Emma Thompson Back to Emma's page Biography Emma Thompson was born on 15th April 1959 in Paddington, London, England. She is the eldest of two daughters born to the late Eric Thompson, creator of the children's programme The Magic Roundabout, and actress Phyllida Law, with whom she has frequently appeared on screen. Her sister is actress Sophie Thompson. Emma graduated from Newnham College, Cambridge University in 1982 and had intended to become a writer, however whilst at Cambridge she was persuaded to join the Footlights and so impressed agent Richard Armitage that he signed her to a contract while she was still two years away from graduation. After leaving Cambridge Emma spent several months as a stand-up comic but eventually joined up with her fellow former Footlights colleagues Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry for a sketch comedy television series called Alfresco in 1983. During the filming of The Fortunes of War Emma and Kenneth Branagh fell in love and were finally married in August 1989. In 1992 Emma won both an Oscar and a Golden Globe Award for her role opposite Anthony Hopkins in Howards End. She followed this in 1993 with Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Gareth Pierce in In the Name of the Father with Daniel Day-Lewis, and Best Actress for the role of Miss Kenton in The Remains of the Day again with Anthony Hopkins. Emma's only attempt at writing a screenplay resulted in the box-office smash hit Sense and Sensibility in 1995 in which she played the role of Elinor Dashwood. Her screenplay won her a second Oscar and she also received a nomination for Best Actress. In 1995 her marriage fell apart after a rumoured extra-marital affair between Kenneth and Helena Bonham Carter (his Mary Shelley's Frankenstein co-star), they divorced in 1995. Executive Producer 'Johnny Hit and Run Pauline' 1999. Now married to Greg Wise with a daughter Gaia Romilly Wise. You can write to Emma c/o her US agent at: Emma Thompson, c/o William Morris 151 El Camino Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90212, USA This site was created and is maintained by John Robinson © 1995 This page first published 28 August 2001 .