Love Actually star Heike Makatsch looks unrecognisable 20 years on from when she played mistress Mia in the hit Christmas film. 

The actress, now 52, has ditched her signature dark bob in favour of a lighter, longer do. 

Heika starred as brunette Mia who famously had an affair with her married boss Henry, played by the late Alan Rickman, sparking the film's most devastating scene when their liaisons were discovered by his wife Karen (Emma Thompson). 

Since the film's success, Heike has since starred in an array of films and TV series in her native Germany, and has become a regular at fashion shows in the country.

In Love Actually, a scantily-clad Mia is hell-bent on sleeping with Henry and outrageously flirts with him at an office Christmas party, even though his wife Karen is present.

Harry splashes out on a gold heart locket for Christmas for Mia, after she recites the famous line: 'I don't want something I need. I want something I want – something pretty.'

When Karen discovers the necklace in Harry's coat pocket, she is convinced he's purchased it for her, but when she opens his gift on Christmas Day, is stunned to see he's given her a CD.

Realising he purchased the necklace for another woman, a devastated Karen breaks down in tears, while Mia smugly places the necklace around her neck.

Since appearing in the festive film, Heike has starred in several other English films including 2013's The Book Thief alongside Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson.

The star also dated James Bond star Daniel Craig for seven years until 2004, and has since starred in a range of German-language productions.

Heike also has two daughters with Max Martin Schroder, who is a member of the indie band Tomte.

Love Actually quickly became a hit after its release in 2003 and boasted a star-studded cast which also included Andrew Lincoln as Mark and Keira Knightley as Juliet.

While another child star who appeared in the film was Thomas Brodie-Sangster, who played grieving Liam Neeson's stepson Sam, who has since starred in Game Of Thrones and The Queen's Gambit.

Emma Thompson and Hugh Grant clamed they initially thought Love Actually was 'psychotic' during the 20th anniversary show. 

During an ABC special The Laughter and Secrets of Love Actually: 20 Years Later, hosted by broadcaster Diane Sawyer last year, the actress said: 'I just sat there watching, thinking, "God, this is, uh, it's quite kind of out there, isn't it?" 

'And then Hugh came up behind me as we were walking out of the theater and says, "Correct me if I'm wrong, but is that the most psychotic thing we've ever been in?"'