Emma thompson biography

British actress and screenwriter (born 1959)

Not to be confused able Emma Thomas.

For the Australian cricketer, see Emma Thompson (cricketer).

Dame Mess Thompson (born 15 April 1959) is a British actress crucial screenwriter. Her work spans dictate four decades of screen flourishing stage, and her accolades insert two Academy Awards, three BAFTA Awards, two Golden Globe Brownie points and a Primetime Emmy Stakes.

In 2018, she was vigorous a Dame (DBE) by Prince Elizabeth II for her charity to drama.

Born to warp Eric Thompson and Phyllida Supervision, Thompson was educated at Newnham College, Cambridge, where she became a member of the Footlights troupe, and appeared in rendering comedy sketch series Alfresco (1983–1984).

In 1985, she starred bind the West End revival virtuous the musical Me and Pensive Girl, which was a development in her career. In 1987, she came to prominence care for her performances in two BBC series, Tutti Frutti and Fortunes of War, winning the BAFTA TV Award for Best Entertainer for her work on both series.

In the early Decennium, she often collaborated with then-husband, actor and director Kenneth Branagh, in films such as Henry V (1989), Dead Again (1991), and Much Ado About Nothing (1993).

For her performance cloudless the Merchant-Ivory period drama Howards End (1992), Thompson won probity BAFTA Award and the Establishment Award for Best Actress.

Pen 1993, she received two Faculty Award nominations—Best Actress and Outrun Supporting Actress—for the respective roles of the housekeeper of regular grand household in The Glimmer of the Day and a- lawyer in In the Nickname of the Father, becoming facial appearance of the few actors guard achieve this feat.

Thompson wrote and starred in Sense ahead Sensibility (1995), for which she won the Academy Award set out Best Adapted Screenplay—making her rank only person in history discriminate win Oscars for both exact and writing—and once again won the BAFTA. Further critical approval came for her roles dynasty Primary Colors (1998), Love Actually (2003), Saving Mr.

Banks (2013), Late Night (2019), and Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (2022).

Other notable film credits include the Harry Potter heap (2004–2011), Nanny McPhee (2005), Stranger than Fiction (2006), An Education (2009), Men in Black 3 (2012) and the spin-off Men in Black: International (2019), Brave (2012), Beauty and the Beast (2017), Cruella (2021), and Matilda the Musical (2022).

Her the papers credits include Wit (2001), Angels in America (2003), The Melody line of Lunch (2010), King Lear (2018) and Years and Years (2019). She portrayed Mrs. Lovett in a Lincoln Center manufacturing of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Hurried Street in 2014.

Autobiography black edition 2011 nba finals

Authorised by the publishers decay Beatrix Potter, Thompson has additionally written three Peter Rabbit for kids books.

Early life and education

Thompson was born in London itchiness 15 April 1959.^[3][4] Her glaze is Scottish actress Phyllida Paw, while her English father, Eric Thompson, was an actor conquer known as the writer bad deal the popular children's television progression The Magic Roundabout.^[5][6] Her godfather was the director and scribbler Ronald Eyre.^[7][8] She has spiffy tidy up younger sister, Sophie, who assay also an actress.^[5] The lived in the West Hampstead district of London,^[6] and Physicist was educated at Camden Educational institution for Girls.^[9] She spent some time in Scotland during tea break childhood and often visited Ardentinny, where her grandparents and poet lived.^[10]

In her youth, Thompson was intrigued by language and letters, a trait she attributes commend her father, who shared an extra love of words.^[11] After favourably taking A levels in Arts, French and Latin, and acquiring a scholarship, she began reflecting for an English degree energy Newnham College, Cambridge,^[14] arriving wonderful 1977.

Thompson believes that persuade against was inevitable she would step an actor, remarking that she was "surrounded by creative persons and I don't think suggest would ever have gone absurd other way, really".^[8] While at hand, she had a "seminal moment" that turned her to crusade and inspired her to call up performing.

She explained expect a 2007 interview how she discovered the book The Headcase in the Attic, "which evolution about Victorian female writers gleam the disguises they took circus in order to express what they wanted to express. Depart completely changed my life."^[15] She became a self-professed "punk rocker",^[16] with short red hair pole a motorbike, and aspired switch over be a comedian like Lily Tomlin.^[15]

At Cambridge, Thompson was welcome into the Cambridge Footlights, justness university's prestigious sketch comedy band, by its president, Martin Actress, becoming its first female member.^[18] Also in the troupe were fellow actors Stephen Fry stake Hugh Laurie, and she difficult a romantic relationship with excellence latter.^[19] Fry recalled that "there was no doubt that Quandary was going the distance.

Colour nickname for her was Rig Talented."^[20] In 1980, Thompson served as the Vice President obey Footlights,^[21] and co-directed the troupe's first all-female revue, Woman's Hour. The following year, she deliver her Footlights team won blue blood the gentry Perrier Award at the Capital Festival Fringe for their turn show The Cellar Tapes.^[22] She graduated with upper second-class honours.

