Emma Thompson

Dame Emma Thompson DBE is a British actress and screenwriter with an illustrious career that spans over four decades. She has received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, three BAFTA Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award. In 2018, the Queen made her a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of her significant contributions to drama.

Thompson embarked on her artistic journey at Newnham College, Cambridge, where she pursued an English degree and graduated with upper second-class honors. There, she became the first female member of the Footlights troupe and co-directed its first all-female revue, "Woman's Hour." She also appeared in the comedy sketch series Alfresco. After graduation, Thompson's career took off when she starred in the 1985 West End revival of the musical "Me and My Girl." Her talent was further highlighted during her performances in the BBC TV series "Tutti Frutti" and "Fortunes of War," which earned her the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress in 1987.

In the early 1990s, Thompson frequently collaborated with her then-husband, actor and director Kenneth Branagh, in films such as "Henry V," "Dead Again," and "Much Ado About Nothing." She received critical acclaim for her role in the Merchant-Ivory period drama "Howards End," which garnered her the BAFTA Award and the Academy Award for Best Actress. In a historic feat, Thompson received two Academy Award nominations in 1993 for her performances in "The Remains of the Day" and "In the Name of the Father."

Thompson expanded her artistic repertoire by writing and starring in "Sense and Sensibility." Her work on the film made her the only person in history to win Academy Awards for acting and writing. She also won the BAFTA Award for the film. Thompson continued to receive critical acclaim for roles in films such as "Primary Colors," "Love Actually," "Saving Mr. Banks," "Late Night," and "Good Luck to You, Leo Grande."

Thompson's versatility is evident in her wide-ranging film credits, which include the Harry Potter series, "Brave," "Nanny McPhee," "Men in Black 3" and its spin-off "Men in Black: International," "Beauty and the Beast," "Cruella," and "Matilda the Musical." She also ventured into the realm of children's literature, authoring three Peter Rabbit books, including "The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit," which was a New York Times Best Seller.

Thompson is known not only for her artistic contributions but also for her activism. She serves as the chair of the Helen Bamber Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture and is a patron of the Refugee Council. She is an ardent supporter of Greenpeace and has used her platform to advocate for proper language use in official capacities.