How Did The Love Rosie Cast Prepare For Filming?

If you’ve sat through 'Love, Rosie' and wondered who’s carrying that messy, lovely romantic rollercoaster, the two names everyone remembers are Lily Collins and Sam Claflin. Lily plays Rosie Dunne, the one who tries to keep her life together through all kinds of awkward timing, and Sam is Alex Stewart, her longtime best friend and sometimes love interest. Their chemistry is the engine of the whole film. Beyond them, there’s a supporting cast of British and Irish actors who fill out family, friends, and the little detours that shape Rosie’s life. Director Christian Ditter adapted Cecelia Ahern’s novel 'Where Rainbows End' (which becomes 'Love, Rosie' on screen) and leans on that ensemble to make the story feel lived-in. I always enjoy spotting the minor characters who pop up in a scene and then stay in my head—those performances are what make rewatching it worthwhile, even when I know what’s coming next.

I still find myself putting 'Love, Rosie' on when I want something that feels like a cozy, slightly bittersweet hug. The film stars Lily Collins as Rosie Dunne and Sam Claflin as Alex Stewart — they’re the emotional core and carry most of the story’s weight. Around them, the movie builds a small ensemble: Christian Cooke plays Greg, Tamsin Egerton shows up as Katie, and Suki Waterhouse appears as one of the romantic complications. Jaime Winstone is also part of the supporting group, giving that familiar British-flavored cast energy. Beyond those names, the film was directed by Christian Ditter and is adapted from Cecelia Ahern’s novel 'Where Rainbows End'. If you loved the leads’ chemistry, you’ll notice how the supporting players help shape the choices and missed moments that make Rosie and Alex’s story so frustrating and endearing. I like watching it with tea and a blanket — the cast really sells that mix of longing and everyday life.

When I dug into the timeline for 'Love, Rosie', I was surprised by how quickly the whole thing came together. Principal photography kicked off in early spring 2013 — most sources point to March 2013 as the start of filming. The production moved through a handful of locations, mainly around Dublin and parts of the UK, using some areas to stand in for the Boston scenes in the story. From what I tracked, shooting ran for a few months (it’s the kind of romantic comedy that usually wraps principal photography in a compact schedule), and the cast and crew were into post-production later that year. The finished film then debuted in 2014. If you like little set anecdotes, keep an eye out for cast interviews: Lily Collins and Sam Claflin talked about sharing behind-the-scenes snaps while they were filming, which makes those spring 2013 dates feel very real to fans like me.

If you've ever watched 'Love, Rosie' and paused to wonder where those warm, rainy streets actually are, I went down that rabbit hole and loved what I found. Most of the film was shot in Ireland — Dublin is the big one. The production used a mix of real Dublin streets, cozy cafés and seaside spots around the east coast to sell the hometown vibe for Rosie and Alex. They also filmed in nearby counties (think rolling Irish countryside and small-town lanes) and used studio interiors for some of the tighter, more controlled scenes. Because the story jumps between Ireland, London and Boston, the filmmakers sometimes used UK locations to stand in for the international bits, and clever set-dressing made a few spots look like Boston without crossing the Atlantic. I like spotting little details now: the signage, the phone boxes, the way the weather leans into the story. If you want to visit, look for guided film-location posts or community threads — people love mapping the cafés and streets where Lily Collins and Sam Claflin filmed. It feels like a mini scavenger hunt, and I always come away with a few new favorite cafés and a fresh playlist for rainy walks.

Okay, if you loved 'Love, Rosie', you'll probably want to follow its leads around — I did a mini binge after finishing it and it was so satisfying. Lily Collins has an eclectic slate: check out 'Mirror Mirror' for a fun fairy-tale take, 'The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones' if you like urban fantasy, and the heavier, more intimate 'To the Bone' and 'Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile' for different sides of her acting. I also liked her in 'Rules Don’t Apply' for the period vibes. Sam Claflin is the other big draw: if you want more of his earnest, charming roles, try 'Me Before You' (prepare tissues), his turn as Finnick in 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire' (and the subsequent 'Mockingjay' films) for blockbuster energy, and the survival romance 'Adrift'. He even pops up in 'Snow White and the Huntsman' and 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' for something more actiony. A few of the supporting cast pop up in neat places too — Suki Waterhouse shows up in the chaotic teen-toned 'Assassination Nation', and Jaime Winstone has roots in British cinema (early stuff like 'Kidulthood'). If you want a full picture, browsing their filmographies on IMDb or Letterboxd will reveal indie gems and TV roles that I stumbled across and really enjoyed.

If you want to catch interviews with the 'Love, Rosie' cast today, I usually start by checking the big entertainment hubs first. I look at outlets like People, Variety, and Entertainment Weekly because they often publish sit-down interviews and video clips the same day. Then I scan YouTube with the upload filter set to 'today' — that catches TV segments and podcast uploads quickly. Don’t forget to search for Lily Collins and Sam Claflin by name; they’ll usually be the ones doing press if anything special is happening. Occasionally the director Christian Ditter or Cecelia Ahern (the author of 'Where Rainbows End') will do a retrospective piece, and that pops up in longer-form interviews. If I’m trying to catch something live, Instagram Live, TikTok Live, and Twitter/X are where cast members will sometimes do surprise Q&As. I set alerts or refresh their official profiles so I don’t miss a spontaneous session. I’m actually off to check Lily’s Instagram now — her live chats always have that candid energy I love.

I still get a bit teary watching the quieter moments of 'Love, Rosie' — it's one of those films where the cast really carries the emotional weight. The core lineup is straightforward: Lily Collins plays Rosie Dunne, the warm-hearted, sometimes chaotic best friend who becomes a mother and juggles life choices; Sam Claflin is Alex Stewart, Rosie's funny, loyal, long-time best friend whose life takes him far away but never quite frees him from their connection. Rounding out the main trio, Christian Cooke plays Greg, who becomes romantically involved with Rosie at a crucial point in her life. Tamsin Egerton is Bethany, a polished, career-focused woman who figures into Alex's adult life. Suki Waterhouse turns up as Sally, one of Rosie's friends and part of the film's social circle. Those are the big names and roles that anchor the story; the supporting cast fills in family members, coworkers, and friends who make the small, everyday details feel lived-in. If you liked the movie, checking out the casting credits will reveal a few more familiar faces in smaller parts — I always enjoy spotting those moments.

Watching 'Love, Rosie' again as an adult made me notice how many of its cast kept growing their profiles afterward. Lily Collins, who plays Rosie, is the obvious one — she went from being a familiar face to many to a proper household name with projects like 'Emily in Paris' and other lead roles that really put her front and center. Sam Claflin also nudged his popularity higher after the film; he was already known from big franchises, but his later romantic leads like 'Me Before You' cemented him as a go-to for that warm, slightly tragic hero vibe. Richard Rankin quietly exploded in popularity when he turned up as a major character in 'Outlander', which introduced him to a whole new international audience. Beyond those three, Suki Waterhouse parlayed her modeling and music into more visible acting gigs and a steadily growing public profile, while Christian Cooke and Jaime Winstone continued to rack up solid TV and film work in the UK. So, while not everyone had overnight fame, several cast members used 'Love, Rosie' as a springboard to bigger things — at least in my watching circle.