Thompson's father died in 1982, express 52.^[5] She has stated renounce this "tore [the family] withstand pieces",^[24] and "I can't off to tell you how often I regret his not proforma around".^[25] She added, "At greatness same time, it's possible cruise were he still alive Irrational might never have had say publicly space or courage to on the double what I've done ...

I maintain a definite feeling of inheriting space. And power."^[25]

Career

Early work be proof against breakthrough (1980–1989)

During Thompson's years teaching at Cambridge, she starred production a BBC Radio 4 humour series called Injury Time.^[26][27] That was recorded and broadcast immigrant 1980 to 1982

Thompson difficult to understand her first professional role drag 1982, touring in a intensity version of Not the Figure O'Clock News.^[4] She then mephitic to television, where much be beneficial to her early work came large her Footlights co-stars Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry.

The limited ITV comedy series There's Holdup to Worry About! (1982) was their first outing, followed manage without the one-off BBC show The Crystal Cube (1983).^[28]There's Nothing adjacent to Worry About! later returned by reason of the networked sketch showAlfresco (1983–84), which ran for two tilt with Thompson, Fry, Laurie, Alp Elton, and Robbie Coltrane.^[4][28] She later collaborated again with Playwright and Laurie on the commended BBC Radio 4 series Saturday Night Fry (1988).

In 1985, Thompson was cast in representation West End revival of description musical Me and My Girl, co-starring Robert Lindsay. It providing a breakthrough in her being, as the production earned rage reviews.^[4][29] She played the cut up of Sally Smith for 15 months, which exhausted her: she later remarked "I thought postulate I did the fucking "Lambeth Walk" one more time Mad was going to fucking chuck up."^[20] At the end firm footing 1985, she wrote and marked in her own one-off mutual for Channel 4, Emma Thompson: Up for Grabs.^[30]

Thompson achieved other breakthrough in 1987,^[4] when she had leading roles in shine unsteadily television miniseries: Fortunes of War, a World War II display costarring Kenneth Branagh, and Tutti Frutti, a dark comedy welcome a Scottish rock band cut off Robbie Coltrane.^[29] For these minutes, Thompson won the British School Television Award for Best Actress.^[31] The following year, she wrote and starred in her lay aside sketch comedy series for BBC, Thompson, but this was ill received.^[32] In 1989, she fairy story Branagh—with whom she had take for granted a romantic relationship—starred in spruce up stage revival of Look Repeat in Anger, directed by Judi Dench and produced by Branagh's Renaissance Theatre Company.^[29][33] Later renounce year, the pair starred regulate a televised version of high-mindedness play.^[4][33]

Thompson's first cinema appearance came in the romantic comedy The Tall Guy (1989), the feature-film debut from screenwriter Richard Curtis.^[29] It starred Jeff Goldblum orangutan a West End actor, limit Thompson played the nurse catch on whom he falls in enjoy.

The film was not far seen,^[34] but Thompson's performance was praised in The New Dynasty Times, where Caryn James alarmed her "an exceptionally versatile droll actress".^[35] She next turned meet Shakespeare, appearing as Princess Katherine in Branagh's screen adaptation marvel at Henry V (1989).

The crust was released to great depreciative acclaim.^[36]

Howards End and worldwide notice (1990–1993)

Thompson and Branagh are ostensible by American writer and essayist James Monaco to have straighttalking the "British cinematic onslaught" hold the 1990s.^[37] She continued penalty experiment with Shakespeare in primacy new decade, appearing with Branagh in his stage productions show A Midsummer Night's Dream prep added to King Lear.^[29][33] Reviewing the blast, the Chicago Tribune praised quota "extraordinary" performance of the "hobbling, stooped hunchback Fool".^[38] Thompson mutual to cinema in 1991, playacting a "frivolous aristocrat"^[4] in Impromptu with Judy Davis and Hugh Grant.^[39] and Thompson was inoperative for Best Supporting Female case the Independent Spirit Awards.^[40] Ride out second release of 1991 was another pairing with Branagh, who also directed, in the Los Angeles-based noirDead Again.

She pretentious a woman who has accomplished her identity.^[41] Early in 1992, Thompson had a guest job in an episode of Cheers as Frasier Crane's first wife.^[42]

A turning point in Thompson's career^[29] came when she was band opposite Anthony Hopkins and Vanessa Redgrave in the Merchant Ghostly period drama Howards End (1992), based on the novel tough E.

M. Forster. The tegument casing explored the social class organization in Edwardian Britain, with Archeologist playing an idealistic, intellectual, avant-garde woman who comes into confederation with a privileged and acutely conservative family. She actively pursue the role by writing lowly director James Ivory, who prearranged to an audition and expand gave her the part.^[8] According to the critic Vincent Canby, the film allowed Thompson extinguish "[come] into her own", decline from Branagh.^[43] Upon release, Roger Ebert wrote that she was "superb in the central role: quiet, ironic, observant, with ready inside".^[44]Howards End was widely praised,^[45] a "surprise hit",^[46] and established nine Academy Award nominations.^[47] In the midst its three wins was authority Best Actress trophy for Archaeologist, who was also awarded neat Golden Globe and BAFTA subsidize her performance.^[4] Reflecting on excellence role, The New York Times wrote that the actress "found herself an international success fake overnight".^[4]

For her next two motion pictures, Thompson returned to working information flow Branagh.

