Emma Thompson's Exploration of Life's Joys
Hey there, friends. Let me tell you something about Emma Thompson. In the movie Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, she plays a woman who's in the middle of her life and is wondering what she's been missing out on. You see, her character, who's recently lost her husband, feels let down by her marriage and overwhelmed by her children's demands. So, she decides to hire a male escort, not just for sensual pleasure, but also to better understand her own desires. Emma describes her character as "a decent, ordinary, responsible woman," and adds, "She represents an awful lot of women." It's a powerful portrayal of someone seeking more from life.
But let me tell you, Emma's own life is a far cry from her character's. At 63, this Academy Award-winning actress and screenwriter has a life that's anything but dull. She's been happily married since 2003, has two beautiful children, and her career keeps getting better. As a close friend puts it, "Emma’s outlook on life is to embrace your age, live life, be free, and laugh. You’ll have time to rest when you’re dead." Wise words, right?
The Beginning of Emma and Greg's Love Story
So, how did Emma and her husband, British actor Greg Wise, meet? Well, it all started on the set of the 1995 classic Sense and Sensibility. Before they even started filming, Greg went to see a friend of his who had a bit of a mystical vibe. This friend told Greg he'd meet his future partner on the film. Greg didn't think it was Emma because she was married and older than him. But as fate would have it, Greg ended up asking out Emma’s costar, Kate Winslet, and things didn’t click. Kate, being the kind soul she is, suggested Greg get to know Emma better and let him know that her marriage to Kenneth Branagh was over. "I had my heart very badly broken by Ken," Emma shares, and she even used that experience to craft the heart-wrenching scene in Love, Actually where her character confronts her husband's infidelity.
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A Family Built on Love and Connection
Fast forward eight years, and Emma and Greg tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony in Argyll, Scotland. Today, they’re raising their daughter, actress Gaia Wise, who's 22, and son Tindyebwa Agaba Wise, a Rwandan refugee they affectionately call Tindy. "Family is the center of everything for me," Emma says with a warm smile. "But family isn’t just about blood ties. It’s about connection. It’s about creating an extended family and embracing the ones you choose." That’s such a beautiful way to think about relationships.
Emma is also incredibly close to her mother, Scottish actress Phyllida Law, who's now 90. She's caring for her mom at home as Phyllida battles Parkinson’s disease. "She’s doing very well," Emma says with gratitude. "She can’t do the walks she used to, but she’s great. We are very lucky." It’s heartwarming to see how Emma cherishes the time she has with her mom.
The actress calls London home, living on the same street where she grew up. "She’s happiest surrounded by family, reading a good book, giving back to her community, and acting," says her friend. "These things bring her joy." It’s clear that Emma has found her bliss in this stage of her life. "This moment in time is special for her. She’s content, she’s working, her family is together. She has a good life," her friend adds.
Emma hopes her new film, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, encourages other women to embrace life fully and with hope. "She feels her lost youth," Emma says of her character. "There is a tingling sense, too, not only of what might have been but what could be from now on." It’s a message of empowerment and renewal.
