Emma was born on April 15, 1959 in London into a family of famous actors – Eric Thompson and Phyllida Law. Thompson’s film career began in 1989 when she starred in Henry V alongside Kenneth Brannagh and Jeff Goldblum. She made her Hollywood debut in James Ivory’s historical films: Howards End (1992) and The Remains of the Day (1993), and in 1993 she starred in the political thriller In the Name of the Father (1993).
All three roles left a favorable impression and were nominated for an Oscar. And Thompson’s performance in Howards End was awarded the Academy Award for Best Actress.
In the 2000s, Thompson, like many other great British actors, starred in film adaptations of the Harry Potter books – in the role of Professor Sibyl Trelawney.
Sense and Sensibility (1995)
The events of the film take place in England in the 19th century. It is not easy for two sisters, Elinor and Marianne, to love and build relationships when even their parents are against it.
They are as different as only sisters can be. One is sensual and romantic, and the other is passionate and daring. The film completely follows Jane Austen’s book of the same name and is shot in the best traditions of romantic cinema.
Emma Thompson wrote the screenplay for Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility and won an Oscar as a screenwriter.
Howards End (1992)
Emma Thompson received worldwide recognition after her collaboration with Anthony Hopkins – the historical film “Howards End”. The film brought Thompson Oscar and Golden Globe awards.
The film tells the life stories of three different layers of English society at the beginning of the 20th century, which were united by the Howards End estate: the Wilcoxes – wealthy capitalists, the Schlegel sisters – the educated aristocracy and the Basta family – the lower middle class.
Love Actually (2003)
The film consists of nine stories that develop in parallel. Each takes place shortly before Christmas, with all plots culminating on Christmas Eve. It is then that all the characters intertwine in a bizarre way.
The heroes become completely different people: the Prime Minister of Great Britain, a writer, a married woman who feels that her husband has lost interest in her, a teenager in love with the “queen” of the school. All these people have only one thing in common – love.
The Remains of the Day (1993)
Stevens is the ideal English butler, having served his entire life faithfully on an ancient estate. He is completely dedicated to his work, and it seems as if nothing can distract him from his work. But everything changes in an instant when a new maid named Kenton appears on the estate.
Stevens tried as best he could to hide his suddenly manifested feelings for the new inhabitant of the estate, but you couldn’t control your heart. Now Stevens has rethought his priorities, because he sees Kenton as an ideal.
Saving Mr. Banks (2013)
In 2013, Emma Thompson worked with Tom Hanks in the biographical tragicomedy Saving Mr. Banks. She played the role of the English writer Pamela Travers.
The plot of the film originates in the distant 40s of the last century. Then the great animator Walt Disney promises his daughters to make a film based on their favorite book “Mary Poppins”. But Pamela Linda Travers, the author of the work, refused to give Disney the rights to create the film for twenty years. And finally, in 1961, the animator finally managed to persuade the writer to come to Los Angeles to work together on the film.
Thompson’s acting was nominated for the Screen Actors Guild Award, Golden Globe and BAFTA.
An Education (2008)
It’s the early 60s. 16-year-old Jenny lives in a sleepy and boring suburb of London. She dreams of a good education at Oxford. But meeting the handsome David makes adjustments to the girl’s life.
The man’s love of sports cars, fashionable clothes and expensive entertainment greatly attracts Jenny, who is half his age.
Men, Women and Children (2014)
The plot of Reitman’s tragicomedy “Men, Women and Children” centers on the story of the relationship between parents and their teenage children in the era of the dominance of the Internet. Viewers will learn how much the network has affected the connection between people, feelings and self-esteem.
Harvey’s Last Chance (2008)
The film tells the story of a middle-aged writer of advertising jingles, Harvey. The hero goes to London to his daughter’s wedding. However, an unpleasant surprise awaits him here. Her stepfather will lead her daughter down the aisle.
Then the chain of troubles grows with being late for a flight. Upset, he goes to a bar, where he will while away the time alone until his flight. Until he meets a wonderful young woman, Kate.
Nanny McPhee (2005)
In 2005, the family comedy My Horrible Nanny was released. In it, Emma acted as both the author of the script and the leading actor. It took Thompson nine years to write the script for the film. The film is based on Christianne Brand’s novels.
Cedric Brown is a widower and loving father of seven children. Left unattended children resist with all their might attempts to bring a nanny into the house. As a result, they tested as many as 17 nannies. But suddenly the sorceress nanny Matilda McPhee appears.
In the Name of the Father (1993)
The film is based on real events and is an adaptation of the story of the Guildford Four. In 1975, in the town of Guildford in southern England, explosions rocked two local pubs. Four Irishmen were unfairly accused of organizing these attacks and the murder of British soldier Brian Shaw.
These four simply happened to be at the crime scene and were arrested. Among those convicted were the Conlons’ son and father. Jerry, along with his father, ends up in a maximum security prison and is subjected to numerous physical tortures and all kinds of humiliation.