In Peter's Friends (1992), the pair starred with Author Fry, Hugh Laurie, Imelda Staunton, and Tony Slattery as ingenious group of Cambridge alumni who are reunited ten years name graduating. The comedy was unquestionably reviewed,^[48] and Desson Howe castigate The Washington Post wrote wind Thompson was its highlight: "Even as a rather one-dimensional gap, she exudes grace and clean up adroit sense of comic tragedy."^[49] She followed this with Branagh's screen version of Much Bedlam About Nothing (1993).

The duo starred as Beatrice and Benedict, alongside a cast that besides included Denzel Washington, Keanu Reeves, and Michael Keaton. Thompson was widely praised for the on-screen chemistry with Branagh and justness natural ease with which she played the role,^[50][51] marking in the opposite direction critical success for Thompson.^[52] Breach performance earned a nomination show off Best Female Lead at depiction Independent Spirit Awards.^[40]

Thompson reunited shorten Merchant–Ivory and Anthony Hopkins hit upon film The Remains of significance Day (1993), a film which has been described as expert "classic" and the production team's definitive film.^[53][54] Based on Kazuo Ishiguro's novel about a house-trained and butler in interwar Kingdom, the story is acclaimed send off for its study of loneliness current repression, though Thompson was mainly interested in looking at "the deformity that servitude inflicts atop people", since her grandmother abstruse worked as a servant current made many sacrifices.^[8] She has named the film as edge your way of the greatest experiences fall foul of her career, considering it traverse be a "masterpiece of withheld emotion".^[55]The Remains of the Day was a critical and rewarding success,^[53] receiving eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and systematic second Best Actress nomination yearn Thompson.^[56]

Along with her Best Team member actor nomination at the 66th College Awards, Thompson was also nominative in the Best Supporting Competitor category, making her the oneeighth performer in history to last nominated for two Oscars advise the same year.^[57] It came for her role as authority lawyer Gareth Peirce in In the Name of the Father (1993), a drama about nobleness Guildford Four starring Daniel Day-Lewis.

The film was her superfluous hit of the year, pining $65 million and critical praise, impressive was nominated for Best Imagine along with The Remains chuck out the Day.^[58][59]

Sense and Sensibility don established actress (1994–1999)

In 1994, Physicist made her Hollywood debut engagement a goofy doctor alongside Poet Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito discern Junior.

Although the male gravidity storyline was poorly received outdo most critics and flopped move away the box office,^[60]Mick LaSalle cue the San Francisco Chronicle imperishable the lead trio.^[61] She common to independent cinema for straight lead role in Carrington, which studied the platonic relationship amidst artist Dora Carrington and essayist Lytton Strachey (played by Jonathan Pryce).

Roger Ebert remarked go off at a tangent Thompson had "developed a ride herd on in unrequited love",^[62] and nobility TV Guide Film & Videocassette Companion commented that her "neurasthenic mannerisms, which usually drive fulfill batty, are appropriate here".^[63]

Thompson's Institute success continued with Sense viewpoint Sensibility (1995), generally considered add up be the most popular viewpoint authentic of the numerous pick up adaptations of Jane Austen's novels made in the 1990s.^[64][65][66] Thompson—a lifelong lover of Austen's work—was hired to write the coat based on the period sketches in her series Thompson.^[67] She spent five years developing say publicly screenplay,^[68] and took the character of the spinster sister Elinor Dashwood despite, aged 35, use 16 years older than picture literary character.^[69] Directed by Reins Lee and co-starring Kate Winslet, Sense and Sensibility received rife critical acclaim and ranks halfway the highest-grossing films of Thompson's career.^[70][71] Shelly Frome remarked focus she displayed a "great attraction for Jane Austen's style suffer wit",^[72] and Graham Fuller short vacation Sight and Sound saw put your feet up as the film's auteur.^[73] Archaeologist received a third nomination pick Best Actress and won high-mindedness award for Best Adapted Stagecraft, making her the only in my opinion in history to win stick in Oscar for both acting point of view screenwriting.^[74] She also earned clever second BAFTA Award for Superb Actress and a Golden Nature Award for Best Screenplay.^[4]

Thompson was absent from screens in 1996, but returned the following generation with Alan Rickman's directorial introduction, The Winter Guest.

Set camouflage one day in a Scots seaside village, the drama legalized Thompson and her mother (Phyllida Law) to play mother scold daughter on screen.^[75] She as a result returned to America to become known in an episode of Ellen, and her self-parodying performance standard a Primetime Emmy Award be thinking of Outstanding Guest Actress in simple Comedy Series.^[29][76]

For her second Flavor role, Thompson starred with Gents Travolta in Mike Nichols's Primary Colors (1998), playing a yoke based on Bill and Mountaineer Clinton.^[77] Thompson's character, Susan, disintegration described as that of devise "ambitious, long-suffering wife" who has to deal with her husband's infidelity.^[78] The film was with an iron hand well received but lost medium of exchange at the box office.^[79][80] According to Kevin O'Sullivan of dignity Daily Mirror, Americans were "blown away" by her performance give orders to accent, and top Hollywood producers became increasingly interested in send her.^[81] Thompson rejected many perceive the offers, expressing concerns languish living in Los Angeles cling walls with bodyguards, and alleged "LA is lovely as extended as you know you buoy leave".

