April 15, 2022, 2:57pm
Dame Emma Thompson was born in Paddington, London, 63 years ago today. Let’s celebrate by making it an Emma Thompson weekend and stream some of her best literary roles, presented here in order of appearance, because how could I possibly rank them?
Much Ado About Nothing
Literary bonafides: Shakespeare!
Stream it on: Amazon Prime
What a treat this film is. I will never, ever get over Thompsons’s two-for-one chapel monologue.
The Remains of the Day (1993)
Literary bonafides: Based on Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day (1989)
Stream it on: Amazon Prime, Tubi
The first of many Thompson and Anthony Hopkins collaborations.
Howards End (1992)
Literary bonafides: Based on E.M. Forster’s Howards End (1910)
Stream it on: Amazon Prime, Tubi
Bring back the vibes of Howards End, you cowards.
Sense and Sensibility (1995)
Literary bonafides: Based on Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility (1811)
Stream it on: Hulu and Tubi
Thompson won an Oscar for best adapted screenplay on this one (and also met her future husband—good riddance, Branagh). Please enjoy her charming acceptance speech, in which she talks about visiting Jane Austen’s grave.
Angels in America (2018)
Literary bonfides: Based on Tony Kushner’s 1991 play
Stream it on: HBO Max
Thompson is literally angelic in HBO’s miniseries adaptation of Kushner’s award-winning play.
King Lear (2018)
Literary bonafides: Shakespeare!
Stream it on: Amazon Prime
King Lear meets Succession in this modern take on Shakespeare. Emma Thompson plays Goneril, the eldest daughter to Anthony Hopkins’s Lear, and sister to Regan (Emily Watson) and Cordelia (Florence Pugh!!).
Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? (2022)
Literary bonafides: Based on Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? by Agatha Christie (1934)
Stream it on: BritBox/Amazon Prime
Our birthday girl plays Lady Marcham in this brand new Agatha Christie miniseries that looks like what weekend bingewatching is made for.