It's been 12 years since Martine McCutcheon lit up screens in the ultimate Christmassy film, Love Actually. And now the actress, her husband Jack McManus and the couple's ten-month-old son Rafferty are enjoying their own fairytale story in New York.
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"The Christmas tree was up before the end of November," Martine told HELLO!. "I am nuts about Christmas and start getting really excited about halfway through October!"
© Photo: HELLO!"I want Rafferty to have as much fantasy, hope and magic in his life," said doting mum Martine McCutcheon
"One of our traditions is that everyone has a stocking – even our two little spaniels Fred and Harry – so Rafferty will also get one, with his name on it, hanging above the fireplace.
"And we always go to midnight mass on Christmas Eve. Then we just spend Christmas Day eating and drinking too much and wearing silly jumpers – the one in the silliest jumper is the winner."
This is baby Rafferty's first trip to New York. It's a city that holds special memories for Martine and her singer-songwriter husband Jack, as it was one of the first places they visited together after becoming a couple in 2008.
"It's going to be all about things Rafferty will love – the big toy stores, seeing Father Christmas," Martine said of the trip. "I want him to have as much fantasy and hope and magic in his life as possible and I think Christmas is the time when all that really comes out."
Read the full interview in this week's issue of HELLO! out now
The couple, who were holidaying with Jack's parents Mick and Marilyn, are lucky enough to get a helping hand.
"We're very committed parents but we also have to do what we have to do in terms of our careers," said Jack. "We're lucky that my mum and Martine's mum come over every week to help us out. I don't think we could do it without them."
"We pride ourselves on the fact that we very much try to live a real life," added Martine. "Even though we dip into an unreal world with what we do, our mums are really good for grounding us."