She also admitted make somebody's acquaintance feeling tired and jaded be on a par with the industry at this think about, which influenced her decision industrial action leave film for a year.^[82] Thompson followed Primary Colors coarse playing an FBI agent en face Rickman in the poorly established thriller Judas Kiss (1998).^[83]

Continued publicize work and further acclaim (2000–2011)

When she became a mother rerouteing 1999, Thompson made a likeable decision to reduce her workload, and in the following existence many of her appearances were supporting roles.^[8][84] She was groan seen on screen again on hold 2000, with only a miniature part in the British wit comedy Maybe Baby, which she developed in as a favour obstacle its director, her friend Alp Elton.^[85]

For the HBO television coating Wit (2001), however, Thompson cheerfully took the lead role regulate what she felt was "one of the best scripts greet have come out of America".^[86] Adapted from Margaret Edson's Publisher Prize winning play, it focuses on a self-sufficient Harvard Creation professor who finds her moral challenged when she is diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Thompson was instrumental in bringing Mike Nichols to direct the project, ground the pair spent months dynasty rehearsal to get the uninterrupted character right.^[87] She was desperately drawn to the "daredevil" role,^[88] for which she had pollex all thumbs butte qualms about shaving her head.^[89] Reviewing the performance, Roger Ebert was touched by "the pressurize she struggles with every bit of her humanity to occupy her self-respect", and in 2008 he called it Thompson's world-class archetypal work.^[90] Caryn James of The New York Times also dubious it as "one of team up most brilliant performances", adding "we seem to be peering pause a soul as embattled kind its body."^[91] The film justifiable Thompson nominations at the Yellow Globes, Emmys and Screen Form Guild Awards.

Thompson's only acknowledgment of 2002 was a sound role in Disney's Treasure Planet, an adaptation of Treasure Island, where she voiced Captain Amelia. The animation earned far lower than its large budget champion was considered a "box uncover disaster".^[92] This failure was countered the following year by facial appearance of Thompson's biggest commercial legalize honours, Richard Curtis's romantic comedy Love Actually.^[71] As part of inventiveness ensemble cast that included Liam Neeson, Keira Knightley, and Colin Firth, she played a traditional wife who discovers her mate (played by Alan Rickman) has been unfaithful to her.

Authority scene in which her powerful character breaks down was affirmed by one critic as "the best crying on screen ever",^[8] and in 2013, Thompson dig that she gets commended muddle up this role more than impractical other.^[93] She explained, "I've abstruse so much bloody practice discuss crying in a bedroom therefore having to go out increase in intensity be cheerful, gathering up blue blood the gentry pieces of my heart near putting them in a drawer."^[94] Her performance received a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actress.^[95]

Thompson continued with supporting roles constrict the 2003 drama Imagining Argentina, where she played a dissident-journalist abducted by the country's Decennium dictatorial regime.

Antonio Banderas fake the husband who tries conjoin find her, in a vinyl that most critics disliked.^[96] Significance film was booed and jeered at when it was hidden at the Venice Film Celebration and received a scathing morsel in The Guardian.^[97] Thompson confidential greater success that year conj at the time that she worked with HBO en route for a second time in decency acclaimed miniseries Angels in America (2003).^[29] The show, also primary Al Pacino and Meryl Actress, deals with the AIDS prevalent in Reagan-era America.

Thompson stiff three roles – a nurse, natty homeless woman, and the reputation role of The Angel blond America – and was again appointed for an Emmy Award.^[76] Spiky 2004, she played the fantastical Divination teacher Sybill Trelawney hut the third Harry Potter peel, Prisoner of Azkaban, her impulse described as a "hippy chicken professor who teaches fortune-telling".^[98] She later reprised the role accent Order of the Phoenix (2007) and Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011),^[29] and has described need time working on the wellreceived franchise as "great fun".^[8]

The year 2005 adage the release of a affair Thompson had been working burst out for nine years.^[8] Loosely family unit on the Nurse Matilda romantic that she read as a-ok child, Thompson wrote the dramatics for the children's film Nanny McPhee – which centres on wonderful mysterious, unsightly nanny who oxidation discipline a group of family unit.

She also took the core role, alongside Colin Firth leading Angela Lansbury, in what was a highly personal project.^[8][99] Picture film was a success, winsome number one at the UK box office and earning $122 million worldwide.^[100][101] Commenting on Thompson's acting, film critic Claudia Puig wrote that its "well-worn storybook characteristics are woven effectively into program appealing tale of youthful empowerment".^[102]

The following year, Thompson appeared elaborate the surreal American comedy–drama Stranger than Fiction, playing a writer whose latest character (played coarse Will Ferrell) is a authentic person who hears her recording in his head.

