.
While TV channels have a wide range of festive treats in store, viewers who don’t fancy yet another Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special or have already watched the Gavin and Stacey finale 100 times this year might prefer to revisit some of their favourite holiday films instead.
Let’s take a look at some highlights from the vast array of Christmas classics available to stream on the top streaming platforms, from Netflix and Prime Video to Sky and Disney+.
Netflix
Streaming giant Netflix has fast become one of the leading producers of guilty pleasure Christmas rom-coms that are incredibly easy to watch if you’re still digesting your second and third helpings of pigs in blankets.
Stand-outs include The Princess Switch trilogy, Hot Frosty, A Castle For Christmas and A Merry Little Ex-Mas. Plus, don’t forget about Lindsay Lohan’s Christmas comebacks, Our Little Secret and Falling For Christmas, and Virgin River star Alexandra Breckenridge’s recent Mrs Doubtfire-inspired hit, My Secret Santa.
Watch Bridgerton on Netflix for free with Sky
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Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new Sky Stream TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan.
This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like Bridgerton.
For those looking for something a bit more nostalgic, Netflix has several familiar favourites, too. Iconic Christmas rom-coms The Holiday and Love Actually are both available, as is How the Grinch Stole Christmas, both the live-action version with Jim Carrey and the 2018 animated film voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch. Animation fans also can’t go wrong with Netflix’s delightful original film, Klaus.
Those looking for something a little more high-octane should check out the Christmas thriller Carry-On, with Taron Edgerton and Jason Bateman, and, finally, Netflix is also carrying The Holdovers, a heartwarming drama that was only just released in 2023 but has already become a classic.
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Disney+ has announced that it will up its annual subscription by 10% on September 30. Until then, shoppers can still lock into its £89.90 annual plan, which works out less than 30p a day.
Disney+
Although Netflix has streaming services beat when it comes to Christmas originals, Disney+ might just have the best selection of familiar favourites.
The Holiday is also available here, as is the live-action Grinch, plus both versions of the delightful Miracle on 34th Street and the entire Santa Clause trilogy starring Tim Allen as a reluctant Saint Nick.
Here you can also find The Nightmare Before Christmas, for viewers who are still disappointed Halloween is over, the iconic action thriller Die Hard, starring Bruce Willis, and, of course, The Muppet Christmas Carol, starring Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge alongside Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and Gonzo the Great as Charles Dickens.
Disney+ also features both Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, which are guaranteed to entertain the whole family.
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Sky/NOW
Several films already mentioned are also available to stream via Sky Cinema with anyone with a Sky or NOW subscription. These include The Holiday, Love Actually and the animated Grinch.
Fans will also be able to find festive comedies such as Will Ferrell’s iconic Elf, animated classic The Polar Express and one of the UK’s best animated Christmas films, Arthur Christmas.
Some older titles are also available on Sky and NOW, such as the beloved musical White Christmas, starring Bing Crosby, the chaotic Christmas creature feature Gremlins and the delightful fantasy film It’s A Wonderful Life, with James Stewart.
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Shoppers can get 30 days’ free access to binge watchable TV like Fallout season 2 by signing up with Amazon Prime. Just remember to cancel at the end and you won’t be charged.
Prime Video
Amazon’s Prime Video service’s Christmas catalogue features the aforementioned Love Actually and The Holiday, so streamers have no excuses not to revisit these romantic holiday treats this year!
Also in their selection is It’s A Wonderful Life, as well as the 1980s classic A Christmas Story, the charming family film about little Ralphie Parker’s (played by Peter Billingsley) mission to receive a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model air rifle under the tree.
Fans should also definitely check out Love the Coopers for an early appearance from Hollywood A-lister Timothée Chalamet, as well as the late screen legend Diane Keaton, and Prime’s recent festive original Oh. What. Fun starring Michelle Pfeiffer as a flustered mum who snaps during the holidays is also well worth a watch.
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The famous Christmas film stars Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jack Black and Jude Law
The White Horse pub features in the movie(Image: Chris Harris/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
A chocolate box village in England is the setting of a Christmas movie that has become a modern classic. The Holiday is a cherished Christmas story that many enjoy annually during the festive season.
The 2006 movie tells the tale of two women who switch homes for two weeks during winter, allowing them to recover from heartbreak and discover new love. Iris, portrayed by Kate Winslet, escapes her life in England to enjoy a stay in a luxurious California house, while Cameron Diaz’s character moves from Hollywood to a charming, traditionally British cottage.
Although ‘Rosehill Cottage’ was specially constructed for the film and isn’t a real location, its picturesque countryside setting makes it worth visiting around Christmas. Remarkably, you can even visit the same pub where Cameron Diaz’s character had her first real date with Graham, played by Jude Law.
The enchanting village of Shere in Surrey is situated halfway between Guildford and Dorking. Its river filled with ducks, and its historic ambience attracts both tourists and filmmakers, and it was also a filming location for Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.
Yet, it’s at the corner of Shere Lane that you’ll find the historic 15th-century, Grade II-listed pub where parts of the Christmas movie were shot. The White Horse offers a variety of traditional dishes, such as hearty British steak and ale pies and Sunday roasts, all enjoyed by guests beside cosy fireplaces.
According to a previous Mirror article, a description from the Chef & Brewer Collection read: “Built in 1475, this stunning pub displays traditional features of solid wooden beams and natural stone fireplaces, creating the quintessential cosy pub atmosphere.
“Settle down and enjoy some hearty comfort food. From soul-warming Sunday roasts to perfectly seasoned steaks cooked just the way you like; each dish is crafted with the utmost care and passion. Connect to the free Wi-Fi and browse the well-stocked bar for your favourite local cask ale or quality wine, and don’t forget – we’re dog-friendly, so bring your four-legged pals.”
After visiting The White Horse, tourists might also want to explore the village’s charming tearooms or stop by the 12th-century St James’ Church. It is believed to be the place where Bridget Jones’ parents, played by Jim Broadbent and Gemma Jones, renew their wedding vows in The Edge of Reason.
The wedding celebration spills out of the church into the snowy yard. Bridget and Mark Darcy, portrayed by Colin Firth, follow the parents as they leave through the church’s Lych Gate.
Information from Visit Surrey also adds: “The Church of St James appeared in the Domesday Book. It contains a tiny enclosed cell in which Christine Carpenter, an anchoress (religious recluse) lived. Her only contact with the outside world was through a grid and an aperture through which food was passed.”
To visit Shere, the nearest station is Gomshall, about a five-minute drive away. It typically takes around 20 minutes to walk from Gomshall to Shere, and bus services are also accessible in the vicinity.
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