Emma Thompson 'utterly blind' to first husband's affair with fellow A-list actor
Emma Thompson opens up about her first husband Kenneth Branagh's affair with a Harry Potter star that left her 'humiliated'
Emma Thompson's first husband Kenneth Branagh - known for his acting, writing, and directing credits - began seeing a co-star while they were still married. Opening up about the experience, Emma recalls the 'humiliation' she felt as a result of the betrayal.
Previously, actress Emma Thompson discussed body image and misogyny in a candid interview with woman&home, and as her latest interview proves - those aren't the only struggles she's survived in her personal and professional life.
Speaking to The New Yorker, the Oscar-winning star of countless hit films including Sense and Sensibility, Nanny McPhee, Love Actually, and Harry Potter recalled the dissolution of her first marriage and how it all played out.
Emma met Kenneth in 1987 on set in Fortunes of War, and as their fame grew, so did the pressures intrinsic to life in the public eye. “I was embarrassed largely by the press version of our marriage,” she said. “We didn’t present as glamorous in any way. I don’t think we wanted to be some power couple, and we certainly didn’t feel like it."
Despite the difficulties of life in the public eye and a somewhat tumultuous and separate relationship, according to The New Yorker, the pair married two years after meeting, in 1989. Their marriage ended, six years later in 1995 amidst the success of Sense And Sensibility - the Jane Austen classic which Emma adapted for the screen as well as starred in.
The straw that broke the camel's back was Kenneth's affair with fellow actor Helena Bonham Carter, which began when the pair starred alongside each other in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein in 1994.
"I was utterly, utterly blind to the fact that he had relationships with other women on set," she admitted. "What I learned was how easy it is to be blinded by your own desire to deceive yourself."
Sign up for the woman&home newsletter
Sign up to our free daily email for the latest royal and entertainment news, interesting opinion, expert advice on styling and beauty trends, and no-nonsense guides to the health and wellness questions you want answered.
After her first marriage ended she said, “I was half alive. Any sense of being a lovable or worthy person had gone completely.”
In the years since, Emma starred alongside Helena in the Harry Potter film franchise, and back in 2013, she told The Sunday Times that she'd 'made her peace' with Helena. "You can't hold on to anything like that," she said. "It's pointless. I haven't got the energy for it. Helena and I made our peace years and years ago."
Following the dissolution of her first marriage, Emma met and fell for fellow actor Greg Wise - with whom she shares two children. Greg, who took part in UK dancing competition Strictly Come Dancing in 2021.
Emma Thompson and Greg Wise's relationship has been a learning curve, says the actor. "I've learned more from my second marriage just by being married," she admitted. "As my mother says, 'The first twenty years are the hardest.'"
Aoife is an Irish journalist and writer with a background in creative writing, comedy, and TV production.
Formerly woman&home's junior news editor and a contributing writer at Bustle, her words can be found in the Metro, Huffpost, Delicious, Imperica and EVOKE.
Her poetry features in the Queer Life, Queer Love anthology.
Outside of work you might bump into her at a garden center, charity shop, yoga studio, lifting heavy weights, or (most likely) supping/eating some sort of delicious drink/meal.
-
Kate Middleton attends moving public engagement at Windsor Castle for first time since 'completing' cancer treatment
The Princess of Wales resumed her royal duties and met with a young photographer whose 'creativity and strength' hugely inspired her
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
How we test heated clothes airers - hot takes from the experts
Here's all the behind the scenes details of how we test heated clothes airers before we curate our buying guide for the best heated clothes airers
By Laura Honey Published
-
40 of Meghan Markle's most stylish moments from life before Harry to regal fashion
Meghan Markle’s style is the epitome of elegance—here we share some of our all-time favorite royal looks
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
This is not a drill: Julia Roberts and Jennifer Aniston will star in a body swap comedy a la Freaky Friday
The comedy film we never knew we needed is reportedly in the works starring the amazing Julia Roberts and Jennifer Aniston
By Anna Rahmanan Published
-
Jennifer Lopez's see-through dress has an unexpected surprise underneath
Jennifer Lopez's see-through dress stunned on the red carpet, with its long train and sparkles for days - but what was going on beneath it?!
By Aoife Hanna Published
-
We bet you can recreate Kate Middleton's new go-to outfit with items already in your closet
Kate Middleton's new go-to outfit is the ultimate chic look for chilly weather
By Caitlin Elliott Published
-
Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd revealed as latest cast members of hit TV series in HILARIOUS TikTok
Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd are joining the third season of one of the hottest crime dramedies around, alongside old A-list pals
By Aoife Hanna Published
-
Christina Applegate pays tribute to Dead To Me with fun manicure at Critics Choice Awards as actor's MS battle rages on
Christina Applegate's manicure tribute to Dead To Me as actor rubs shoulders with A-listers at first awards ceremony since MS diagnosis
By Aoife Hanna Published
-
Pamela Anderson Netflix documentary: when is it premiering and what is it about
In the first trailer for the Netflix tell-all Pamela, A Love Story, Pamela Anderson addresses the Hulu show Pam & Tommy
By Anna Rahmanan Published
-
We're obsessed with Salma Hayek's Golden Globes corseted Gucci gown as the actor proves her style icon status once again
Salma Hayek's Golden Globes dress is a nude, beaded number that hugs in all the right places but we just CAN'T get over the corseted back
By Aoife Hanna Published