Emma Thompson

Emma Thompson, born on April 15, 1959, is a distinguished British actress and screenwriter whose illustrious career spans over four decades in both film and theater. She has garnered numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, three BAFTA Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award. In recognition of her significant contributions to drama, she was honored with a damehood by Queen Elizabeth II in 2018.

Raised in a family of actors, with her parents Eric Thompson and Phyllida Law, Thompson honed her craft at Newnham College, Cambridge, where she became a member of the Footlights troupe. Her early career included appearances in the comedy sketch series Alfresco (1983–1984) and a breakthrough role in the West End revival of the musical Me and My Girl in 1985. She gained prominence in 1987 with her performances in the BBC series Tutti Frutti and Fortunes of War, earning a BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress.

Thompson's collaboration with then-husband Kenneth Branagh in the early 1990s led to notable films such as Henry V, Dead Again, and Much Ado About Nothing. Her performance in the Merchant-Ivory film Howards End (1992) earned her both the BAFTA Award and the Academy Award for Best Actress. In 1993, she made history by receiving two Academy Award nominations in the same year for her roles in The Remains of the Day and In the Name of the Father.

As a writer, Thompson achieved remarkable success with Sense and Sensibility (1995), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, making her the only individual to win Oscars for both acting and writing. Her filmography includes acclaimed works such as Primary Colors, Love Actually, and Saving Mr. Banks, alongside notable roles in the Harry Potter series and various animated features.

In addition to her film work, Thompson has made significant contributions to television, with credits including Wit, Angels in America, and Years and Years. She also portrayed Mrs. Lovett in a Lincoln Center production of Sweeney Todd in 2014 and has authored three Peter Rabbit children's books, further showcasing her versatility as a creative artist.