How Ed Sheeran Got 'Love Actually' Director Richard Curtis to Make His Festive 'Under the Tree' Music Video

Mar. 15, 2025

Claudia Jessie and Ed Sheeran in ‘Under the Tree’ video.Photo:Ed Sheeran/YouTube

Ed Sheeran/YouTube

Ed Sheeranteamed up with the ultimate rom-com director for his latest music video.

In aninterview withVarietyon Wednesday, Dec. 11, the pop star, 33, opened up about how Love Actually director Richard Curtis helped him make his music video for"Under the Tree."

Together, they’ve collaborated on several projects over the years includingComic Reliefand the 2017 filmYesterday.

Claudia Jessie and Ed Sheeran in ‘Under the Tree’ video.Ed Sheeran/YouTube

“He asked if I wanted to write the music for it, and I said, ‘Cool,’” he said. “There was one scene, and I wrote a chorus for it, but didn’t hear anything back.’”

After two years, theAbout Timefilmmaker reached out to Sheeran, filling him in on the status ofThat Christmasand asking him to finish the song titled “Under the Tree.”

While it was originally set to be an animated musical,That Christmasevolved into an animated feature based on Curtis' children’s books.

With “Under the Tree,” Sheeran wrote his first sad Christmas song.

“It’s the one thing I’ve wanted to write,” he said. “I’d never seen the need [to write] a sad Christmas song until writing this one…this is quite a lot of people’s realities at Christmas.”

After he handed over the song, Sheeran thought he was done, however, he explained that he would only do a music video for the track if Curtis would direct it, something he had never done before.

“I’ve felt that having him put his stamp on me doing a Christmas song would be kind of special to me," he said.

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Ed Sheeran in the music video for “Under the Tree”.Ed Sheeran/YouTube

According toVariety, Curtis envisioned theSliding Doors-like story and had the idea for castingBridgertonstar Claudia Jessie.

“It was fun. We filmed it 10 minutes away from my house, and my mate’s mum is an extra in it," Sheeran said.

Ultimately, Curtis hoped the video matched Sheeran’s “gorgeous song.”

“It’s lyrically magical and it unlocks a critical moment in the film for us,” he told the publication. “Suddenly you feel all these layered emotions that go beyond what is seen on screen and you are filled with longing and hope.”

That Christmaswas released on Dec. 4.

source: people.com