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Emma Thompson Quotes

25 Great Quotes By Emma Thompson For The Wisest And Wittiest

Famous As: British Actress, Screenwriter and the Only Person to Win Academy Awards for Both Acting & Writing

Born On: April 15, 1959

Born In: Paddington, London, England

Emma Thompson is an illustrious British actress and screenwriter renowned for portraying mostly restrained women mostly in literary adaptations and period dramas. She is also famous for playing characters with a sense of irony and is considered as one of the most virtuoso actresses in Britain. While pursuing her education from University Of Cambridge, she joined ‘Footlights Troupe’. She appeared in a number of comedy programmes. Her big break came in 1987 when she featured in two BBC TV series titled, ‘Fortunes Of War’ and ‘Tutti Frutti’, for which she also received the ‘BAFTA TV Award’ for Best Actress. Thompson has also received an ‘Academy Award’ for ‘Howards End’, a period drama. Following is a list of some notable thoughts, opinions and viewpoints shared by the renowned actress through her movies, work, writings, dialogues, plays, interviews and life. Read through the quotes and sayings by Emma Thompson who is loved by her audiences and critics for her outspokenness and philanthropy.

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Film & Theater Personalities

Actresses

Can he love her? Can the soul really be satisfied with such polite affections? To love is to burn - to be on fire, like Juliet or Guinevere or Eloise...

Can he love her? Can the soul really be satisfied with such polite affections? To love is to burn - to be on fire, like Juliet or Guinevere or Eloise...
Love Like Soul
Emma Thompson

I think books are like people, in the sense that they'll turn up in your life when you most need them.

I think books are like people, in the sense that they'll turn up in your life when you most need them.
You Life Think Like Need Books I
Emma Thompson

Piracy is our only option.
Emma Thompson

Its unfortunate and I really wish I wouldn't have to say this, but I really like human beings who have suffered. They're kinder.

Its unfortunate and I really wish I wouldn't have to say this, but I really like human beings who have suffered. They're kinder.
Like I
Emma Thompson

If you've got to my age, you've probably had your heart broken many times. So it's not that difficult to unpack a bit of grief from some little corner of your heart and cry over it.

If you've got to my age, you've probably had your heart broken many times. So it's not that difficult to unpack a bit of grief from some little corner of your heart and cry over it.
Heart
Emma Thompson

Is love a fancy or a feeling.... or a Ferrars?

Is love a fancy or a feeling.... or a Ferrars?
Love
Emma Thompson

There is a painful difference between the expectation of an unpleasant event and its final certainty.

There is a painful difference between the expectation of an unpleasant event and its final certainty.
Emma Thompson

I`ve realized that in all the great stories, even if there`s a happily-ever-after ending, there`s something sad.

I`ve realized that in all the great stories, even if there`s a happily-ever-after ending, there`s something sad.
Emma Thompson

I Don't Need the nicotene patch, Penny - I smoke cigarettes.

I Don't Need the nicotene patch, Penny - I smoke cigarettes.
Need I
Emma Thompson

Marianne Dashwood looks at gray skies and sees blue. That's all very well, and it's not something you ever want entirely to lose. But you must lose a little of it; otherwise you're going to get wet.

Marianne Dashwood looks at gray skies and sees blue. That's all very well, and it's not something you ever want entirely to lose. But you must lose a little of it; otherwise you're going to get wet.
You
Emma Thompson

Got up this morning and could not find my glasses. Finally had to seek assistance. Kate [Winslet] found them inside a flower arrangement.

Got up this morning and could not find my glasses. Finally had to seek assistance. Kate [Winslet] found them inside a flower arrangement.
Emma Thompson

Children are the most wonderful audiences. What's struck me most is that that they watch it so silently, until the end when they shriek and shout and clap.

Children are the most wonderful audiences. What's struck me most is that that they watch it so silently, until the end when they shriek and shout and clap.
Me Children
Emma Thompson

It’s unfortunate and I really wish I wouldn’t have to say this, but I really like human beings who have suffered. They’re kinder.
Like I
Emma Thompson

Paparazzi arrived for Hugh [Grant]. We had to stand under a tree and smile for them.
Photographer: 'Hugh, could you look less -- um --'
Hugh: 'Pained?

Paparazzi arrived for Hugh [Grant]. We had to stand under a tree and smile for them. Photographer: 'Hugh, could you look less -- um --' Hugh: 'Pained?
You
Emma Thompson

When you need me, but do not want me then I must stay. But when you want me but no longer need me, I have to go

When you need me, but do not want me then I must stay. But when you want me but no longer need me, I have to go
You Me Need I
Emma Thompson

I ask Laurie if it's possible to get trained fish. Lindsay says this is how we know I've never produced a movie.

I ask Laurie if it's possible to get trained fish. Lindsay says this is how we know I've never produced a movie.
Never I
Emma Thompson

Jane reminds us that God is in his heaven, the monarch on his throne and the pelvis firmly beneath the ribcage. Apparently rock and roll liberated the pelvis and it hasn't been the same since.

Jane reminds us that God is in his heaven, the monarch on his throne and the pelvis firmly beneath the ribcage. Apparently rock and roll liberated the pelvis and it hasn't been the same since.
God
Emma Thompson

Up 5.15 a.m. thinking, packpackpack. I appear to have accumulated more things. How did this happen? I haven't shopped. Think my bath oils have bred.

Up 5.15 a.m. thinking, packpackpack. I appear to have accumulated more things. How did this happen? I haven't shopped. Think my bath oils have bred.
Think I
Emma Thompson

Hugh Laurie (playing Mr. Palmer) felt the line 'Don't palm all your abuses [of language upon me]' was possibly too rude. 'It's in the book,' I said. He didn't hit me.

Hugh Laurie (playing Mr. Palmer) felt the line 'Don't palm all your abuses [of language upon me]' was possibly too rude. 'It's in the book,' I said. He didn't hit me.
Me I
Emma Thompson

I don't have technique because I never learnt any.

I don't have technique because I never learnt any.
Never I
Emma Thompson

(On period costume posture coaching:) "We all stand about like parboiled spaghetti being straightened out.
Like
Emma Thompson

Kissing Hugh was lovely. Glad I invented it. Can't rely on Austen for a snog, that's for sure.

Kissing Hugh was lovely. Glad I invented it. Can't rely on Austen for a snog, that's for sure.
I
Emma Thompson

Sense and Sensibility signs litter Devon -- arrows with S & S on. Whenever Ang [Lee] sees a B & B sign he thinks it's for another movie.

Sense and Sensibility signs litter Devon -- arrows with S & S on. Whenever Ang [Lee] sees a B & B sign he thinks it's for another movie.
Emma Thompson

Difficult for actors to extemporise in nineteenth-century English. Except for Robert Hardy and Elizabeth Spriggs, who speak that way anyway.

Difficult for actors to extemporise in nineteenth-century English. Except for Robert Hardy and Elizabeth Spriggs, who speak that way anyway.
Emma Thompson

Lindsay [Doran] goes round the table and introduces everyone -- making it clear that I am present in the capacity of writer rather than actress, therefore no one has to be too nice to me.

Lindsay [Doran] goes round the table and introduces everyone -- making it clear that I am present in the capacity of writer rather than actress, therefore no one has to be too nice to me.
Me I
Emma Thompson