Emma Thompson bio, husband, relationships, young, age, Harry Potter role 2025

Biography of Emma Thompson

Emma Thompson is a two-time Oscar winner, a brilliant British actress and screenwriter. She shot to stardom with "Howards End", delivering her Oscar-winning performance as Margaret Schlegel. Next came "Sense and Sensibility", where she both wrote the screenplay—earning her second Oscar—and starred as Elinor Dashwood.

She holds the title of Dame Commander of the British Empire. Thompson firmly believes that life's most interesting moments begin after "and they lived happily ever after."

Childhood, Youth, Family

Emma was born in the spring of 1959 to the creative couple of Phyllida Law and Eric Thompson in London. Her Scottish mother was an actress, her English father worked as a director, performed at the Old Vic theatre, and hosted the children's TV program "The Magic Roundabout".

Emma was three years old when her younger sister Sophie was born, who also became an actress later. The girls were raised according to British customs, with the help of governesses. The older sister was a well-behaved child who sometimes loved to guide the process of raising the younger one, but they hardly ever fought. The daughters saw their father often ill and tried not to upset him.

Emma Thompson with her parents and sister

As Emma grew older, she attended the prestigious Camden School for Girls, spending her holidays in Scotland with her grandparents in the village of Ardentinny. There, she played with local children, loved walking around Loch Long, and dreamed of becoming a great writer.

Her literary dreams weren't unfounded – Emma learned to read early and was completely devoted to books. Her parents encouraged her imagination to flourish. Emma also studied music and threw herself into school productions and theatrical performances. But books were always her first love:

Since childhood, I was passionately in love with Sherlock Holmes and always wanted to play him. I'm still upset that there are very few memorable female characters in both cinema and literature.

But it was still a long way to filming. After graduating, Thompson chose to study English at Cambridge University, though she immediately joined the legendary comedy troupe Footlights (the first among female students), where she successfully demonstrated her comedic talent. She studied alongside other future British stars: the legendary trio of Emma Thompson, Hugh Laurie, and Stephen Fry remains part of Cambridge folklore.

Young Emma Thompson with friends at the student theater Footlights

In a rebellious streak, she dyed her hair red, then shaved it all off, and became active in the feminist movement. She also picked up a new passion – motorcycle riding.

Fry and Laurie and Thompson - Proposal (1986)

She had to grow up quickly when her father died of pulmonary thromboembolism:

Dad always wanted me to become a director like him. I thought about it many times, but I never dared. Dad died very young, at 53. I had just finished studying at Cambridge. It was such a hard time for our family. I still admire my mom's strong character and how she bravely endured our loss.

Career Path

To deal with her grief, Thompson threw herself into work. She broke into television, began acting in historical TV series, and created the BBC comedy program "Alfresco," often featuring her university friends. She also established herself as a dramatic actress in Shakespearean productions on the London stage.

But comedy was her true calling, and her success soon caught the attention of film directors. Emma was invited to play the role of Mrs. Wally in the TV movie "There's Nothing to Worry About!", which aired in 1982.

Emma Thompson Alfresco Phone Sketches

She then played the frivolous Suzy in the comedy "Tutti Frutti," a red-braided girl in the series "Alfresco," and Catherine Winslow in the dramatic comedy "The Winslow Boy." She played Harriet Pringle in the war drama "Fortunes of War" and nurse Kate Lemmon in the melodrama "The Tall Guy". From then on, Thompson was regularly offered roles.

Emma Thompson in the mini-series 'Fortunes of War'

Thompson achieved global fame after starring in James Ivory's historical drama "Howard's End" (1992) as Margaret Schlegel. Her brilliant pairing with Anthony Hopkins made the film an Oscar triumph, earning her the coveted statuette for "the quintessential portrayal of a British female character." Emma was also honored with BAFTA and Golden Globe awards.

Emma Thompson Wins Best Actress: 1993 Oscars

Ivory then cast Hopkins and Thompson in his next film "The Remains of the Day," adapting Kazuo Ishiguro's novel, which proved equally acclaimed and earned another Oscar nomination.

Next was another significant role. The drama "In the Name of the Father," based on true events, follows a man who spent nearly 15 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit – with Emma playing central character Gareth Peirce. Her powerfully accurate performance earned another Oscar nomination and moved audiences to tears. Thompson's co-star was Daniel Day-Lewis.

Emma Thompson in 'In the Name of the Father'

Thompson then joined Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito in the Hollywood comedy "Junior," and later starred opposite Antonio Banderas in the thriller "Imagining Argentina." Another famous Hollywood actor, John Travolta, starred with Thompson in the political comedy satire on Bill Clinton called "Primary Colors". They brilliantly played a "political" couple.

In 1995, Emma Thompson delivered a new masterpiece of American-British cinema with "Sense and Sensibility" – which she scripted herself. She also played the leading role of the oldest of the three Dashwood sisters. Her screenplay earned both an Oscar and a Golden Globe.

'Sense and Sensibility' was written by Emma herself

Thompson later recalled finishing the script during one of the darkest periods of her life, when everything seemed to be falling apart. But the work became her refuge from personal turmoil, and once filming began, she threw herself into the process completely – even keeping a daily diary to record her thoughts and observations. About Kate Winslet, who played her middle sister on screen, Emma wrote:

Kate Winslet looks paler than usual. If anything, this girl doesn't lack courage. I can't imagine what I would've been like if at nineteen I'd had to take on a role of such magnitude. But she's full of energy, smart, and on top of everything, she's never boring.

