Emma Thompson told an intriguing story this morning at the Locarno Film Festival, where this year she is a guest of honor, that featured what she described as a creepy encounter with the 47th President, Donald Trump.
Speaking to a packed audience for a career Q&A, Thompson was asked about shooting the 1998 Mike Nichols feature Primary Colors. One day on the film’s set, Thompson said she was sitting in her trailer when the phone rang.
“It was Donald Trump. He said, ‘Hello, this is Donald Trump?’. I thought it was a joke and asked, ‘How can I help you? Maybe he needed directions from someone,” Thompson joked.
The veteran British actress continued: “And then he said, ‘I’d love you to come and stay at one of my beautiful places. Maybe we could have dinner.’ I said, well, that’s very sweet. Thank you so much. I’ll get back to you.”
Imitating Trump’s unique speaking voice, Thompson said she was initially confused why the former Apprentice host called her or how he found the number to her trailer phone. But she quickly connected the dots.
“I realized that on that day, my divorce decree had come through,” Thompson said. “And I bet he’s got people looking for suitable people he could take out on his arm. You know, a nice divorcee, that’s what he was looking for. And he found the number in my trailer. I mean, that’s stalking.”
Thompson added: “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.”
Elsewhere during the session, Thompson spoke about multiple titles in her filmography, including Richard Curtis’ Love Actually. Thompson said she is continually confused by the film’s popularity because of its formal peculiarities.
“I mean, it’s honestly a constant source of astonishment to me that that film lasted, not that I don’t like the film. I like it very much, but it’s weird,” she said. Pointing to the now-viral moment in the film when her character finds out that her partner had been unfaithful, Thompson said he believes it “touched a nerve because we get a heartbreak, especially women, we have to hide it because we don’t want people to see it.”
“So really, what moves you is not her crying. It’s her covering it up afterwards and then tidying the bed and going downstairs and being cheerful,” Thompson said.
When quizzed on her role in Harry Potter, however, Thompson was less interested in her analyzing performance.
“It’s not really an important part of my creative endeavors. I’m really sorry. I don’t even be rude to those of you who like Harry Potter, but you know, I came in, did a bit with glasses and a lot of hair, and then left having been quite well paid,” she said to loud laughs from the Locarno audience.
Thompson was handed the Leopard Club Award for career achievement last night in Locarno. The festival runs until August 16.