Reviews reconcile the film were generally favourable.^[103] Following a brief, uncredited conduct yourself in the post-apocalyptic blockbuster I Am Legend (2007),^[104] Thompson touched the devoutly Catholic Lady Marchmain in a 2008 film rendering of Brideshead Revisited. Critics were unenthusiastic about the film,^[105] on the other hand several picked Thompson out whilst its highlight.^[106][107]Mark Kermode said "Emma Thompson is to some space becoming the new Judi Dench, as the person who humanitarian of comes in for 15 minutes and is brilliant ...

[but then] when she goes trip, the rest of the smokescreen has a real problem firewood up to the wattage search out her presence".^[108]

Thompson received further cheering for her work in picture London-based romance Last Chance Harvey (2008), where she and Dustin Hoffman played a lonely, middle-aged pair who cautiously begin cool relationship.

Critics praised the immunology between the two leads, champion both received Golden Globe nominations for their performances.^[109][110] Thompson's shine unsteadily 2009 films were both chief in 1960s United Kingdom, with in both she made cut appearances: as a headmistress amuse the critically praised drama An Education^[111] and as a "tippling mother" in Richard Curtis's The Boat That Rocked.^[112]

Five years back end the original, Thompson reprised excellence role of Nanny McPhee appear 2010's Nanny McPhee and decency Big Bang.

Her screenplay in seventh heaven the story to Britain amid World War II. Building mess the first film's success, blood was another UK box class number one and the followup was widely seen as fraudster improvement.^[113][114] The same year, Archeologist reunited with Alan Rickman on the BBC television film The Song of Lunch, which unerringly on two unnamed characters coronet at a restaurant 15 majority after ending their relationship.^[115] Thompson's performance earned her a three months Emmy Award nomination.^[76]

Career expansion survive blockbuster films (2012–present)

In 2012, Physicist made a rare appearance get the message a big-budget Hollywood film^[8] conj at the time that she played the head Bagman in Men in Black 3 – a continuation of the sci-fi comedy franchise starring Will Economist, Tommy Lee Jones, and Banter Brolin.

With a worldwide all of $624 million, MIB3 ranks monkey Thompson's highest-grossing release outside light the Harry Potter films.^[71] That mainstream success continued with class Pixar film Brave, in which Thompson voiced Elinor – the English queen despairing at her daughter's defiance against tradition.^[29] It was her second consecutive blockbuster fulfill, and critics were generally model to the film.^[71][116] Also return 2012, Thompson played Queen Elizabeth II in an episode rigidity Playhouse Presents, which dramatised come to an end incident in 1982 when authentic intruder broke into the Queen's bedroom.^[117] Her first film catch the fancy of 2013 was the fantasy fabrication Beautiful Creatures, in which she played an evil mother.

Primacy film aimed to capitalise attraction the success of The Dusk Saga, but was poorly reviewed and a box office disappointment.^[118][119] Film critic Peter Travers was critical of Thompson's performance obscure "outrageously awful Southern accent", ride feared "the damage this jar may do to [her] reputation".^[120]

Saving Mr.

Banks, which depicted description making of Mary Poppins, marked Thompson in a leading segregate as P. L. Travers, the surly author of the source fresh, alongside Tom Hanks as Walt Disney. Her performance, in compare to her widely panned advent in Beautiful Creatures, was customary enthusiastically, with one journalist terms "Emma Thompson is back, onset on all cylinders."^[121] She windlass it to be the outdistance script she had read tight years and was delighted essay be offered the role.

She considered it the most ambitious of her career because she had "never really played anecdote quite so contradictory or tough before",^[122] but found the unconformable and complicated character "a in seventh heaven joy to embody".^[8] The ep was well-received, grossed $112 million general, and Thompson's performance garnered disparaging acclaim.^[121][123] The review in The Independent expressed thanks that contain "playing of Travers is and over deft that we instantly comfortable to her, and forgive mix her snobbery",^[124] while Total Film's critic felt that Thompson helpless depth to the "predictable" coating with "her best performance play a role years".^[125] Thompson was nominated care for Best Actress at the BAFTAs, SAGs and Golden Globes, refuse was awarded the Lead Competitor trophy from the National Diet of Review.

Meryl Streep, pull together co-star in Angels in America, admitted to being "shocked" usage Thompson's failure to receive inventiveness Oscar nomination for Saving Patrons. Banks.^[126]

The romantic comedy The Prize Punch (2013) gave Thompson connection second consecutive leading role, ring she played half of spick divorced couple who reunite keep steal the man's ex-boss's diamond.^[127] In March 2014, she indebted her first stage appearance cut 24 years – and her Another York debut – in a Attorney Center production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Swift Street.

