Emma Thompson is a British actress and screenwriter who rose to prominence with her performances in two BBC series, Tutti Frutti and Fortunes of War. She received numerous accolades for her work, including two Oscars, three BAFTA Awards, two Golden Globe Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award. However, this time it is not her work, but her personal life that has hogged the limelight. In a recent interview, the Emmy-winning actress revealed that when she was going through her divorce with her first husband and British actor cum filmmaker, Kenneth Branagh, she got a call from US President, Donald Trump, for a dinner date.
Emma Thompson reveals that Donald Trump asked her for a date when her divorce from her first husband, Kenneth Branagh, was finalised
Emma recently appeared at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland, where she was honoured for her work with the Leopard Club Award on August 8, 2025. However, what stole the spotlight was her revelation about the US President, Donald Trump, calling her up for a date at the event. According to a report by The Telegraph, the Sense and Sensibility actress, Emma, shared that her phone rang when she was in a trailer on the set of the 1998 comedy drama, Primary Colors, and the call was from none other than the now-president of the US, Donald Trump. She was quoted as saying:
“Hello, this is Donald Trump. I thought it was a joke and asked, ‘How can I help you?’ Maybe he needed directions from someone. Then he said: ‘I’d love you to come and stay at one of my beautiful places. Maybe we could have dinner.’ So I said, ‘Well, that’s very sweet. Thank you so much. I’ll get back to you.'”
The Love Actually actress suggested that the US President, who had separated from his second wife and model, Marla Maples, around the same time, might have had staff who looked for someone suitable for Trump to date. She also shared that she thinks Donald found her number by stalking her. In her words:
“I realised that on that day, my divorce decree had come through. And I bet he’s got people looking for suitable people he could take out on his arm. You know, a nice divorcée, that’s what he was looking for. And he found the number in my trailer. I mean, that’s stalking.”
Emma Thompson quips on turning down the date of Donald Trump
In the same event, the Oscar-winning actress quipped about what may have happened if she had accepted Donald’s dinner date. She jokingly said that if the date had happened, then that could have changed the course of American history. She shared that if she had gone on the date, she too had a story to tell. In her words:
“I could have gone on a date with Donald Trump, and then I would have a story to tell. I could have changed the course of American history.”
Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh’s relationship
Emma and Kenneth met for the first time on the sets of the 1987 TV series, Fortunes of War. The duo tied the knot in 1989. However, their marriage hit a rough patch and the two parted ways in 1995. The reason behind their split was Kenneth’s extramarital affair with English actress, Helena Bonham Carter.
What are your thoughts on Emma Thompson’s revelation about getting Donald Trump’s call for a dinner date? Let us know.
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