While speaking at the Locarno Film Festival, Emma Thompson revealed that Donald Trump called her in 1998 to invite her to dinner—on the very day her divorce from Kenneth Branagh was finalized.
At a Glance
- The call took place while Thompson was filming Primary Colors in Los Angeles.
- Trump invited her to stay at one of his properties and dine together.
- Thompson initially thought the call was a prank before realizing it was genuine.
- She later joked that Trump may have sought “nice divorcees” and had staff track her down.
- The actor quipped she “could have changed the course of American history” by accepting.
A Call on a Pivotal Day
Emma Thompson told the Locarno audience that in 1998, while on set for the political satire Primary Colors, her assistant handed her a phone in her trailer. On the other end was Donald Trump, introducing himself directly. At first, Thompson assumed it was a prank—until it became clear the voice was genuine. Trump extended an unusual invitation: stay at one of his properties and have dinner with him.
Watch now: Emma Thompson Says Donald Trump Asked Her on a Date… #EmmaThompson #DonaldTrump · YouTube
The actor revealed that the timing of the call was striking—it occurred on the exact day her divorce from actor-director Kenneth Branagh was finalized. This coincidence led her to muse that Trump might have had people identifying newly single public figures, which she jokingly referred to as “stalking.”
Public Reaction and Humor
Thompson’s retelling was laced with wit and irony, drawing laughter from the Locarno crowd. She humorously speculated that accepting the invitation could have shifted the trajectory of American politics, given Trump’s later rise to the presidency. The anecdote, while lighthearted, also underscored the odd intersections of celebrity culture, political life, and personal milestones.
While she never took Trump up on his offer, the memory has endured as a curious and comedic footnote in her career. By sharing it in a festival setting, Thompson transformed a private encounter into a public story—part entertainment, part reflective commentary.
Locarno Spotlight
The story emerged during a wider conversation about her career, craft, and personal experiences in the film industry. Thompson, known for blending intelligence with humor in both her performances and public appearances, used the anecdote to engage the audience and provide a glimpse into the unpredictable nature of life in the public eye. It was one of several moments at the festival that highlighted how unexpected events—whether accepted or declined—can take on new meaning in hindsight.