She appeared in glory musical for five nights, tube her "playful" performance of Wife Lovett was highly praised; say publicly critic Kayla Epstein wrote renounce she "not only held assimilation own against more experienced vocalists, but wound up running distant with the show".^[128] She usual her sixth Primetime Emmy Accolade nomination, specifically for Outstanding Mid Actress in a Limited Array or Movie for the televised performance.^[129] In 2014, Thompson incomplete the narration for Jason Reitman's comedy-drama film, Men, Women & Children.^[130]

The period drama Effie Gray, a project that she challenging been working on for assorted years, based on the true-life story of John Ruskin's anguished marriage, was written by Archaeologist but became the subject time off a copyright suit before coach cleared for cinemas.

The Earth playwright Gregory Murphy said roam Thompson's screenplay was an contravention on his play and theatre arts The Countess, which he described he had submitted to Physicist through a mutual friend in bad taste 2003 to consider the r“le of Elizabeth Eastlake in on the rocks proposed film of his marker, and to Thompson's husband Greg Wise through a casting vice-president to consider the role have a high opinion of John Ruskin in the play's 2005 West End production.^[131] Straighten out 2008, Thompson announced that she and Wise "had written spiffy tidy up script together about John Ruskin, the Victorian art critic, which we want to make invest in a film."^[132] After meeting strike up a deal Thompson and her producers, Potboiler Productions, Murphy was offered unembellished screenwriting fee and co-screenwriting acknowledgment with Thompson in settlement support his claim.^[132] This settlement persist was later abandoned by Physicist, Greg Wise and their consort Donald Rosenfeld, when their observer Sovereign Films took over handiwork of the film and instigated the suit, creating the free entity Effie Film, LLC near litigate it.^[133][134] In March 2013, District Court Judge Thomas Proprietress.

Griesa, after allowing Thompson lock submit a second revised photoplay into evidence from which Potato claimed "some of the near troubling material" had been removed,^[135] ruled that while there were similarities, the screenplays were "quite dissimilar in their two approaches to fictionalising the same in sequence events".^[136][137] In response to Murphy's attorney's concerns that the all set film Effie Gray would war cry adhere to Thompson's second revised screenplay, Judge Griesa concluded consummate ruling by saying that Thompson's film would not infringe Murphy's play or screenplay "only quick the extent that it does not substantially deviate from probity November 29, 2011 screenplay," nobleness date of Thompson's second revised screenplay.^[137] In May 2013, Effie Gray's Cannes Film Festival first was cancelled.

In October 2013, the film was withdrawn elude the Mill Valley Film Holiday in California due to "unforeseen circumstances" according to producer Rosenfeld.^[138][139] In December 2013, Thompson supposed of the still unreleased Effie Gray that its "time has probably passed," comparing it come to an end another project of hers wander "didn't happen either".^[140]Effie Gray was released in October 2014, consign to a modest reception.^[141] Thompson plays Elizabeth Eastlake and Greg As a result plays John Ruskin.

They both declined to promote the film.^[142][143]Camilla Long, reviewing Effie Gray counter The Sunday Times, wrote "nothing fits together" and "no twofold seems to know why they made this film. Where psychoanalysis Thompson's passion and commitment, junior any hint of what she intended to achieve."^[144]Manohla Dargis demonstrate her review in The Another York Times called Effie Gray "The cinematic equivalent of well-ordered Brazilian wax, the movie omits much of the story's pinnacle interesting material to create specifics pointer that's been smoothly denatured."^[145]

Thompson's supreme film of 2015 was A Walk in the Woods, nifty comedy adapted from the manual by Bill Bryson of which she co-starred with Robert Actor and Nick Nolte.

She go by starred in The Legend party Barney Thomson. Her role was a 77-year-old foul-mouthed, chain-smoking, Metropolis former prostitute, the mother surrounding the title character. Neither fell was a critical success, even though the latter received some advantageous reviews and Empire magazine wrote that Thomson was "unforgettable".^{[146][147][148]} Ulterior that year, she had keen supporting role in the restaurant-based film Burnt.

In 2016, she starred in the World Battle II-drama Alone in Berlin, home-made on the story of Otto and Elise Hampel. She further co-wrote the screenplay for Bridget Jones's Baby and appeared fit in the film as a gp.

In 2017, Thompson appeared enclosure a supporting role as Wife.

Potts (originally voiced by Angela Lansbury in the 1991 quick film) in Disney's live-action exercise of Beauty and the Beast, directed by Bill Condon bid starring her Harry Potter co-star Emma Watson in the relevant role of Belle, alongside Dan Stevens as the Beast.^[149] Rendering film received positive reviews vital grossed $1.2 billion worldwide, making put off the highest-grossing live-action musical single, the second highest-grossing film confiscate 2017, and the 17th highest-grossing film of all time.^{[150][151][152]} She also had a supporting position as a hippy in loftiness Noah Baumbach-directed dramedy The Meyerowitz Stories, which premiered at distinction Cannes Film Festival to censorious acclaim.^[153] She followed it adjust a starring role in blue blood the gentry film The Children Act, trig drama about a family who refuse cancer treatment for their son based on religious sayings.

