Emma Thompson: 'I forgave Bonham Carter for Kenneth Branagh affair'

Here's the thread from 2013 to peruse.

I thought Bonham Carter was a lesbian!

At the time, it was pretty obvious that Ken was smitten with Keanu but as always, Keanu was moving on.

Emma, Helena and Kenneth = gay

But not Keanu.

I never knew of this man stealing. I guess it didn't involve attractive people, so it didn't deserve the ink to write on a rag.

She doesn’t have a first name?

Are we sure the affair wasn't with Crispin?

Emma is lucky to have the career she has. She never cut it as a comedian. She was passed over for many shows. She never had looks. She should thank god she got any decent roles. She wants to bitch that she’s not fuckable now, like she ever was to begin with.

I think Emma is great, I have seen most of her movies, the same with Kenneth.

Emma is a huge cunt.

This witch better not be trying to campaign for an Oscar, we all know it needs to go to Glennie this year. And she never got over Meryl being nominated over her in 2013 for her boring Saving Mr Banks. Incidentally, a role Meryl passed over first.

This stupid cunt can fuck right off with her revolting pal Stephen cunting Fry.

Yes, you're right R13, Thompson and Fry seemed to be good value in the 1990s but they wore out their welcome with their non-stop Virtue-Signalling.

R13 yes and their bitching about everything they don't like as if their opinions and wants count for so much. They are so far up their own asses it's a shame.

Emma’s current husband is far more attractive than Branagh. Also, he appears on The Crown as Lord Mountbatten...now with Bonham-Carter as Princess Margaret.

Did she forgive Keanu??

[quote]Incidentally, a role Meryl passed over first.

That’s not true. The first and ONLY offer on SMB went to Thompson. They had Tom Hanks for box office clout.

Thompson should have had the nod instead of Streep’s overacting ham fest in AOC.

Streep shameslessly showed up to honor Thompson for a critics’ win and instead used the time to trash Disney. She was as always hungry for a nomination, and knew her only chance in a tough year (many critics derided her own AOC performance) was to kick Thompson out.

R9 She can act.? Have you watched her character in Howard's End? A tour de force from start to finish. Tell us what roles you have perused. And where do you keep your Oscar?

That's bullshit R18 why would The Academy failt o vote for Thompson just because Disney was a shit? Disney is still the most nominated person in Academy history and movies made by his company still get nominations. Fucking absurd to think Streep's remarks could have done harm to Thompson's chances.

And yes, Street was offered the Travers role as she was bigger box office than Thompson.

R198 Thompson hasn't done much on stage— which is where proper acting is done.

People in movies just do what the film director wants— and afterwards the film editor deletes everything the director doesn't want.

She is a great actor.

I always thought that both Emma and Kenneth had affairs with Keanu and he had an affair with Bertolucci at the same time.

I don’t get all the hate on here for Thompson.

I love her in serious roles and on talk shows as she’s naturally charming and funny. The only time I don’t enjoy her performance is in comedies where she channels later Diane Keaton.

But then I don’t like it any more when (usually over) done by Keaton herself.

She's now a Dame of course, which slightly surprised me. Thought she would've been against such archaic hierarchies, and have discreetly (but implicitly) declined. Silly naive me.

R24 she's quite a snob, she probably thought she should have had it years ago. And I'm sure Fry would lap one up. I'm surprised he hasn't campaigned for one before. Something to leave his widower

She’s a sell-out and marginally talented. She was passed over for Tracey Ullman early in in her career. Tracey is worth way more than her and doesn’t have to work a day in her life. Emma will go to the opening of an envelope. Tracey wouldn’t be caught dead accepting a royal title. Even French and Saunders turned it down. Emma had a real chip on her shoulder in the early days. Then she hooked up with her hubby and did whatever she had to do to become acceptable in polite society. What she really wanted to become was another Jennifer Saunders or Jo Brand and it just didn’t work out. Then she went for period dramas and things started happening. I’m sorry, but period shit is easy to do, especially when you’re a Brit and you have connections. I’m just not impressed by her, at least not as impressed as she is with herself.

