Emma Thompson

Emma Thompson

Acting
Born 1959-04-15Paddington, London, England, UK

Biography

Dame Emma Thompson (born April 15, 1959) is a British actress and screenwriter. Her work spans over four decades of screen and stage, and her accolades include two Academy Awards, three BAFTA Awards, two Golden Globe Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award. In 2018, she was made a dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to drama. Born to actors Eric Thompson and Phyllida Law, Thompson was educated at Newnham College, Cambridge, where she became a member of the Footlights troupe and appeared in the comedy sketch series Alfresco (1983–1984). In 1985, she starred in the West End revival of the musical Me and My Girl, which was a breakthrough in her career. In 1987, she became famous for her performances in two BBC series, Tutti Frutti and Fortunes of War, winning the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress for her work on both series. In the early 1990s, 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). Thompson won the BAFTA Award and the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the Merchant-Ivory period drama Howards End (1992). In 1993, she received two Academy Award nominations—Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress—for the respective roles of the housekeeper of a grand household in The Remains of the Day and a lawyer in In the Name of the Father, becoming one of the few actors to achieve this feat. Thompson wrote and starred in Sense and Sensibility (1995), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay—making her the only person in history to win Oscars for both acting and writing—and once again won the BAFTA. Further critical acclaim came for her roles in 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 series (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 television credits include Wit (2001), Angels in America (2003), The Song of Lunch (2010), King Lear (2018) and Years and Years (2019). She portrayed Mrs. Lovett in a Lincoln Center production of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in 2014. Authorised by the publishers of Beatrix Potter, Thompson has also written three Peter Rabbit children's books.

Movies (107)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
8.1

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

2011Movie8.1
The Sheep Detectives
7.9

The Sheep Detectives

2026Movie7.9
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
8.0

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

2004Movie8.0
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
7.7

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

2007Movie7.7
Beauty and the Beast
7.0

Beauty and the Beast

2017Movie7.0
I Am Legend
7.2

I Am Legend

2007Movie7.2
Brave
7.0

Brave

2012Movie7.0
Cruella
8.0

Cruella

2021Movie8.0
Men in Black: International
5.9

Men in Black: International

2019Movie5.9
Treasure Planet
7.6

Treasure Planet

2002Movie7.6
Love Actually
7.1

Love Actually

2003Movie7.1
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande
7.0

Good Luck to You, Leo Grande

2022Movie7.0
Burnt
6.5

Burnt

2015Movie6.5
Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang
6.3

Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang

2010Movie6.3
Sense and Sensibility
7.4

Sense and Sensibility

1995Movie7.4
Dolittle
6.6

Dolittle

2020Movie6.6
Men in Black 3
6.5

Men in Black 3

2012Movie6.5
Johnny English Strikes Again
6.3

Johnny English Strikes Again

2018Movie6.3
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
6.4

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy

2025Movie6.4
In the Name of the Father
7.9

In the Name of the Father

1993Movie7.9
Nanny McPhee
6.7

Nanny McPhee

2005Movie6.7
Much Ado About Nothing
7.0

Much Ado About Nothing

1993Movie7.0
Beautiful Creatures
6.0

Beautiful Creatures

2013Movie6.0
Bridget Jones's Baby
6.4

Bridget Jones's Baby

2016Movie6.4
Late Night
6.4

Late Night

2019Movie6.4
Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical
6.8

Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical

2022Movie6.8
A Walk in the Woods
6.1

A Walk in the Woods

2015Movie6.1
Stranger Than Fiction
7.3

Stranger Than Fiction

2006Movie7.3
Last Christmas
7.2

Last Christmas

2019Movie7.2
Saving Mr. Banks
7.3

Saving Mr. Banks

2013Movie7.3
Howards End
7.0

Howards End

1992Movie7.0
Missing Link
6.9

Missing Link

2019Movie6.9
Junior
5.2

Junior

1994Movie5.2
The Children Act
6.6

The Children Act

2018Movie6.6
The Remains of the Day
7.4

The Remains of the Day

1993Movie7.4
Dead of Winter
6.4

Dead of Winter

2025Movie6.4
My Father the Hero
5.4

My Father the Hero

1994Movie5.4
Dead Again
6.4

Dead Again

1991Movie6.4
The Boat That Rocked
7.2

The Boat That Rocked

2009Movie7.2
An Education
6.9

An Education

2009Movie6.9
Men, Women & Children
6.5

Men, Women & Children

2014Movie6.5
Primary Colors
6.3

Primary Colors

1998Movie6.3
What's Love Got to Do with It?
6.1

What's Love Got to Do with It?

