At the Locarno Film Festival, where Emma Thompson accepted the Leopard Club Award for her illustrious career, the Oscar-winning actress shared a startling personal anecdote that overshadowed her professional accolades. While filming the 1998 political satire Primary Colors, Thompson received an unexpected trailer phone call that left her baffled: then-real estate mogul Donald Trump invited her to “stay at one of my beautiful places” for dinner. The timing was peculiar—Thompson had just finalized her divorce from actor-director Kenneth Branagh after his affair with Helena Bonham Carter.
How Did Trump Access Emma Thompson’s Private Number?
According to Thompson’s account at the August 8, 2025, festival (reported by The Telegraph), Trump’s call came as she processed her divorce decree. “I thought it was a joke,” Thompson recalled, imitating her bewildered response: “How can I help you?” Trump allegedly pitched lavish accommodations and dining, to which Thompson diplomatically replied, “I’ll get back to you.” She never did.
Thompson speculated Trump’s staff scouted “suitable people” for the newly single businessman post-his separation from Marla Maples. “He found the number in my trailer,” she noted wryly. “I mean, that’s stalking.” The Sense and Sensibility star emphasized the call’s timing wasn’t coincidental—it aligned precisely with her legal marital dissolution.
Could Thompson’s Rejection Have Altered Political History?
During her Locarno appearance, Thompson quipped about the alternate universe where she accepted Trump’s invitation: “I could have changed the course of American history.” While delivered with humor, the remark underscores Hollywood’s complex entanglement with political figures. Thompson’s rejection spared her entanglement with Trump’s controversial persona years before his presidency.
The Branagh Divorce: Catalyst for Trump’s Advance
Thompson and Branagh’s relationship unraveled publicly in 1995 after his affair with co-star Helena Bonham Carter during Frankenstein filming. The pair had married in 1989 after meeting on the BBC series Fortunes of War. Thompson’s divorce decree—the very document that seemingly triggered Trump’s outreach—marked the end of a painful chapter. Her focus remained on rebuilding her career, culminating in an Oscar for Howards End just three years later.
Emma Thompson’s revelation offers a surreal glimpse into celebrity vulnerability during personal upheaval—and how power players like Trump exploit such moments. Her witty deflection (“I’ll get back to you”) contrasts sharply with Trump’s audacious approach, reminding us that even A-list stars navigate unwanted advances. What other Hollywood secrets might surface from political intersections? Share your perspective in the comments.
Must Know
Q: When did Donald Trump call Emma Thompson?
A: Thompson received the call in 1998 while filming Primary Colors. Trump contacted her shortly after her divorce from Kenneth Branagh was finalized, as reported at the 2025 Locarno Film Festival.
Q: How did Trump get Thompson’s phone number?
A: Thompson believes Trump’s team sourced her trailer number intentionally, calling it “stalking.” She speculated staff sought “suitable” divorcées for him post-his separation from Marla Maples.
Q: What was Thompson’s reaction to Trump’s invitation?
A: She initially thought it was a prank. Thompson politely declined with “I’ll get back to you,” never following up. She later joked that accepting might have “changed American history.”
Q: Why did Thompson and Kenneth Branagh divorce?
A: Their 1995 split followed Branagh’s affair with Helena Bonham Carter during Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The couple had married in 1989 after meeting on Fortunes of War.
Q: Has Trump responded to Thompson’s revelation?
A: No public response from Trump has been documented since Thompson shared the anecdote at Locarno (The Telegraph, August 2025).
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