Keanu Reeves in Somethings Gotta Give (2003) he played a mature responsible heterosexual medical doctor. BOY was he ACTING!

That would make sense that Emma Thompson's current husband is gay. I saw him years ago in The Bucaneers (1995) he played the romantic lead. Total GAY BOY.

I have always adored Emma and always will.

This is the cunt who called Audrey Hepburn twee, yet Emma made two twee Nanny McPhee movies?

Fuck her.

Emma Thompson is not that talented.

I thought she was hilarious playing a closeted lesbian Emma Thompson on ELLEN’s sitcom.

I still think she is brilliant.

OK, it's been a wake-n-bake morning but the scene that best represents Emma Thompson for me is one in which she didn't appear.

Picture this: (1980), the movie is 9 to 5, Emma Thompson is wearing a lab coat, she responds to a nurse's question by looking down at her lab coat and says, "Oh, I'm a doctor. Piss off!"

I've forgiven them all for being middle-class twats with talent.

I can't believe so many people didn't realize that Ken left Emma for Helena. Yes, it was a long time ago but so was Liz and Eddie and Debbie and everyone knows about that. This was almost as big, since Emma and Helena had famously starred together as sisters in Howard's End only two years before, and all three were quite high-profile in '94. Tons of tabloid stories at the time.

I don't doubt that Ken bangs men, too - so much smoke, there must be fire - but he enjoys women, as well. He's an equal opportunity cheater.

Audrey Hepburn IS twee and Emma is looking great these days.

[quote]Then she hooked up with her hubby and did whatever she had to do to become acceptable in polite society.

Isn’t she from an acting family? Her mother is Phyllida Law. I doubt she had to be “accepted”.

What a pleasure to watch

[quote]I don’t get all the hate on here for Thompson.

The people who hate on her are the people who complain constantly about "virtue signalling." That should explain it all.

Who are these people?

It mist be said (again and again ...)

I Ken jealous that Emma has 2 Oscars and he has.. none. That whole "new Olivier" didn't quite happen, did it?

Emma Thompson, Emma Watson, Emma Stone. If you want your daughter to grow into a mediocre-to-poor, virtue signalling (yes R39) actress then you know what to name her.

No, Ken, despite ambition and industry never touched Oliver's quicksilver charisma and genius. Few could. Still, he won a Knighthood, and maybe that meant Emma didn't waste a second in accepting her Damehood.

Not into her ditsy funky public persona, but I've much admired her work for Mr Mike Nichols, no mean judge of talent. 'Primary Colors', 'Wit' and 'Angels In America' are not in the least disgraced by Dame Emma's turns.

Plus, did not Nichols insist (as Executive Producer) that Emma got the part in 'Remains Of The Day' over Meryl? For which preference Meryl blanked Nichols for years? Good times!

Did she forgive Kenneth?

Emma is absolutely wonderful. The only time I thought she gave a poor performance(s) was in Angels in America.

She's no odder than any other British actors, really.

Indeed Keanu did have a fling during the filming with Branagh. but it was not with KB.

[quote]Plus, did not Nichols insist (as Executive Producer) that Emma got the part in 'Remains Of The Day' over Meryl? For which preference Meryl blanked Nichols for years? Good times!

Good call, too.

Streep would have been a constant distraction with her twitchy "FOCUS ON ME!" reactions while Anthony Hopkins was saying his every line.

Emma gave an easy charm to the role, which it needed.

What R39 said. Notice the psychotic level of hate comes from people who no doubt use "triggered" a lot as they show how easily triggered they are. She hasn't actually done anything to get such a reaction, but people full of rage and hate will always find a target.

Sense and Sensibility is a fantastic movie.

A friend who worked on the set daily stated that Keanu alternated between Branagh and Robert Sean Leonard.

People think luvvies like Fry and Thompson are clever because they enunciate well. They are absolute idiots, the epitome of champagne liberals. Fuck 'em.

Stephen Fry gives me a headache.

R53 I have it on good authority that Fry's much younger husband is also much less clever than Fry. MUCH LESS. We're talking spectrum levels of thick.

