Emma Thompson

Biography

Emma Thompson is an English actress and screenwriter whose screen and stage work spans over four decades. Born in London to actor parents, she studied at Cambridge and joined the Footlights troupe. Her breakthrough came in the West End revival of Me and My Girl, and she won a BAFTA TV Award for Tutti Frutti and Fortunes of War. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Howards End (1992), then received two Oscar nominations in 1993 for The Remains of the Day and In the Name of the Father. For Sense and Sensibility (1995), she wrote the screenplay and took a leading role, winning the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, and later earned acclaim for Love Actually (2003), Saving Mr. Banks (2013), and Late Night (2019). Her films also include Nanny McPhee (2005), which she wrote, An Education (2009), Men in Black 3 (2012), Brave (2012), Beauty and the Beast (2017), and Cruella (2021).

67years old

Turns 68 on April 15in 183 days

Born April 15, 1959Paddington
Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19
Also credited as Dame Emma Thompson

Movie Career

Films: 57
Career span: 37 years1989 to 2026

Genres

Drama60%, 34 films
Comedy58%, 33 films
Romance35%, 20 films
Adventure16%, 9 films
Family14%, 8 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

Behind the award
Thompson earned a third Best Actress nomination and took home the Best Adapted Screenplay award, which made her the only person ever to win Oscars for both acting and screenwriting.
Big break
Thompson wrote to director James Ivory to pursue the part, and he agreed to an audition before giving her the role.
First role
Thompson's first professional role came in 1982, when she went on tour with a stage adaptation of Not the Nine O'Clock News.
Big break
Thompson played Sally Smith in the 1985 West End revival of Me and My Girl for 15 months, a production that earned rave reviews and provided a breakthrough in her career.

Emma Thompson movies on Netflix

The Sheep Detectives2026IMDb rating 7.4as Lydia Harbottle
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy2025IMDb rating 6.5as Dr. Rawlings
Dead of Winter2025IMDb rating 6.1as Barb
Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical2022IMDb rating 7.0as Agatha Trunchbull
What's Love Got to Do With It?2022IMDb rating 6.3as Cath Stevenson
Cruella2021IMDb rating 7.3as The Baroness
Hannibal Hopkins & Sir Anthony2021IMDb rating 7.0as Himself
Dolittle2020IMDb rating 5.6as Poly (voice)
Last Christmas2019IMDb rating 6.5as Petra
Late Night2019IMDb rating 6.5as Katherine Newbury
Men in Black: International2019IMDb rating 5.6as Agent O
Missing Link2019IMDb rating 6.7as The Elder (voice)
Johnny English Strikes Again2018IMDb rating 6.2as Prime Minister
King Lear2018IMDb rating 6.2as Goneril
The Children Act2018IMDb rating 6.7as Fiona Maye
Beauty and the Beast2017IMDb rating 7.1as Mrs. Potts
The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)2017IMDb rating 6.9as Maureen
Alone in Berlin2016IMDb rating 6.5as Anna Quangel
Bridget Jones's Baby2016IMDb rating 6.4as Dr Rawlings
A Walk in the Woods2015IMDb rating 6.4as Catherine Bryson
Burnt2015IMDb rating 6.6as Dr Rosshilde
The Legend of Barney Thomson2015IMDb rating 6.3as Cemolina
Effie Gray2014IMDb rating 6.0as Lady Eastlake
Men, Women & Children2014IMDb rating 6.6as Narrator (voice)
Beautiful Creatures2013IMDb rating 6.1as Mrs. Lincoln / Sarafine
Saving Mr. Banks2013IMDb rating 7.5as P.L. Travers
The Love Punch2013IMDb rating 5.8as Kate
Brave2012IMDb rating 7.1as Elinor (voice)
Men in Black 32012IMDb rating 6.8as Agent O
Nanny McPhee Returns2010IMDb rating 6.1as Nanny McPhee
The Song of Lunch2010IMDb rating 7.3as She
An Education2009IMDb rating 7.2as Headmistress
Pirate Radio2009IMDb rating 7.3as Charlotte
Brideshead Revisited2008IMDb rating 6.6as Lady Marchmain
Last Chance Harvey2008IMDb rating 6.6as Kate Walker
I Am Legend2007IMDb rating 7.2as Dr. Alice Krippin
Stranger Than Fiction2006IMDb rating 7.5as Karen Eiffel
Nanny McPhee2005IMDb rating 6.6as Nanny McPhee
Imagining Argentina2003IMDb rating 6.1as Cecilia Rueda
Love Actually2003IMDb rating 7.5as Karen
Treasure Planet2002IMDb rating 7.2as Captain Amelia (voice)
Wit2001IMDb rating 7.9as Vivian Bearing
Maybe Baby2000IMDb rating 5.6as Druscilla
Judas Kiss1998IMDb rating 6.1as FBI Agent Sadie Hawkins
Primary Colors1998IMDb rating 6.7as Susan Stanton
The Winter Guest1997IMDb rating 6.8as Frances
Carrington1995IMDb rating 6.8as Dora Carrington
Sense and Sensibility1995IMDb rating 7.7as Elinor Dashwood
Junior1994IMDb rating 4.8as Dr. Diana Reddin
In the Name of the Father1993IMDb rating 8.1as Gareth Peirce
Much Ado About Nothing1993IMDb rating 7.3as Beatrice
The Remains of the Day1993IMDb rating 7.8as Miss Kenton
Howards End1992IMDb rating 7.3as Margaret Schlegel
Peter's Friends1992IMDb rating 7.0as Maggie Chester
Dead Again1991IMDb rating 6.8as Grace / Margaret Strauss
Impromptu1991IMDb rating 6.8as Duchess D'Antan
The Tall Guy1989IMDb rating 6.2as Kate

