Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson recently opened up about a surprising encounter with Donald Trump. She revealed the story during the 78th Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland on August 9, 2025.
The Unexpected Call
On the day her divorce from Kenneth Branagh finalized, Emma was filming Primary Colors in 1998. While in her trailer, her phone rang. It was Donald Trump.
“He said, ‘Hello, this is Donald Trump,’” Emma recalled. “I thought it was a joke and asked how I could help.” She later realized Trump must have found her number, looking for a newly divorced date. “That’s stalking,” she joked.
Emma Thompson meets fans during the 78th Locarno Film Festival on August 9, 2025, in Locarno, Switzerland. | Source: Getty Images
A Date That Never Was
Emma reflected on how she could have gone on that date and changed history. At the time, both she and Trump had recently ended marriages. Trump settled his divorce with Marla Maples in 1999 after their 12-year relationship.
Emma’s Past Heartbreak
Emma’s marriage to Kenneth Branagh also ended painfully due to his affair with Helena Bonham Carter. Emma described feeling blindsided and devastated. However, over time, the three involved handled the scandal maturely and moved on.
Life After Drama
Emma found love again with Greg Wise, whom she met while filming Sense and Sensibility. They have two children together. Helena Bonham Carter dated Tim Burton and later Rye Dag Holmboe, while Kenneth Branagh married Lindsay Brunnock after a quiet wedding in 2003.