Emma Thompson
| Emma Thompson | |
|---|---|
 Thompson in Paris at the César Awards 2009 |
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| Born | 15 April 1959 Paddington, London, England |
| Occupation | Actress, comedienne, screenwriter |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Spouse | Kenneth Branagh (1989–1995) (divorced) Greg Wise (2003–present) 2 children |
Emma Thompson (born 15 April 1959) is an English actress, comedienne and screenwriter. Her first major film role was in the 1989 romantic comedy The Tall Guy. In 1992, Thompson won multiple acting awards, including an Academy and a BAFTA Award for Best Actress, for her performance in the British drama Howards End. The following year Thompson garnered dual Academy Award nominations, as Best Actress for The Remains of the Day and as Best Supporting Actress for In the Name of the Father.
In 1995, Thompson scripted and starred in Sense and Sensibility, a film adaptation of the Jane Austen novel of the same name, which earned her an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Other notable film and television credits have included the Harry Potter film series, Wit (2001), Love Actually (2003), Angels in America (2003), Nanny McPhee (2005), Stranger than Fiction (2006), Last Chance Harvey (2008), An Education (2009), and Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang (2010).
Thompson is also a patron of the Refugee Council and President of the Teaching Awards.
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Early life
Thompson was born in Paddington, London, England. Her father was the actor Eric Thompson, best known for having written and narrated The Magic Roundabout, shown on BBC children's television in the 1960s and 1970s. Her mother is the Scottish actress Phyllida Law. Thompson's younger sister is actress Sophie Thompson. Thompson has spent part of her life in Scotland and has stated that she "feel[s] Scottish".[1]
Education
Thompson went to Camden School for Girls and then studied English at Newnham College at the University of Cambridge where she was a member (along with fellow actors Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie and Tony Slattery) and vice-president of the university's theatrical club, the Footlights. Her acting talent was so impressive that agent Richard Armitage signed her to a contract while she was still two years away from graduation. Thompson graduated from Cambridge in 1980. Soon after she came to fame with a leading role in the West End revival of the musical Me and My Girl, opposite Robert Lindsay.
Career
Thompson's earliest television appearances included the comedy sketch show Alfresco, broadcast in 1983 and 1984 (as well as its three-part pilot There's Nothing to Worry About, shown in 1982), which also featured Ben Elton, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. Also in 1984 she guested alongside Fry and Laurie in the episode "Bambi" of the sitcom The Young Ones, playing Miss Money-Sterling. Her breakthrough began in 1987 with her role as red-haired rock guitarist Suzi Kettles in the cult TV series Tutti Frutti. This was followed by acclaim for the BBC series Fortunes of War in which she starred with her future husband, Kenneth Branagh. For these two 1987 roles she won a BAFTA for Best Actress. In 1988, she starred in and wrote the eponymous Thompson comedy sketch series for BBC1; the series was not successful with audiences or critics. Described in Time Out magazine as "very clever-little-me-ish", it has never been repeated in Britain despite her Oscar successes, and Thompson has not returned to the sketch comedy field.
Thompson's first major film role was in Richard Curtis's romantic comedy The Tall Guy (1989) co-starring Jeff Goldblum. Her career took a more serious turn with a series of critically acclaimed performances and films, beginning with Howards End (1992), for which she received an Oscar for best actress; the part of Gareth Peirce, the lawyer for the Guildford Four, in In the Name of the Father; The Remains of the Day opposite Anthony Hopkins; and as the British painter Dora Carrington in the film Carrington.
Thompson won her next Oscar in 1996, for best adapted screenplay for her adaptation of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, a film directed by Ang Lee, in which she also played the Oscar-nominated lead role opposite Hugh Grant. She has said that she keeps both of her award statues in her downstairs bathroom, citing embarrassment at placing them in a more prominent place.[2]
Thompson's recent television work has included a starring role in the 2001 HBO drama Wit, in which she played a dying cancer patient, and 2003's Angels in America, playing multiple roles, including one of the titular angels. Her Emmy Award was as a guest star in a 1997 episode of the show Ellen; in this episode she played a fictionalised parody of herself: a closeted lesbian more concerned with the media finding out she is actually American. She also appeared in an episode of Cheers in 1992 titled "One Hugs, the Other Doesn't".