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Brave2012 Adventure, Animation, Comedyas Elinorvoice
IMDb rating 7.1486K votes
Love Actually2003 Comedy, Drama, Romanceas Karen
IMDb rating 7.5584K votes
Cruella2021as The Baroness
IMDb rating 7.3302K votes
Sense and Sensibility1995as Elinor Dashwood
IMDb rating 7.7138K votes
Saving Mr. Banks2013as P.L. Travers
IMDb rating 7.5177K votes
I Am Legend2007as Dr. Alice Krippin
IMDb rating 7.2888K votes
In the Name of the Father1993as Gareth Peirce
IMDb rating 8.1205K votes
Men in Black 32012as Agent O
IMDb rating 6.8416K votes

Most often with

Kenneth Branagh directed three of these films, Richard Curtis two and James Ivory two. Three actors appear in five of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Hugh Grant

Alan Rickman

Phyllida Law

Anthony Hopkins

Jim Broadbent

Colin Firth

Kenneth BranaghDirector, 3 films

Richard CurtisDirector, 2 films

James IvoryDirector, 2 films

Films together

Hugh Grant5 films together, 1991 to 2025
Hugh Grant's page
- Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy2025IMDb rating 6.5Thompson as Dr. RawlingsGrant as Daniel Cleaver
- Love Actually2003IMDb rating 7.5Thompson as KarenGrant as The Prime Minister
- Sense and Sensibility1995IMDb rating 7.7Thompson as Elinor DashwoodGrant as Edward Ferrars
- The Remains of the Day1993IMDb rating 7.8Thompson as Miss KentonGrant as Reginald Cardinal
- Impromptu1991IMDb rating 6.8Thompson as Duchess D'AntanGrant as Frederic Chopin
Alan Rickman5 films together, 1995 to 2010
Alan Rickman's page
- The Song of Lunch2010IMDb rating 7.3Thompson as SheRickman as He
- Love Actually2003IMDb rating 7.5Thompson as KarenRickman as Harry
- Judas Kiss1998IMDb rating 6.1Thompson as FBI Agent Sadie HawkinsRickman as Detective David Friedman
- The Winter Guest1997IMDb rating 6.8Thompson as FrancesRickman as Man in street
- Sense and Sensibility1995IMDb rating 7.7Thompson as Elinor DashwoodRickman as Colonel Brandon
Phyllida Law5 films together, 1992 to 2005
Phyllida Law's page
- Nanny McPhee2005IMDb rating 6.6Thompson as Nanny McPheeLaw as Mrs. Partridgevoice
- Judas Kiss1998IMDb rating 6.1Thompson as FBI Agent Sadie HawkinsLaw as Shouting Woman
- The Winter Guest1997IMDb rating 6.8Thompson as FrancesLaw as Elspeth
- Much Ado About Nothing1993IMDb rating 7.3Thompson as BeatriceLaw as Ursula
- Peter's Friends1992IMDb rating 7.0Thompson as Maggie ChesterLaw as Vera
Anthony Hopkins4 films together, 1992 to 2021
Anthony Hopkins's page
- Hannibal Hopkins & Sir Anthony2021IMDb rating 7.0Thompson as HimselfHopkins as Himself
- King Lear2018IMDb rating 6.2Thompson as GonerilHopkins as Lear
- The Remains of the Day1993IMDb rating 7.8Thompson as Miss KentonHopkins as James Stevens
- Howards End1992IMDb rating 7.3Thompson as Margaret SchlegelHopkins as Henry Wilcox
Jim Broadbent4 films together, 2016 to 2025
Jim Broadbent's page
- Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy2025IMDb rating 6.5Thompson as Dr. RawlingsBroadbent as Colin Jones
- Dolittle2020IMDb rating 5.6Thompson as PolyvoiceBroadbent as Lord Thomas Badgley
- King Lear2018IMDb rating 6.2Thompson as GonerilBroadbent as Earl of Gloucester
- Bridget Jones's Baby2016IMDb rating 6.4Thompson as Dr RawlingsBroadbent as Dad
Colin Firth4 films together, 2003 to 2025
Colin Firth's page
- Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy2025IMDb rating 6.5Thompson as Dr. RawlingsFirth as Mark Darcy
- Bridget Jones's Baby2016IMDb rating 6.4Thompson as Dr RawlingsFirth as Mark
- Nanny McPhee2005IMDb rating 6.6Thompson as Nanny McPheeFirth as Mr. Brown