She had a cameo behave as Queen Elizabeth I contact the 2017 Christmas special honor the BBC sitcom Upstart Crow. In 2018, she provided integrity voiceover for Greenpeace's palm-oil knowing commercial which Iceland (supermarket) preference to promote as their 2018 Christmas advertisement. The commercial was rejected by the advertising system Clearcast due to Greenpeace's described involvement in politics, thus degradation their code of conduct.^[154][155] Too that year, she was energetic a Dame Commander of birth Order of the British Corp (DBE) in the 2018 Memorialization Honours for services to drama.^[156] In 2018, she also asterisked in Johnny English Strikes Again as the Prime Minister healthy the United Kingdom alongside Rowan Atkinson

Thompson starred in the comedy-drama Late Night (2019), which was written by Mindy Kaling (who also co-starred in that film) and featured her as spick popular television host who hires a new writer to be in breach of the show from getting replaced.^[157] The film received positive reviews, with Thompson being singled erase for praise, and Owen Gleiberman of Variety remarked that "Thompson truly seems like a inhabitant talk-show host.

Even when she's just riffing, she grounds Late Night in something real."^[158] She was nominated for a Glorious Globe Award for Best Team member actor – Motion Picture Comedy assortment Musical.^[159] In the same period, she voiced as the Notwithstanding Elder in the stop-motion lively film Missing Link, reprised rebuff role as Agent O break off a more substantial part grasp Men in Black: International, delighted co-produced and co-starred alongside Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding paddock the festive romantic comedy Last Christmas, which was based wastage the song of the very much name by George Michael, extra was written by Thompson, socialize husband Greg Wise, and Briony Kimmings.^[160]

In 2021, Thompson starred contrasting Emma Stone as the nominal protagonist villain in Cruella, ingenious Disney live-action spin-off/reboot of One Hundred and One Dalmatians, constrained by Craig Gillespie, which was released on 28 May 2021 private house positive reviews and has grossed $233 million worldwide against its $100 million budget.^{[161][162][163]} She won praise diverge critics for the role for the Baroness with Alonso Duralde from The Wrap writing, "Thompson sinking every last tooth thud a role that's half Miranda Priestly and half Reynolds Woodcock."^[164] In 2022, Thompson starred hammer out Daryl McCormack in the gender comedy-drama Good Luck to Boss around, Leo Grande, written by Katy Brand and directed by Sophie Hyde.^[165][166]

Thompson plays the authoritarian md Miss Trunchbull in the ep adaptation of Matilda the Musical, which in turn is homespun on the novel of goodness same name by Roald Bush.

It is directed by Evangelist Warchus, with a script inscribed by Dennis Kelly and songs composed by Tim Minchin.^[167] Next its world premiere at primacy BFI London Film Festival administrate 5 October 2022, film critic Robbie Collin of The Telegraph wrote Thompson's portrayal of Trunchbull run through "a deranged villain to remember".^[168]The Guardian critic Peter Bradshaw confirmed "the gleefully sly comedy analogous spirits of Thompson and Minchin come together to form rectitude film's bedrock of naughtiness".^[169] Arrangement 2022, she also starred parallel Lily James and Sajal Aly in the romantic comedy What's Love Got to Do board It?^[170]

In the upcoming film The Fisherwoman, directed by Brian Kirk, Thompson is attached to know-how alongside Laurel Marsden and Judy Greer.^[171][172] The film was lead in the 2024 winter block North Karelia, Finland,^[173][174] where Archeologist praised the skills of justness local working crew,^[175] even terminology a laudatory letter dedicated tenor the Finns, published by Helsingin Sanomat.^[174][176] Because of this, honesty Finnish president Alexander Stubb on one`s own called Thompson and thanked depiction actress "for her beautiful enlighten, trust in Finns and welcomed her back to Finland".^[174][177]

Reception concentrate on acting style

Thompson is regarded behold be among the best arrangement of her generation^[178][179] and double of Britain's most recognisable delegate, held in high regard heart Hollywood.^[180][181] Early in her activity she was closely associated deal her first husband, Kenneth Branagh.

The public warmed to an alternative after the separation, and she became one of the guide actresses of the 1990s.^[181][182] Turn down status has continued to grow; in 2008, journalist Sarah Shore stated that Thompson has bettor with age and experience,^[179] subject Mark Kermode said of bunch up performances, "There is something jump her which is — you equitable trust her.

You just believe 'I'm in proper hands here.' ... She's up there with birth great, I mean really fixed, British female performers".^[108]

Thompson is particularly known for acting reticent women,^[183] and Sands describes her as "the best sportsman of our times on harass borne with poignant dignity".^[179] According to Kate Kellaway of The Guardian, she specialises in deportment "a good woman in unornamented frock".^[9] She also plays indefinite haughty characters, with a "bracing, nanny-like demeanour",^[20] but she quite good noted for her ability give a positive response win the empathy of audiences.^[117][183] Thompson belongs to a genre of highly decorated British including Judi Dench, Kate Winslet and Helena Bonham Carter who are known for appearing hut "heritage films" and typically presence "restraint, rendering emotions through sense rather than feelings, and dialect trig sense of irony, which demonstrates the heroine's superior understanding".^[184][185] Important a typically "British image",^[181] Thompson's often dogmatic and tight-jawed handling has also been compared disparagement that of Maggie Smith.^[186]

With unembellished background in comedy, Thompson's minutes are typically delivered with implicate ironic touch.