More recently, Thompson appeared in supporting roles such as Sybill Trelawney in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. She also appeared in the 2003 comedy Love Actually. The film Nanny McPhee, adapted by Thompson from Christianna Brand's Nurse Matilda books, was first released in October 2005. Thompson worked on the project for nine years, having written the screenplay and starred alongside her mother (who has a cameo appearance). In the film Stranger than Fiction she plays an author planning on killing her main character, Harold Crick, who turns out to be a real person. Most recently, Thompson made a short uncredited cameo as a doctor introducing the cure for cancer in the form of measles in the latest film adaptation of I Am Legend, and starred in Last Chance Harvey opposite Dustin Hoffman, Eileen Atkins and Kathy Baker. In 2009, she appeared in An Education and The Boat That Rocked, the new Richard Curtis film, which also starred Gemma Arterton, Philip Seymour Hoffman, January Jones, Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Nick Frost, Jack Davenport and Rhys Ifans.
Thompson will reprise her role as Sybill Trelawney in the two-part film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.[3]
Environmental work
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Thompson is a supporter of Greenpeace. It was announced on 13 January 2009 that, with three other members of the organisation, she had bought land near the village of Sipson, under threat from a proposed third runway for Heathrow Airport.[4] It was hoped that possession of the land, half the size of a football pitch, would make it possible to prevent the government from carrying through its plan to expand the airport.
Bought for an undisclosed sum from a local land owner, the plot was to be split into small squares and sold across the globe. Thompson said, "I don't understand how any government remotely serious about committing to reversing climate change can even consider these ridiculous plans. It's laughably hypocritical. That's why we've bought a plot on the runway. We'll stop this from happening even if we have to move in and plant vegetables."[5]
Personal life
While at Cambridge Thompson had a romantic involvement with actor Hugh Laurie,[6] a fellow Footlights member and an undergraduate at Selwyn College, just across the road from Newnham.[7]
She married actor Kenneth Branagh on 20 August 1989. They acted together several times, in the TV series Fortunes of War, and in hit movies such as Dead Again, Henry V and Much Ado About Nothing. They divorced in October 1995.
Thompson married actor Greg Wise in 2003 in Dunoon, Scotland, where she has a second home.[8] The couple have a daughter, Gaia Romilly, born in 1999. In 2003 the couple informally adopted a 16-year-old Rwandan refugee named Tindyebwa Agaba. They successfully resisted his deportation back to Rwanda, his family having been killed in the genocide.[9]
Thompson has said of her religious and political views: "I'm an atheist; I suppose you can call me a sort of libertarian anarchist. I regard religion with fear and suspicion. It's not enough to say that I don't believe in God. I actually regard the system as distressing: I am offended by some of the things said in the Bible and the Qur'an, and I refute them."[10] She told the BBC Andrew Marr Show in March 2010 that she had been a member of the Labour Party "all my life."[11]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Henry V | Catherine of Valois | |
| The Tall Guy | Kate Lemmon | ||
| 1991 | Dead Again | Grace Margaret Strauss |
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| Impromptu | Duchess d'antan (Claudette) | Nominated — Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female | |
| 1992 | Howards End | Margaret Schlegel | Academy Award for Best Actress BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress David di Donatello Award for Best Foreign Actress (Migliore Attrice Straniero) Evening Standard British Film Awards — Best Actress Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress National Board of Review Award for Best Actress National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress Southeastern Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress |
| Peter's Friends | Maggie Chester | Evening Standard British Film Award for Best Actress | |
| 1993 | Much Ado About Nothing | Beatrice | Evening Standard British Film Award for Best Actress Nominated — Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead |
| The Remains of the Day | Miss Kenton | David di Donatello Award for Best Foreign Actress (Migliore Attrice Straniero) Evening Standard British Film Award for Best Actress Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress Nominated — Academy Award for Best Actress Nominated — BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama |
|
| In the Name of the Father | Gareth Peirce | Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated — Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture |
|
| 1994 | Junior | Dr. Diana Reddin | Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy |
| 1995 | Carrington | Dora Carrington | National Board of Review Award for Best Actress |
