Skip to content
EN — Language: English
Emma Thompson

Acting

Emma Thompson

Emma Thompson is an actress born on April 15, 1959 in Paddington, London, England, UK. She is known for Brave, Men in Black 3 and Cruella. GloboWatch shows where to watch one of her movies and TV shows, country by country.

Known for
Acting
Born
April 15, 1959
Place of birth
Paddington, London, England, UK
Also known as
Dame Emma Thompson

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.

Filmography

  1. 2026The Sheep Detectivesas Lydia Harbottle
  2. 2025Down Cemetery Roadas Zoë Boehm · 8 episodes · Executive producer
  3. 2025Dead of Winteras Barb · Executive producer
  4. 2025Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boyas Dr Rawlings
  5. 2023What's Love Got to Do with It?as Cath Stevenson
  6. 2022Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musicalas Agatha Trunchbull
  7. 2022Good Luck to You, Leo Grandeas Nancy Stokes
  8. 2021Cruellaas The Baroness
  9. 2020Dolittleas Poly (voice)
  10. 2019Last Christmasas Petra Andrich · Screenplay · Producer
  11. 2019Men in Black: Internationalas Agent O
  12. 2019Years and Yearsas Vivienne Rook · 6 episodes
  13. 2019Missing Linkas Dora the Yeti Elder (voice)
  14. 2019Late Nightas Katherine Newbury
  15. 2018Johnny English Strikes Againas Prime Minister
  16. 2018The Children Actas Fiona Maye
  17. 2018King Learas Goneril
  18. 2017The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)as Maureen Meyerowitz
  19. 2017Beauty and the Beastas Mrs. Potts
  20. 2016Bridget Jones's Babyas Dr Rawlings · Screenplay
  21. 2016Alone in Berlinas Anna Quangel
  22. 2015Burntas Dr. Rosshilde
  23. 2015A Walk in the Woodsas Catherine Bryson
  24. 2015The Legend of Barney Thomsonas Cemolina
  25. 2014Men, Women & Childrenas Narrator (voice)
  26. 2014Effie Grayas Lady Eastlake · Screenplay
  27. 2014The Love Punchas Kate
  28. 2013Saving Mr. Banksas P.L. Travers
  29. 2013Beautiful Creaturesas Mrs. Lincoln / Sarafine Duchannes
  30. 2012Braveas Elinor (voice)
  31. 2012Men in Black 3as Agent O
  32. 2011Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2as Sybill Trelawney
  33. 2010Nanny McPhee and the Big Bangas Nanny McPhee · Screenplay · Executive producer
  34. 2009An Educationas Headmistress
  35. 2009The Boat That Rockedas Charlotte
  36. 2008Last Chance Harveyas Kate Walker
  37. 2008Brideshead Revisitedas Lady Marchmain
  38. 2007I Am Legendas Dr. Alice Krippin
  39. 2007Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenixas Sybill Trelawney
  40. 2006Stranger Than Fictionas Karen Eiffel
  41. 2005Nanny McPheeas Nanny McPhee · Screenplay
  42. 2004Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkabanas Sybill Trelawney
  43. 2003Angels in Americaas Nurse Emily / Homeless Woman / The Angel · 5 episodes
  44. 2003Love Actuallyas Karen
  45. 2002Treasure Planetas Captain Amelia (voice)
  46. 2001Witas Vivian Bearing · Writer
  47. 1998Primary Colorsas Susan Stanton
  48. 1995Sense and Sensibilityas Elinor Dashwood · Screenplay
  49. 1994Junioras Dr. Diana Reddin
  50. 1994My Father the Heroas Isabel (uncredited)
  51. 1993In the Name of the Fatheras Gareth Peirce
  52. 1993The Remains of the Dayas Miss Kenton
  53. 1993Much Ado About Nothingas Beatrice
  54. 1992Peter's Friendsas Maggie Chester
  55. 1992Howards Endas Margaret Schlegel
  56. 1991Dead Againas Grace / Margaret Strauss
  57. 1989The Simpsonsas Constance Clavinger (voice) · 1 episode
  58. 1989Henry Vas Katherine
  59. 1982The Young Onesas Miss Money-Sterling · 1 episode
  60. 1982Cheersas Nanny Gee · 1 episode