Best of British: Emma Thompson

5 months ago 04th Jun 14:29

Emma Thompson is one of this country's most successful and respected actresses who mixes her acting roles with screenwriting.

Acting was in Thompson's blood her father Eric was an actor, best known for writing and narrating The Magic Roundabout, her mother Phyllida Law was also an actress.

After studying at Cambridge University, where she was vice-president of the theatrical club, Thompson embarked on an acting career making her name in the West End.

The theatre role that brought her to prominence was Me and My Girl before moving into television with Tutti Frutti and Fortunes of War.

She worked for several years in television with TV series and television movie such as Thompson, Look Back in Anger and The Winslow Boys.

She made her big screen debut in 1989 when she starred in Henry V but it was her performance in 1992's Howards End, alongside Anthony Hopkins and Vanessa Redgrave.

The film was a critical hit and Thompson won her first Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Only twelve months later she was nominated again for her performance in The Remains of the Day for Best Actress and best Supporting Actress for In the Name of the Father.

Although she lost out on both counts it wasn't long before she tasted Oscar success again for Sense and Sensibility. She starred in the film as Elinor Dashwood but it wasn't acting she was rewarded for, despite securing yet another Best Actress nod, winning instead for Best Adapted Screenplay.

The movie was directed by Ang Lee, who hadn't read Jane Austen's novel before reading Thompson's screenplay.

Over the years the actress has enjoyed major box office success with movies such as Love Actually, Harry Potter and Nanny McPhee.

This week she returns to the big screen with Last Chance Harvey, starring alongside Dustin Hoffman.
New Yorker Harvey Shine is on the verge of losing his dead-end job as a jingle writer.

Warned by his boss that he has just one more chance to deliver, Harvey goes to London for a weekend to attend his daughter's wedding but promises to be back on Monday morning to make an important meeting--or else.

Harvey arrives in London only to learn his daughter has chosen to have her stepfather walk her down the aisle instead of him. Doing his best to hide his devastation, he leaves the wedding before the reception in hopes of getting to the airport on time, but misses his plane anyway.

When he calls his boss to explain, he is fired on the spot. Drowning his sorrows at the airport bar, Harvey strikes up a conversation with Kate, a slightly prickly, 40-something employee of the Office of National Statistics.

Kate, whose life is limited to work, the occasional humiliating blind date and endless phone calls from her smothering mother, is touched by Harvey, who finds himself energized by her intelligence and compassion.

The growing connection between the pair inspires both as they unexpectedly transform one another's lives.

2009 and 2010 look set to be a busy time for the actress The Boat That Rocked has already been released with An Education is set for release later this year.

She will reprise the role of Nanny McPhee next year, possibly with some writing credits. She is also linked with the remake of My Fair Lady which she is rumoured to be writing.

Last Chance Harvey is released 5th June

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw