Emma Thompson Biography

Ft. Lauderdale, FL (CNS) - Emma Thompson, actress

Birthplace: London, England, United Kingdom

Birthdate: April 15, 1959

Sign: Aries

Emma Kyralee Thompson was destined for a life in the creative arts. Her father, Eric, wrote and narrated the original TV production of "The Magic Roundabout" (Dougal in the U.S.). Her mother, Phylidda Law, was a popular actress in her own right. Her younger sister, Sophie, is also an actress. One can say acting is the family business.

Thompson went to Camden School for Girls. She then went to Newnham College in Cambridge. There she was vice president of the University's theatrical club, along with fellow actors Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, and Tony Slatery. Her prodigious talent got her an agent before she ever graduated. She graduated Cambridge in 1982.

While she would soon earn a reputation for her dramatic roles, her first exposure was in British TV sketch comedy. In the 80s, she was a regular on such series as "There's Nothing to Worry About" (1982), "Alfresco" (1984) and the award-winning "Tutti Frutti" with Robbie Coltrane (1987). In 1987, she also had her first major dramatic role in the series "Fortunes of War." Together, "Tutti Fruitti" and "Fortunes of War" earned her a BAFTA for Best TV Actress that year. "Fortunes of War" was also auspicious for another reason. While doing that series she met and married Kevin Branagh.

She and Branagh would co-star in three films together; "Henry V" (1989), "Dead Again" (1991) and "Much Ado About Nothing" (1993). In between she did "The Tall Guy" (1990) and the Merchant-Ivory costume extravaganza "Howard's End" (1992), which garnered Thompson her first Oscar for Best Actress. She also got a Golden Globe and another BAFTA for that film.

It soon became apparent the Academy Awards was enamored with her. In 1993, she was nominated in both the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress categories for "The Remains of the Day" and "In The Name of the Father," respectively. In 1995, she got another nomination for "Sense and Sensibility," for Best Adapted Screenplay, and won. She also won another BAFTA for Best Actress for that movie. To finish off her collection, in 1998 she won an Emmy for Best Guest Appearance on the show "Ellen." She also divorced Branagh during this time.

Her career very secure, Thompson has taken a number of more risky roles over the last decade. In 2003 she played multiple parts in "Angels In America." She also has a recurring role of Sybill Trelawney in the Harry Potter films. She's also done some interesting children's work, voicing Captain Amelia in the Disney animated film "Treasure Planet" (2002) and starring in the film "Nanny McPhee" (2005). One could also say that she hasn't lost her dramatic chops either when she starred in the costume drama "Brideshead Revisited" (2008).

In all, current records show the Thompson has won 36 various awards over her career, including two Oscars. It could be said that if acting is the family business, then business is very good, especially for Thompson.