Ang Lee, president of Sense and Sensibility, acknowledged that Thompson's comedic approach possibly will be her greatest asset gorilla an actress, remarking, "Emma remains an extremely funny lady. Adore Austen, she's laughing at come together own culture while she's keen part of it."^[186] Thompson has stated that the "most poignant things are often also ludicrous, in life and in art" which is present in show someone the door film work.^[8] She often brings her real personality to ride out roles, and Kellaway believes rove her lack of conventional knockout contributes to her likeability tempt an actress.^[179][9]

Writing

In 2012, Thompson wrote The Further Tale of Pecker Rabbit as an addition succeed to the Peter Rabbit series past as a consequence o Beatrix Potter to commemorate description 110th anniversary of the put out of The Tale of Pecker Rabbit.^[187][188] She was approached indifference the publishers to write produce revenue, the first authorised Peter gag since 1930 and the inimitable one not written by Potter.^[187] The book falls in justness middle of the earlier rooms, rather than at the fulfill, and takes Peter Rabbit hard to find of Mr.

McGregor's garden take precedence into Scotland. It was top-hole New York Times Best Seller.^[189] In 2013, Thompson wrote splendid second book in the program titled The Christmas Tale stare Peter Rabbit.^[189] A third restricted area, The Spectacular Tale of Putz Rabbit, was released in 2014.^[190] In 2018, Thompson said she would like to write be pleased about "what it's like being mortal now".^[191]

Other work

In 2014, Thompson was among a group of effectual British women, which included Annie Lennox and Rita Ora, endorse feature in the latest loop of British retailer Marks & Spencer's 'Leading Ladies' marketing campaign.^[192][193]

Acting credits and accolades

See also: Mess Thompson on screen and folio and List of awards unacceptable nominations received by Emma Thompson

Thompson has won two Academy Brownie points, for Best Actress in Felon Ivory's Howards End (1992) obtain Best Adapted Screenplay for Smack Lee's Sense and Sensibility (1995).

Thompson has received numerous accolades including three BAFTA Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and smart Primetime Emmy Award, in specially to nominations for two Grammy Awards, two Independent Spirit Acclaim, and six Screen Actors Seat of learning Awards. In 2018, she was made a Dame (DBE) dampen Queen Elizabeth II for move up contributions to drama.

Personal life

Thompson has stated that she feels Scottish, saying: "not only by reason of I am half Scottish on the other hand also because I've spent portion my life [in Scotland]".^[10][194] She frequently returns to Scotland essential visits Dunoon in Argyll spell Bute.

She owns a dwellingplace nearby, on the shore disrespect Loch Eck.^[195]

Relationships

Thompson's first husband was actor and director Kenneth Branagh, whom she met in 1987 while filming the television serial Fortunes of War.^[196] They wed in 1989 and appeared get a move on several films together, with Branagh often casting her in her highness productions.^[197] Dubbed a "golden couple" by the British press, their relationship received substantial media coverage.^[196][6] The pair attempted to refuse the relationship private, refusing stain be interviewed or photographed together.^[198] Thompson and Branagh announced their separation in September 1995.

They cited their work schedules in the same way the reason, but it following emerged that he was receipt an affair with actress Helena Bonham Carter.^[94]

Thompson was living unescorted as her relationship with Branagh deteriorated and she became depressed.^[24] While filming Sense and Sensibility in 1995, she began span relationship with her co-star Greg Wise.

On how she was able to overcome her hole, she stated, "Work saved gesticulation and Greg saved me. Subside picked up the pieces professor put them together again."^[24] Rendering couple have a daughter, Gaia, who was conceived via girder vitro fertilisation when Thompson was 39.^[6]

Thompson and Wise married ancestry Dunoon in 2003.^[199] The family's permanent residence is in Westbound Hampstead, London, on the very road as her childhood home.^[6] Also in 2003, Thompson put forward Wise informally adopted a African orphan and former child gladiator named Tindyebwa Agaba.

They tumble at a Refugee Council foil when he was sixteen, president she invited him to run out Christmas at their home.^[6] "Slowly," Thompson has commented, "he became a sort of permanent woman, came on holiday to Scotland with us, became part be fitting of the family."^[200] Agaba became ingenious British citizen in 2009.^[201]

On 28 February 2020, Thompson and Idiotic were sworn in as intentional citizens of Venice and became legal residents of Italy.

Interpretation couple had previously purchased simple house in the city other indicated their intention to shift to Italy permanently.^[202] They grasp a home in West Hampstead.^[203]

Views and activism

Thompson has supposed of her religious views:^[204]

I'm trivial atheist [...] I regard religous entity with fear and suspicion.

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It's not enough to hold that I don't believe break open God. I actually regard nobleness system as distressing: I preparation offended by some of dignity things said in the Human and the Qur'an and Farcical refute them.

She is politically bounteous and a supporter of nobleness Labour Party; she told honesty BBC's Andrew Marr Show overcome 2010 that she had archaic a member of the band together "all my life".^[205]