Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh: Marriage, Affair, Split Explained

In a stunning revelation at Switzerland’s Locarno Film Festival (August 8, 2025), Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson disclosed that former U.S. President Donald Trump once invited her to dinner hours after her divorce decree was finalized. Thompson described Trump’s call as unsettling: “He said, ‘I’d love you to come and stay at one of my beautiful places…’ I bet he had people looking for suitable divorcées to take out. He found my trailer number. That’s stalking.” The timing coincided with the collapse of her marriage to Kenneth Branagh—a scandal that rocked 1990s British cinema.

How Did Emma Thompson’s Personal Turmoil Shape Her Career?

Thompson’s divorce from Branagh followed his affair with co-star Helena Bonham Carter during 1994’s Frankenstein filming. The betrayal left Thompson feeling “half alive,” an anguish she channeled into her BAFTA-nominated role in Love Actually. She later told The Telegraph: “I’ve had so much bloody practice at crying in a bedroom, then gathering up the pieces of my heart.” This raw authenticity resonated globally, turning the film into a cultural touchstone for heartbreak recovery.

The Scandal That Ended a Power Couple’s Reign

Thompson and Branagh, hailed as Britain’s “golden duo” after meeting on 1987’s Fortunes of War, married in 1989. Their collaborations—Henry V, Much Ado About Nothing—cemented their status. But Branagh’s affair shattered the illusion. Thompson admitted to The New Yorker: “I was blind to his relationships with other women… Any sense of being lovable vanished.” They divorced in 1995, a split amplified by relentless tabloid coverage.

Finding Forgiveness and New Beginnings

Remarkably, Thompson reconciled with Bonham Carter, calling their peace pact “blood under the bridge” in a 2018 Sunday Times interview. Both later starred in the Harry Potter franchise—Thompson as Sybill Trelawney, Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange. Thompson rebuilt her life with actor Greg Wise (married since 2003), while Branagh wed Lindsay Brunnock. The trio’s journey from turmoil to closure underscores Hollywood’s complex personal landscapes.

Thompson’s resilience transformed private pain into artistic triumph—proving that even Oscar winners navigate betrayal and unwanted presidential attention. Her story reminds us that healing is possible, but Trump’s timing? Unforgettably jarring. [Explore more celebrity revelations here.]

Must Know

Q: How did Emma Thompson meet Kenneth Branagh?
A: They connected on the 1987 BBC series Fortunes of War. Thompson described Branagh’s “incandescent ambition” as magnetic, leading to their 1989 marriage and iconic Shakespearean collaborations.

Q: What caused Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh’s divorce?
A: Branagh’s affair with Helena Bonham Carter during 1994’s Frankenstein filming. Thompson learned of it post-separation, calling the deception “shattering” in a New Yorker interview.

Q: Did Emma Thompson reconcile with Helena Bonham Carter?
A: Yes. Thompson stated in The Sunday Times (2018) that they made peace years ago, praising Bonham Carter as “a wonderful woman.”

Q: How did Thompson’s divorce influence her role in Love Actually?
A: Her portrayal of a betrayed wife mirrored real-life anguish. She drew from personal experience to depict silent heartbreak, earning critical acclaim.

Q: Who is Emma Thompson married to now?
A: Actor Greg Wise, her Sense & Sensibility co-star. They wed in 2003 and have two children.