- Love Actually2003IMDb rating 7.5Thompson as KarenFirth as Jamie
Kenneth BranaghDirector, 3 films, 1991 to 1993
All films by Kenneth Branagh
- Much Ado About Nothing1993IMDb rating 7.3Thompson as Beatrice
- Peter's Friends1992IMDb rating 7.0Thompson as Maggie Chester
- Dead Again1991IMDb rating 6.8Thompson as Grace / Margaret Strauss
Richard CurtisDirector, 2 films, 2003 to 2009
All films by Richard Curtis
- Pirate Radio2009IMDb rating 7.3Thompson as Charlotte
- Love Actually2003IMDb rating 7.5Thompson as Karen
James IvoryDirector, 2 films, 1992 to 1993
All films by James Ivory
- The Remains of the Day1993IMDb rating 7.8Thompson as Miss Kenton
- Howards End1992IMDb rating 7.3Thompson as Margaret Schlegel
Also four films together3 more actors
- Kenneth BranaghPirate Radio (2009), Much Ado About Nothing (1993), Peter's Friends (1992) and Dead Again (1991)
- Imelda StauntonNanny McPhee (2005), Sense and Sensibility (1995), Much Ado About Nothing (1993) and Peter's Friends (1992)
- Patrick DoyleEffie Gray (2014), Brave (2012), Much Ado About Nothing (1993) and Dead Again (1991)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Emma Thompson's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$6.1 billion

42 of the 57 films have a worldwide figure.

42Worldwide figure
8US gross only
3Never in cinemas
4Figure not found

Top grosser

Beauty and the Beast2017Mrs. Potts$1.3 billion

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 66% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Beauty and the Beast2017as Mrs. Potts
$1.3B20.7% of the total
2
Men in Black 32012as Agent O
$654M10.7% of the total
3
I Am Legend2007as Dr. Alice Krippin
$585M9.6% of the total
4
Brave2012as Elinor (voice)
$539M8.8% of the total
5
Men in Black: International2019as Agent O
$254M4.1% of the total
6
Dolittle2020as Poly (voice)
$251M4.1% of the total
7
Love Actually2003as Karen
$251M4.1% of the total
8
Cruella2021as The Baroness
$234M3.8% of the total

Bridget Jones's Baby (2016), $212 million

Johnny English Strikes Again (2018), $159 million

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (2025), $140 million

Sense and Sensibility (1995), $135 million

The Sheep Detectives (2026), $132 million

Nanny McPhee Returns (2010), $93.3 million

In the Name of the Father (1993), $65.8 million

Beautiful Creatures (2013), $60.1 million

Stranger Than Fiction (2006), $53.7 million

$2.1 billionfrom the other 34 films with a worldwide figure, 34% of the total

Awards

Eleven awards and honors from 1992 to 2021, seven of them major.

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Emma Thompson's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Academy Awards
1996	Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay	Sense and Sensibility	Won
1993	Best Actress	Howards End	Won
Golden Globes
1996	Best Screenplay	Sense and Sensibility	Won
1993	Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama	Howards End	Won
BAFTA
1995	Best Actress in a Leading Role	Sense and Sensibility	Won
1992	Best Actress in a Leading Role	Howards End	Won
Emmy Awards
1998	Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series	Ellen	Won
Other honors
2021	Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature		Won
2018	Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire		Won
	Audie Award for Narration by the Author or Authors		Won
	Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame		Honored

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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