Emma traded up with cute Greg Wise.

KB seems boringly high maintenance.

Agree R56. Bet he has a bigger cock than KB, too

I always thought Branagh was gay. That was why he married a plain Jane like Emma Thompson.

[quote]Emma is lucky to have the career she has.

If her mother wasn't an actress, she'd be working in the Blackpool Community Players.

Tired old luvvies. Who cares?

Emma ia a closeted lesbian. She pings to high heaven

“That was why he married a plain Jane like Emma Thompson.”

She is very attractive. Branagh is ugly.

Emma Thompson is the typical dowdy British housewife.

Kenneth Branagh is hubba-hubba.

Kenneth Branagh looks much better now than when he was younger.

Emma Thompson is great. Who are these idiots questioning her talents?

[quote]"All blood under the bridge."

Uh, what?

Vintage gossip: “Branagh, Kenneth. "Early in his career was ambitio-sexual--would sleep with anyone to advance his career." Cute but conceited. Possibly yet another Great Gay British Actor. Couldn't handle his then-wife's success and pouted, causing Emma Thompson to divorce him. Linked with Helena Bonham Carter and Alicia Silverstone.”

“Thompson, Emma. Graceful ex-wife to Kenneth Branagh. For some years she tested Stephen Fry's celibate gay status by parading naked in front of him. Bisexual. Linked with Anthony Hopkins & Jonathan Pryce.”

So funny reading thru this thread.

Within minutes:

He's gay.

She's gay.

No, he's gay.

His lover was gay.

They're all gay.

R67 is gay too !

My mom once went down on Dame Emma. She said she had the oddest looking vulva ever.

E.M. Forster & Jane Austen were gay too. Merchant & Ivory three. All fire here, no smoke.

This thread is depressing. Dumb and crude and zero wit.

RIP Datalounge

I always confuse Emma Thompson with the actress from The English Patient.

R72 Scott-Thomas used to be pretty; she has a wide face with bags under her eyes.

Thompson has a bony face, a strident voice and a public, pushy personality which has made Britons tired of her. She whines a lot, saying Britain should pay for foreign freeloaders but doesn’t have any in her own houses.

She was also pro Polanski until the public frowned.

Scott-Thomas is still gorgeous.

^^^except when she has brown hair.

Question: About Emma Thompson being bisexual: please, details.

Who was/were the lucky lady/ladies?

I think R72 meant Juliette Binoche.

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Her mother is beautiful.

Shouldn't Helena be in that family photo too?

She's got a million causes under her belt.

She and Hugh Laurie were an item back in college days---wonder who dumped whom?

Wasn't there a lawsuit that she stole someone's ideas from a screenplay to make her own film Effie (which totally sucked)?

She's done some great work, however---Wit and Howard's End stand out for me.

[quote]She and Hugh Laurie were an item back in college days

He was gay. Then he married a woman - but fucks men on the side.

In no universe is Emma Thompson's current husband hotter than Branagh.

"Foreign freeloaders" being the refugees your country helped create yeah?

R86 Britain hands out billions to its ex-colonies every year. It’s called The White Man’s Burden. And it is never-ending.

R87 Good. That's as it should be ( if true). But I'm not talking about former colonies. Or, for that matter, to the post war butchering of Middle Eastern borders.

I'm referring to the ones Bush and Blair created through illegal wars, and the ones your government continues to create though arms deals with the Saudis and others. The UK is the second largest arms dealer on earth and also profits directly from the refugee crisis through the " border security" industry (worth approximately £13.5bn per year).

Those refuges are a growth industry for the UK. The " freeloaders " are making your government much more money though their displacement than they are costing in social welfare.

I have liked here is some things. I find her insufferable on talk shows though. Saving Mr. Banks was fucking awful.

[quote]Saving Mr. Banks was fucking awful

Yes, I walked out - don't think I've bothered going to the movies since.

R90... So bad it ruined all other films for you. Glad I passed on that one.

Why does she have her hand on that little girl’s... chest in r 79?

[quote][R90]... So bad it ruined all other films for you. Glad I passed on that one.

