During the Locarno Film Festival on August 9, Oscar-winning British actress Emma Thompson revealed an unexpected anecdote involving former President Donald Trump. The actress recounted how Trump once asked her out while she was filming the 1998 political drama, Primary Colors.
While discussing her experiences with the audience in Locarno, Switzerland, Thompson recalled a peculiar phone call she received. "I was in my trailer one day while we were making that movie, and the phone rang, and it was Donald Trump,” she said. Initially, Thompson thought the call was a prank, as she did not recognize the number. She answered, “Hello?” and was surprised to hear Trump on the other end introducing himself.
Thompson recounted Trump's invitation: “I’d love you to come and stay at one of my beautiful places. Maybe we could have dinner.” In a moment of humor and curiosity, she responded, “Well, that’s very sweet. Thank you so much. I’ll get back to you.” However, she soon realized the significance of the timing of the call.
Thompson explained, “And then I realized that on that day, my divorce decree, you know, the final papers of my divorce had come through.” At that point, she speculated that Trump might have been seeking a divorcee to accompany him, noting, “I bet Trump’s got people looking for suitable people he could take out on his arm, you know, a nice divorcee.” She humorously concluded, “I mean, that’s stalking!”
Despite the unusual encounter, Thompson never followed up with Trump. Reflecting on the situation, she mused, “But 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.”
At the time of the call, Thompson was navigating her recent divorce from British actor and filmmaker Kenneth Branagh. The couple had married in 1989 and separated in 1995. Today, Thompson is happily married to actor Greg Wise, whom she met while filming the 1995 adaptation of Sense and Sensibility. They tied the knot in 2003 and have two children together: Gaia Wise, born in 1999, and Tindyebwa Agaba Wise, a Rwandan orphan whom they adopted in 2003.
