EXCLUSIVE: Love Actually star Martine McCutcheon is excited for her 50th birthday and ready to embrace ‘fun and freedom’ following her marriage breakup and family rift.
She won over viewers in EastEnders, topped the music charts with her debut album, earned an Olivier Award for her dazzling West End performance in My Fair Lady, and became a key star in Britain’s most-loved Christmas movie. Now, Love Actually favourite Martine McCutcheon is getting ready for her next major milestone – turning 50.
Despite all her successes, Martine has faced some deeply painful challenges. Last year, the mother-of-one confirmed her separation from husband Jack McManus after 12 years of marriage. In 2022, she was heartbroken by the death of her beloved brother LJ, who passed away at just 31. She also remains estranged from her mum, Jenny.
But with Christmas approaching and a new year on the horizon, Martine is choosing to focus on the future rather than the hardships behind her. “You can dwell on what you didn’t do, or what you still haven’t done, and let it scare you. But I’m just grateful to be healthy, happy, and to have my little boy,” she says. Influential voices like Oprah Winfrey, Kim Cattrall, and Brené Brown have inspired Martine to embrace growing older, build confidence, and set strong personal boundaries.
“These trailblazing women have completely reshaped what turning 50 means for women,” she says. “They’re not just talking about it — they’re living it,” reports the Mirror. Martine believes that without these pioneering figures paving the way, she would have been anxious about reaching the milestone herself next May. “I would have been quite scared,” she admits.
“That judgmental little voice in my head would’ve been saying, ‘What about this? What about that?’ But thanks to the women who’ve been bold enough to be fully, unapologetically themselves, I’ve become far less critical of myself.
“It’s such an exciting and freeing time — more than ever — for a 50-year-old woman to work, live, socialise, love and enjoy life. I feel incredibly fortunate to be experiencing this moment in time, because even 20 years ago, things were very different. I’m genuinely excited about this next chapter because I understand myself so much better now. And I’m not even slightly sorry for having my own opinions, my own voice, my own boundaries, and being able to say — always respectfully — ‘No, no, no.’”
The star wants her sixth decade to be all about enjoying life, especially after a recent conversation with a friend made her realise she doesn’t have a single hobby of her own. She’s spent her whole life focused on her career, motherhood, and caring for others. “I don’t think I’ve ever had enough time to truly breathe and enjoy the simple things,” she says.
“I just want to have fun. I want to discover what brings me joy outside of work and family.”
One area Martine is keen to explore in 2026 is her spiritual side. Her friends have known about her natural healing instincts since childhood, and now she wants to deepen her understanding of crystal energy.
“It sounds crazy, but I really want to learn more about crystals. I’m not trained in Reiki, but ever since I was little, I could sense where people held blockages in their bodies,” she shares. “So maybe I’ll look into that more, too.”
Turning 50 will be a major milestone, but Martine is embracing the changes it brings. Before this, the most life-altering moment for her was becoming a mum to her son Rafferty, now 10 — an experience that finally brought her peace after years of feeling not good enough.
“Growing up in the industry from such a young age, I was very critical of myself and incredibly hard on myself. When I became a mum, I realised you don’t have to earn love. You don’t need to justify your choices. You’re loved simply for existing. You’re enough exactly as you are — always have been, always will be.”
That overwhelming wave of love gave Martine a sense of calm she had never known. “When I held him for the first time and looked at him, everything suddenly made sense,” she says. “It was so powerful and so undeniably true. There was no arguing with it. It gave me a deep sense of peace and completeness.”
Martine is looking forward to a magical Christmas with Rafferty and the rest of the family. “You don’t truly understand it until you experience it yourself — how much you get to feel the wonder and innocence that comes with celebrating Christmas with children,” she says.
“Their hope and huge dreams are infectious. You have this little bundle of joy you adore beyond words, and it’s such a pleasure — so fulfilling. It’s pure love.”
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