The highly successful British screenwriter and film director Richard Curtis is a good example of a life of service, says Drew Cordell
Richard Curtis, the genius behind some of the world’s most beloved romantic comedies, was celebrated in style in November when he received an honorary Oscar in the form of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the star-studded 15th Governors Awards in Hollywood. Known for films like Notting Hill, Four Weddings and a Funeral, and Love Actually, Curtis has made us laugh, cry, and believe in love. But this honour wasn’t just about his cinematic hits—it also celebrated his remarkable humanitarian work.
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Curtis co-founded Comic Relief, an organization that has raised over $2 billion (yes, billion!) to fight poverty and support communities worldwide. Through initiatives like Red Nose Day, Curtis has proven that storytelling and social good can go hand in hand, using humour and creativity to inspire generosity on a global scale. His work has helped provide funding for critical projects, from supporting education in disadvantaged regions to responding to humanitarian crises.
Of course, the ceremony wasn’t without its light-hearted moments. Hugh Grant, one of Curtis’s most iconic collaborators, delivered a speech full of dry wit, poking fun at the director’s infamous on-set feedback. “And now do a funny one,” Grant recalled Curtis telling him during filming, followed by the gem, “Don’t worry, we can cut around you.” Classic Hugh, and just as classic Curtis.
But Curtis’s acceptance speech struck a more reflective tone. He emphasised the importance of viewing our achievements as part of a collective legacy, not just a series of isolated successes. He urged film-makers to think beyond individual glory and consider the broader social impact of their work, even encouraging the hiring of “impact producers” to ensure creative projects inspire real-world change.
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While Curtis’s movies have never been serious contenders for individual Oscar accolades, his wider body of work—both in film and philanthropy—represents a poignant example of a life lived in service to others. His approach echoes the spirit of Jesus’s parable of the talents in the Gospel of Matthew. In the story, a master entrusts his servants with varying amounts of wealth, or “talents.” Those who use their talents to multiply good are praised, while the one who buries his talent out of fear is admonished. While Curtis himself isn’t religious, his life and work exemplify this timeless principle: taking the gifts we’re given—whether creativity, influence, or resources—and using them to create something far greater.
As the Christmas season approaches, likely accompanied by a traditional rewatch of Love Actually, there’s plenty of inspiration to be found—not just in Hugh Grant’s iconic Prime Ministerial dad ‘groove’, but in the lifelong service of Richard Curtis. His legacy reminds us of Christ’s call to love and serve selflessly, using our gifts to uplift others and build a better world. This Christmas, may we strive to embody the generosity and compassion that Christ modelled—and that Curtis, in his own way, has mirrored.
Drew Cordell is a business consultant who has worked alongside some of the world’s most successful businesses and their leaders in an extensive corporate career in both London and Australia. His new book Honest Christianity: Why People Choose to Believe is available on Amazon and all good bookstores.