After the film's triumph, Thompson stepped back from the spotlight for several years, only occasionally accepting film roles. She appeared as Professor Sybill Trelawney in the Harry Potter series, though Thompson herself feels the character wasn't entirely successful – the directors wouldn't let her give Sybill more distinctive qualities.

In 'Harry Potter', Emma Thompson played Professor Trelawney

But her Karen in Richard Curtis's Christmas tale "Love Actually" delighted audiences with Thompson's trademark wit and unstoppable energy. The cast was exactly the kind Thompson loved working with: Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson and other famous personalities, who created an incredible atmosphere on set. And, of course, Alan Rickman, with whom Emma Thompson had met on the set many times (and each time their tandem delighted viewers).

Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman ('Love Actually')

Over several years, Thompson wrote, rewrote, and refined a script that eventually became the delightful family fantasy "Nanny McPhee." Thompson brought subtle irony and brilliance to the title role. She then appeared in the comedy-drama "Stranger than Fiction" (Karen Eiffel), the drama "Last Chance Harvey" (Kate Walker), and the comedy "The Love Punch" (Kate). In the latter, she was paired with Pierce Brosnan.

Emma Thompson's makeup in 'Nanny McPhee'

One of Thompson's most intriguing roles was writer P.L. Travers, creator of the beloved "Mary Poppins." "Saving Mr. Banks" tells how the eccentric, perpetually dissatisfied Travers clashed with Walt Disney over his film adaptation of her book. Her demands were absurd – she wanted the color red completely removed from the film. Thompson, as always, brilliantly brought the character to life, while Tom Hanks was equally vivid as the legendary producer and director.

Thompson took on weightier dramatic roles as German underground fighter Anna Quangel in the social drama "Alone in Berlin" and federal judge Fiona Maye in the adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel "The Children Act".

Emma Thompson: On Acting

In 2017, the actress starred in Noah Baumbach's tragicomedy "The Meyerowitz Stories" with Dustin Hoffman, Ben Stiller, and Adam Sandler. The film was presented at the Cannes Film Festival.

Just before 2020, the comedy "Last Christmas" was released, with Emma also co-writing the script.

Emma Thompson's Personal Life

Emma Thompson met Hugh Laurie at university. They became partners in Cambridge student theatre, and Hugh struck Emma as both talented and fascinating. They soon started dating. Their relationship was playful and fun - they constantly cracked each other up and collaborated on sketches for performances. Eventually, romance evolved into friendship, which Thompson and Laurie maintain to this day.

During the filming of "Fortunes of War", the rising actress met Kenneth Branagh, already established for his roles as Henry V and Hamlet. Sparks flew so intensely that Emma overlooked both their five-year age gap (she was older) and her lover's excessive ambition and selfishness.

Emma Thompson's first husband was Kenneth Branagh

They got married in 1989. At first, they starred together for other directors, then Branagh created his own production company. After Emma won her first Oscar, their relationship grew strained. She later discovered her husband was having an affair with her friend Helena Bonham Carter.

«Don't sigh, don't cry!» Emma Thompson on THAT Love Actually scene, Harry Potter and Late Night

The breakup was long and painful. To keep from spiraling into depression, Thompson tackled adapting a Jane Austen novel, wrote the screenplay, and starred in "Sense and Sensibility". During filming, she met actor Greg Wise. At first, the young bachelor pursued the only single woman on set - Kate Winslet. But according to Kate, there was no chemistry between them, so things never progressed beyond casual coffee dates and a rock concert.

A scene from the movie 'Sense and Sensibility'

One day, Winslet convinced Thompson - who'd become a close friend during filming - to join them at a cafe. Greg proved to be fascinating company, and Emma lost track of time completely. She was going through her divorce and didn't immediately reciprocate the actor's feelings, but Wise - seven years her junior - didn't give up. Thompson heard about a psychic friend's prediction for Greg: he would supposedly meet his soulmate during the filming of "Sense and Sensibility". And that soulmate, Greg believed, was Emma.

In 1995, Emma got a divorce from Branagh and moved in with Wise. The couple desperately wanted children, but even IVF didn't work at first. Finally, in 1999, they welcomed a daughter they named Gaia.

Emma Thompson with her husband and children

In 2003, two major milestones marked Thompson's life: she and Greg adopted Tindyebwa Agaba, a Rwandan refugee, and finally tied the knot. Emma felt completely secure in her partner's love and couldn't have been happier.

Emma Thompson Now

2021 was a busy year for the actress. She started filming Sophie Hyde's "Good Luck to You, Leo Grande," playing former teacher and widow Nancy Stokes. At 60, Thompson didn't shy away from filming erotic scenes as her "jolly widow" character decides to make up for lost time by hiring twenty-year-old Leo for intimate encounters. The performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination, though she lost to Michelle Yeoh for "Everything Everywhere All at Once."

That same year, Thompson took on the Baroness in "Cruella," exploring the famous Disney villain's backstory, while also playing Cat in "What's Love Got to Do With It?" and the intimidating Miss Trunchbull in "Matilda." In addition, Emma was commissioned to adapt the screenplay "Nanny McPhee" for the stage.

Emma Thompson: latest news and articles

Loneliness is canceled: 13 X-Mas and New Year movies with a happy ending

23 Dec 2024

Photos: Emma Thompson