Emma Thompson Opens Up About Donald Trump Encounter
Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson revealed a surprising encounter with Donald Trump during the 78th Locarno Film Festival on August 9, 2025, in Switzerland. Both Thompson and Trump had recently ended their marriages at the time of the call.
The Unexpected Call
While filming the 1998 comedy-drama Primary Colors, Thompson received a phone call in her trailer. “It was Donald Trump,” she recalled. “He said, ‘Hello, this is Donald Trump.’ I thought it was a joke.” She initially wondered why he was calling, until she realized the timing coincided with the finalization of her divorce from Kenneth Branagh.
A Date Proposal
Thompson joked that Trump seemed to be searching for a “nice divorcee” to accompany him. “He found the number in my trailer. I mean, that’s stalking,” she quipped. Reflecting on the moment, she said, “I could have gone on a date with Donald Trump, and then I would have a story to tell. I could have changed the course of American history.”
Emma Thompson meets fans during the 78th Locarno Film Festival on August 9, 2025, in Locarno, Switzerland. | Source: Getty Images
Divorce and Film Life
At that time, Thompson was recovering from her own painful divorce. Her marriage to Kenneth Branagh ended after discovering his affair with Helena Bonham Carter, her co-star on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Thompson described feeling “utterly blind” and emotionally devastated during that period.
Moving On
Thompson later met Greg Wise on the set of Sense and Sensibility. The couple married in 2003 and have two children together, including an adopted son from Rwanda.
Kenneth and Helena
Branagh and Bonham Carter eventually married. Despite the past scandal, all three have maintained respectful relationships and moved forward with their lives. Helena was later linked to Tim Burton, and the pair had two children together. Branagh married art director Lindsay Brunnock after she gave him an ultimatum; they continue their private family life.
Life After the Drama
Thompson reflects on her experiences as shaping her craft. She told The New Yorker that the heartbreak and divorce helped her interpret roles of women experiencing betrayal. Today, all parties have rebuilt their lives and relationships, turning past turmoil into personal growth.