| Sense and Sensibility | Elinor Dashwood | Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Screenplay Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Writer Evening Standard British Film Awards - Best Adapted Screenplay Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay National Board of Review Award for Best Actress New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Screenplay USC Scripter Award Writers Guild of America Award for Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award for Film - Screenplay Nominated — BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay Nominated — Academy Award for Best Actress Nominated — Chlotrudis Award for Best Actress Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture |
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| 1997 | The Winter Guest | Frances | Pasinetti Award for Best Actress Nominated — British Independent Film Award for Best Actress Nominated — European Film Award for Best Actress Nominated — Chlotrudis Award for Best Actress |
| 1998 | Primary Colors | Susan Stanton | Nominated — American Comedy Award for Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) Nominated — Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actress - Drama Nominated — European Film Award for Outstanding European Achievement in World Cinema |
| Judas Kiss | Sadie Hawkins | ||
| 2000 | Maybe Baby | Druscilla | |
| 2002 | Treasure Planet | Captain Amelia | animated film (voice only) Nominated — Annie Award for Outstanding Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production |
| 2003 | Imagining Argentina | Cecilia | |
| Love Actually | Karen | Empire Award for Best Actress Evening Standard British Film Awards - Best Actress London Film Critics Circle Awards for Best Supporting Actress Nominated — BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role Nominated — Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated — Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Ensemble Acting Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture |
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| 2004 | Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban | Professor Sybill Trelawney | |
| 2005 | Nanny McPhee | Nanny McPhee | writing credits |
| 2006 | Stranger than Fiction | Karen Eiffel | Nominated — Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated — London Critics Circle Film Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated — Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 2007 | Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix | Professor Sybill Trelawney | |
| I Am Legend | Dr. Alice Krippin | uncredited cameo | |
| 2008 | Brideshead Revisited | Lady Marchmain | Nominated — Audience Award for Best International Actress Nominated — British Independent Film Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated — London Film Critics Circle Awards for Best Supporting Actress Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture |
| Last Chance Harvey | Kate Walker | Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy | |
| 2009 | An Education | Headmistress | |
| The Boat That Rocked | Charlotte | ||
| 2010 | Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang | Nanny McPhee | |
| Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows | Professor Sybill Trelawney | Post Production |
- Sources for Awards: Evening Standard British Film Awards — IMDB: Emma Thompson Awards
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Cambridge Footlights Revue | various characters | TV-special, 1 episode |
| There's Nothing to Worry About! | Mrs. Wally | TV-series, 3 episodes | |
| 1983-84 | Alfresco | various characters | TV-series, 13 episodes |
| 1984 | The Young Ones | Miss Money-Sterling | TV-series, episode Bambi |
| 1987 | Tutti Frutti | Suzi Kettles | Cult BBC TV Series starring Emma and Robbie Coltrane bringing both to national prominence. Written by John Byrne |
| Fortunes of War | Harriet Pringle | British Academy Television Award for Best Actress (jointly with work on Tutti Frutti) | |
| 1988 | Thompson | Various Roles | TV-series |
| 1989 | Look Back in Anger | Alison Porter | TV-film |
| 1990 | The Winslow Boy | Catherine Winslow | TV-film |
| 1992 | Cheers | Nanette Guzman | TV-series, 1 episode |
| 1994 | The Blue Boy | Marie Bonnar | TV-film |
| 1997 | Ellen | Herself | TV-series, 1 episode Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress – Comedy Series |
| Hospital! | Elephant Woman | TV-series, 1 episode | |
| 2001 | Wit | Vivian Bearing | TV-film Best Actress at the Valladolid International Film Festival Humanitas Prize for 90 Minute or Longer Cable Category Christopher Award for Television & Cable Nominated — Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards for Best Actress — TV-Film Nominated — Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a Movie Nominated — Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie |
| 2003 | Angels in America | Nurse Emily the Homeless Woman the Angel America |
TV-series Nominated — Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a Movie Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie |
The following is a partial list of Thompson's theatre credits:
- 1982 - Appeared in Not the Nine O'Clock News - UK tour.
