Kris Marshall claims the 'Love, Actually' cast are "baffled" by its continuing popularity.

Kris Marshall

Kris Marshall

The 42-year-old actor - who portrayed unlucky-in-love Colin Frissell in the film - loves the fact watching the movie has become a festive tradition for many people but admits he and his co-stars had no idea it would be such a success.

He said: "When I see the cast, we're always baffled it became such a big thing.

"In America, they watch it in November for Thanksgiving, then it's on constantly until Christmas.

"It's great to be part of people's traditions too.

"I've just been out in America filming and got called 'Colin' every time I walked into a bar."

Kris - who has son Thomas, three, with wife Hannah - insists he is nothing like his character in the movie.

He said: "Colin is an absolute geek - when I was single, thank God I was nothing like him. He has a complete lack of awareness and is a total fantasist."

Though Kris doesn't hang out with members of the cast - which included Hugh Grant, Dame Emma Thompson and Martine McCutcheon - very often, he's always pleased to run into them.

He told Closer magazine: "A lot of us see each other around but I bumped into Hugh in a restaurant.

"We said hello and stopped for a chat. In acting, you're always seeing people around."