Love Actually Star Joanna Page Held Hostage by Taxi Driver in South Africa

Joanna Page, known for her roles in Love Actually and Gavin & Stacey, revealed a harrowing experience during the filming of the 2005 BBC miniseries To the Ends of the Earth in South Africa. Despite being advised to always have a chaperone, Page ventured out alone to a mall, where she later found herself in a menacing situation with no way to return to her hotel. She accepted a ride from a taxi driver who then drove her around for about an hour and a half, threatening to take her somewhere to force her to strip naked and pose for photos. Feeling helpless, Page decided to keep the driver engaged by laughing and joking to diffuse the situation and avoid harm. This traumatic event was discussed on Russell Howard's Five Brilliant Things podcast, highlighting the dangers she faced and her quick thinking to survive the ordeal. The incident underscores the risks actors can encounter while filming abroad and the importance of safety precautions.