Yes, I just gave up going to the movies after that. I rarely like new films, but streaming them is less of a risk.

I walked into Saving Mr. Banks - because it was the week my BF died and I wanted a distraction. Some fucking distraction.

R93 Oy vey. Sorry.

R52 I remember rumours at the time of the making of Much To Do About Nothing that Thompson and Denzel had a thing going.

[quote]A friend who worked on the set daily stated that Keanu alternated between Branagh and Robert Sean Leonard.

I'm SURE your friend WASN'T gay.

Don't posh girls from public schools call each other by their last names?

She didn't go to a posh school. She went to a local state school.

Maybe HBC went to a posh school and Emma was making fun of her.

If she never did another thing I would love her forever for Howards End.

My idea of the perfect movie filled with perfect performances.

Years ago when I read KB had dumped Emma for Helena I thougth he had to be insane. In the years since as I've gotten a clearer view on what she is like I can only wonder how he put up with Emma as long as he did.

This annoying old crow is on the hunt for an Oscar nomination. She made an absolute tit of herself at the Golden Globes the other year. pretending to be tipsy and throwing her shoes away. So transparent and desperate for attention.

I liked HBK in AOC and apparently so did KB and KR but not MS. TBN was a crying shame though wasn't it especially that HAM KR coming off NRB. We all thought it would be better, considering the advance nonstop TT at the RDM.

Ha ha ^^

Bush & Blair? Helena! Keanu HIVs HBC but Bush sucky fucky at the AA WH & DG Hawaii KS, TBA fucky fucky MTM Robert. Nasty!

In her early years Emma was downright homely. See episodes from her short lived variety/comedy show. Funny stuff. She glammed up after she split from Kenneth.

Kenneth has always been gorgeous. And he is a fine actor.

What's this about Keanu. I kmow some people absolutely gaga over him - they are 40ish women.

[quote]Kenneth has always been gorgeous.

Nonsense.

They tried to make him appear so in the 90s - on the covers of Men's Style magazines etc...it looked like a joke.

Kenneth No Lips on the cover of GQ - they should have photoshopped those cysts.

BEYOND annoying.

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I will never forgive Emma Thompson for taking the part of Elinor Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility, based on a Jane Austen novel. The character of Elinor was 19, narcissist Thompson was 42 at the time and looked every year of it. Ruined that movie for me. Unforgivable!

R111, Emma was born in 1959 and the film came out in 1995, when she was 36.

"Much TO DO About Nothing," R95?!

Translation: Kenneth had a little penis, so it won’t be missed.

I’m sure that the harsh judgement on Emma’s looks while lauding Kenneth’s surely has nothing to do with the rampant misogyny typical of most Dataloungers...of course not...🙄

As for the OP's set up: I have trouble forgiving gross and cruel indiscretions in relationships. I hand on to anger and judgement for a few years. When I get an apology I like it to be a few years later and know that the cunts truly understand what nasty cuntiness they have smeared around. Then I let it go. Facetious fast and easy apologies - fine but they don't work on me. I realize this is my problem and other people let shit go fast and live better for it.

They all got that Potter money.

R12, still too old for the part. She should have played the mother. Height of vanity trying to pass as 19 when she was well over 30.

I don't know what you're fussing about, R118. Emma Thompson being in the film did not hurt the film at all, it did not make the story any less credible.

Yes it did, R119. She ruined the movie for me. Elinor Dashwood is young and beautiful, Emma Thompson was too old and matronly. Not 19, not young and pretty. Kate Winslet was excellently cast, Thompson had political pull.

Somebody is triggered!

Yes, R121, it's a pet peeve of mine.

Much better choice here in 2008. Hattie Morahan as Elinore and Charity Wakefield as Marianne.

She was great in Sense and Sensibility. Best thing about it.

Hugh Grant was woefully miscast though.

[quote]She ruined the movie for me.

How was the screenwriting?

Thompson was Elinor because she was relatively well-known in America at that time, that is all. She says herself that she was much older than the character and she was self-conscious about it. She played the role beautifully, though, and since she also met her husband Greg Wise while making the film, in addition to earning an Academy Award for her screenplay, I doubt that she regrets doing it.