- 1982 - Co-wrote and appeared in Beyond the Footlights - Lyric Hammersmith, London.
- 1984 - Wrote and starred in the one woman show Short Vehicle - Edinburgh Festival.
- 1984/5 - Played Sally in the Haymarket Theatre, Leicester production of the musical Me and My Girl, co-starring with Robert Lindsay. The show then successfully transferred to the Adelphi Theatre, London. (The book for Me and My Girl was adapted by Stephen Fry)
- 1989 - Played Alison in Look Back in Anger by John Osborne - Lyric Shaftesbury, London.
- 1990 - Played The Fool in Shakespeare's King Lear and Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream - International tour.
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jodie Foster in The Silence of the Lambs |
Academy Award for Best Actress 1992 |
Succeeded by Holly Hunter in The Piano |
| BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role 1992 |
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| Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama 1992 |
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| Big Three Best Actress Awards (1992) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Award Emma Thompson |
Golden Globe Emma Thompson |
BAFTA Award Emma Thompson |
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Further reading
- Hewison, Robert (1984). Footlights! A Hundred Years of Cambridge Comedy. Methuen, London. ISBN 0-413-56050-3.
- Branagh, Kenneth (1989). Beginning. St. Martin's Press, New York. ISBN 0-312-05822-5.
- Shuttleworth, Ian (1994). Ken and Em. Headline Book Publishing, London. ISBN 0-7472-1225-2.
- Nickson, Chris (1997). Emma: The Many Facets of Emma Thompson. Taylor Publishing. ISBN 0878339655.
References
- ↑ Rick Fulton (12 October 2005). "It's nanny McMe". http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16236943&method=full&siteid=66633&headline=it-s-nanny-mcme-name_page.html. Retrieved 2007-11-18.
- ↑ "Movie & TV News - WENN". IMDb.com. 2006-01-17. http://www.imdb.com/news/wenn/2006-01-17. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
- ↑ "Clémence Poésy confirms Emma Thompson's Deathly Hallows reprisal". This is South Wales. 2010-03-19. http://www.snitchseeker.com/harry-potter-news/cl-mence-po-sy-confirms-emma-thompsons-deathly-hallows-reprisal-71643/. Retrieved 2010-03-19.
- ↑ "Protesters buy up Heathrow land". London: BBC News. 2009-01-13. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7825169.stm. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
- ↑ "Celebs buy Heathrow expansion land". pa.press.net. MSN News UK. 2009-01-13. http://news.uk.msn.com/uk/article.aspx?cp-documentid=12726578&icid=toptodayuk. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
- ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mandrake/4224331/Hugh-Lauries-elemental-about-Emma-Thompson.html The Telegraph, January 2009
- ↑ http://www.cam.ac.uk/map/v4/img/main-06-07.png
- ↑ http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16236943&method=full&siteid=66633&headline=it-s-nanny-mcme-name_page.html
- ↑ Alison Boshoff (7 March 2008). "The young refugee who was adopted by a famous actress". http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=528573&in_page_id=1773. Retrieved 2008-03-07.
- ↑ Acting on outspoken beliefs, October 15, 2008, The Australian. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,24497883-15803,00.html
- ↑ "Andrew Marr show interview". http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8590095.stm. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
External links
- Emma Thompson at the Internet Movie Database
- Emma Thompson at the British Film Institute's Screenonline
- Emma Thompson at the TCM Movie Database
- The Guardian Interview, 10/16/05
- Thompson answers questions on her AIDS charity work, 11/25/03
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