2023Movie6.1
King Lear
6.1

King Lear

2018Movie6.1
Last Chance Harvey
6.3

Last Chance Harvey

2008Movie6.3
Brideshead Revisited
6.3

Brideshead Revisited

2008Movie6.3
Henry V
7.1

Henry V

1989Movie7.1
The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)
6.5

The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)

2017Movie6.5
Blind Loyalty, Hollow Honor: England's Fatal Flaw
7.0

Blind Loyalty, Hollow Honor: England's Fatal Flaw

2001Movie7.0
Judas Kiss
5.7

Judas Kiss

1998Movie5.7
The Legend of Barney Thomson
6.1

The Legend of Barney Thomson

2015Movie6.1
Wit
7.3

Wit

2001Movie7.3
Effie Gray
6.0

Effie Gray

2014Movie6.0
Maybe Baby
5.5

Maybe Baby

2000Movie5.5
Imagining Argentina
5.7

Imagining Argentina

2003Movie5.7
Impromptu
6.1

Impromptu

1991Movie6.1
The Winter Guest
6.5

The Winter Guest

1997Movie6.5
Everybody to Kenmure Street
8.4

Everybody to Kenmure Street

2026Movie8.4
Alone in Berlin
6.7

Alone in Berlin

2016Movie6.7
Nos Bastidores de Hollywood
10.0

Nos Bastidores de Hollywood

2005Movie10.0
An Audience with Adele
8.4

An Audience with Adele

2021Movie8.4
Beyond Boundaries: The Harvey Weinstein Scandal
5.4

Beyond Boundaries: The Harvey Weinstein Scandal

2018Movie5.4
Fry and Laurie Reunited
6.8

Fry and Laurie Reunited

2010Movie6.8
Merchant Ivory
7.7

Merchant Ivory

2024Movie7.7
The Love Punch
6.0

The Love Punch

2014Movie6.0
Junket Whore
5.5

Junket Whore

1998Movie5.5
How to Build a Girl
5.8

How to Build a Girl

2020Movie5.8
Hannibal Hopkins & Sir Anthony
4.7

Hannibal Hopkins & Sir Anthony

2021Movie4.7
Peter's Friends
6.6

Peter's Friends

1992Movie6.6
James Ivory: In Search of Love and Beauty

James Ivory: In Search of Love and Beauty

Movie
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – In Concert with the New York Philharmonic
8.1

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – In Concert with the New York Philharmonic

2014Movie8.1
The Tall Guy
5.7

The Tall Guy

1989Movie5.7
Colleagues From Hell

Colleagues From Hell

1989Movie
Tin Fish

Tin Fish

1990Movie
When Harry Left Hogwarts
7.2

When Harry Left Hogwarts

2011Movie7.2
Love & Loyalty: The Making of 'The Remains of the Day'
6.5

Love & Loyalty: The Making of 'The Remains of the Day'

2001Movie6.5
The Cellar Tapes
7.0

The Cellar Tapes

1982Movie7.0
A Sense of Character

A Sense of Character

2009Movie
The Blue Boy
6.2

The Blue Boy

1994Movie6.2
The Song of Lunch
6.6

The Song of Lunch

2010Movie6.6
Carrington
6.2

Carrington

1995Movie6.2
The Real Mary Poppins
4.0

The Real Mary Poppins

2014Movie4.0
The Winslow Boy
8.0

The Winslow Boy

1989Movie8.0
The Laughter & Secrets of Love Actually: 20 Years Later – A Diane Sawyer Special
7.0

The Laughter & Secrets of Love Actually: 20 Years Later – A Diane Sawyer Special

2022Movie7.0
Sea Sorrow
5.3

Sea Sorrow

2017Movie5.3
Locating the World of Sense & Sensibility

Locating the World of Sense & Sensibility

2009Movie
Hear Me Roar

Hear Me Roar

Movie
Sainsbury's: Mog's Christmas Calamity
9.0

Sainsbury's: Mog's Christmas Calamity

2015Movie9.0
A Tribute To Ismail Merchant
10.0

A Tribute To Ismail Merchant

2005Movie10.0
Royal Variety Performance 1984

Royal Variety Performance 1984

1984Movie
Die vielen Gesichter der Emma Thompson

Die vielen Gesichter der Emma Thompson

2016Movie
Elegance & Simplicity: The Wardrobe of Sense & Sensibility

Elegance & Simplicity: The Wardrobe of Sense & Sensibility

2009Movie
The Remains of the Day: The Filmmaker's Journey
6.5

The Remains of the Day: The Filmmaker's Journey

2001Movie6.5
To the Ends of the Earth
7.0

To the Ends of the Earth

2016Movie7.0
Hospital!
6.0

Hospital!

1997Movie6.0
Look Back in Anger
9.3

Look Back in Anger

1989Movie9.3
A Very Quiet Man

A Very Quiet Man

2009Movie
The Fringe, Fame and Me

The Fringe, Fame and Me

2022Movie
Walking the Dogs

Walking the Dogs

2012Movie
Greenpeace: There's a Rang-Tan in My Bedroom

Greenpeace: There's a Rang-Tan in My Bedroom

2018Movie
Stephen Fry: 50 Not Out
8.0

Stephen Fry: 50 Not Out

2007Movie8.0
Extinction

Extinction

2019Movie
Hollywood's Dark Secret

Hollywood's Dark Secret

2019Movie
Slags
2.0

Slags

1984Movie2.0
The Doubt Machine: Inside the Koch Brothers' War on Climate Science

The Doubt Machine: Inside the Koch Brothers' War on Climate Science

2016Movie
How to Stop a Nuclear War

How to Stop a Nuclear War

Movie
Rabbit Ears - The White Cat

Rabbit Ears - The White Cat

1991Movie

TV Shows (44)

The Simpsons
8.0

The Simpsons

1989Series8.0
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
5.8

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

2014Series5.8
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
6.1

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

2015Series6.1
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
7.5

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962Series7.5
The Kelly Clarkson Show
6.3

The Kelly Clarkson Show

2019Series6.3
Late Night with Seth Meyers
5.1

Late Night with Seth Meyers

2014Series5.1
Saturday Night Live
6.9

Saturday Night Live

1975Series6.9
The Graham Norton Show
7.2

The Graham Norton Show

2007Series7.2
Cheers
7.6

Cheers

1982Series7.6
The View
4.3

The View

1997Series4.3
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
5.6

LIVE with Kelly and Mark

1988Series5.6
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
7.3

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

1993Series7.3
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
5.4

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

1992Series5.4
QI
7.9

QI

2003Series7.9
Leute heute
5.2

Leute heute

1997Series5.2
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
5.6

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

2003Series5.6
Ellen
6.1

Ellen

1994Series6.1
Screen Two
7.1

Screen Two

1985Series7.1
GMTV
5.8

GMTV

1993Series5.8
The Jonathan Ross Show
5.2

The Jonathan Ross Show

2011Series5.2
Wetten, dass..?
5.6

Wetten, dass..?

1981Series5.6
The Tony Danza Show
6.4

The Tony Danza Show

2004Series6.4
The Oscars
7.0

The Oscars

1953Series7.0
Playhouse Presents
6.0

Playhouse Presents

2012Series6.0
Parkinson

Parkinson

1998Series
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
6.1

Friday Night with Jonathan Ross

2001Series6.1
Timeshift
7.0

Timeshift

2002Series7.0
Sucré salé
9.3

Sucré salé

2002Series9.3
The Young Ones
7.9

The Young Ones

1982Series7.9
Down Cemetery Road
6.8

Down Cemetery Road

2025Series6.8
The Comic Strip Presents...
7.4

The Comic Strip Presents...

1982Series7.4
Years and Years
7.5

Years and Years

2019Series7.5
Angels in America
7.6

Angels in America

2003Series7.6
Fortunes of War
6.3

Fortunes of War

1987Series6.3
Why Didn't They Ask Evans?
6.6

Why Didn't They Ask Evans?

2022Series6.6
Funny Valentines
6.0

Funny Valentines

2015Series6.0
Friday Night, Saturday Morning
7.5

Friday Night, Saturday Morning

1979Series7.5
The Val Doonican Music Show

The Val Doonican Music Show

1977Series
Alfresco
6.6

Alfresco

1983Series6.6
E! True Hollywood Story
8.1

E! True Hollywood Story

1996Series8.1
Tutti Frutti
7.1

Tutti Frutti

1987Series7.1
Thompson
5.0

Thompson

1988Series5.0
There's Nothing to Worry About!
5.0

There's Nothing to Worry About!

1982Series5.0
The Crystal Cube
7.3

The Crystal Cube

1983Series7.3