A friend of mine is a reflexologist. She rubbbed Kenneth Branagh's feet recently. She had no idea who he was. His PA had made the appointment. She assumed they were the same person and she called him by the guy's name the whole time. Cycling home through the south bank she saw him on a huge billboard, advertising a play or somthing.

Emma always seems like such a sweet, sensible lady in interviews. I would be disappointed if it turned out she wasn't like that in real life.

I think it wasn't a given she would play Elinor, but Ang Lee offered her the part. I guess she seemed an obvious choice after Howards End and Remains of the Day.

She had that diamond in the rough spinster thing down.

Thompson's adaptation of Austen's S&S was a very smart feminist reading of the novel (and marxist, but that has less to do with her age, so we won't dwell into this aspect). She didn't do it by clumsily rewriting it in an anachronistic way, the way Patricia Rozema did with Mansfield Park (Fanny Price as a headstrong liberated woman? Really?) or Joe Wright did with Pride and Prejudice.

Yes, the (rather rigid) structure of the novel is all about the contradicting takes on Life of these two young (19 and 17) women, the sense vr. sensibility (duh). What Thompson did was to make the two other Dashwood members of the family far more present than they are in the novel. Because of the sheer nature of cinema, Mrs Dashwood is seen a lot, therefore much more present. And then there's Margaret, who is practically a nonentity in the book and was made into a full blown character in the film. That, and the casting of Thompson, who is NOT a 19 yo girl introduced a fascinating new way to suggest a modern take on the story while keeping it true to its time. Seeing it as depiction of four women of varied ages, each in a different stage of her life, and more significant, different stage of internalizing social codes and restrictions of what being a woman supposed to mean, make the film a poignant look on the traditional roles women had. Pre-teen tomboy Margaret is totally oblivious of the rules - in her mind she is a free spirited explorer in the making. Late teen Marian knows a woman destiny is all about the man she is going to marry, but she has this grand romantic - and rather delusional - take on it. Pushing-30 Elinor (which is what 35 yo Thomson is realistically looks like, playing an early 19th century woman) has a very levelheaded notion of what life has to offer her - she may not be happy about it, but she's willing to accept it. Late 40s/early 50s Mom is totally "institutionalised" - once her husband is dead, she's in a limbo, having to way - mentally AND financially - to cope, until being saves by a kind male relative.

So, whether it was by artistic and thematic choice or by Star-oriented-casting-logic necessity, Thompson works perfectly fine as Elinor. For me.

Thank you for writing that, R130. Your post is something form the old days of DL, thoughtful and informative.

I really liked the novel until the ending, which seemed forced and an unintentional betrayal of the characters' intelligence.

I found her character supremely annoying in Impromptu, and it made me avoid her in other films for a while. I finally got over the negative association after seeing her in Dead Again.

R133 I loved her in Impromptu, one of her best performances up there with Howard's End, Remains of the Day & Primary Colours.

Most underrated ET performance is “Last Chance Harvey”. It’s also Dustin Hoffman’s best performance since ‘Tootsie ‘.

What was there to forgive?

Ken left her because he came out as bi or gay, not for HBC.

Tell us more R136

Does Emma know how butch she comes across?

Lots of English women (who are straight) look butch.

Very confusing for us American lesbians.

R138 That shirt is horrendous

Slightly off topic but Thompson is very good in The Children Act, which is otherwise not great.

Love Emma Thompson.

Not getting all the deranged haters on here but it's DL so I shouldn't be surprised.

Branagh is a complete prat, however.

A hambone that was convinced he was going to be the next Olivier but ended up as not much of anything.

And, never to be forgiven for his atrocious take on Poirot.

Yes, she got raves at whatever festival the film opened this year, R141.

I think she could be an Oscar contender.

Can she beat Glenn?

The only thing I don’t like her in is Carrington, based on the British artist Dora Carrington. She was much too mousey, boring and infantile to have so many men desire her—including a homosexual. Jonathan Pryce was sublime as Lytton Strachey.