Emma Thompson's depiction of heartache at Christmas is one which allows us all a few tears

Emma Thompson is next on our advent countdown as we look at her iconic depiction of heartbreak at Christmas in the film Love Actually
Lisa Trainer
By Lisa Trainer
7th Dec 2022, 4:50pm

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Emma Thompson has admitted she doesn’t often watch her portrayal of Karen, a betrayed wife, in Love Actually.

During an appearance on Jimmy Fallon’s US chat show on Tuesday 6 December, Emma was asked by the host if she ever watches the movie.

“No! It was 20 years ago,” Emma told him.

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Jimmy then asked: “Isn’t it kind of fun to put it on and go, ‘Oh, I remember where we were when we were doing that?’”

“Not really. You just think… I don’t think I was very well paid for that and there was that terrible trailer with the loo that really stank, Emma recalled.

“These are the things that you remember,” she added.

Emma Thompson plays Karen in Love Actually, a woman who discovers her husband is cheating. Copyright: StudioCanal/Working Title Films/DNA Films/Universal StudiosEmma Thompson plays Karen in Love Actually, a woman who discovers her husband is cheating. Copyright: StudioCanal/Working Title Films/DNA Films/Universal Studios
Emma Thompson plays Karen in Love Actually, a woman who discovers her husband is cheating. Copyright: StudioCanal/Working Title Films/DNA Films/Universal Studios

Emma’s storyline, which sees her discover that her husband (Alan Rickman) is attracted to his younger secretary, is widely regarded as the film’s most heartbreaking by viewers.

Last month, Emma and her Love Actually cast members including Bill Nighy, Laura Linney and Hugh Grant regrouped to take a trip down memory lane for a US television special.

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Emma has spoken of her own personal heartache when her first husband, the actor and director Kenneth Brannagh, cheated on her with the actress Helena Bonham Carter. The marriage broke up in 1995 and Kenneth went on to date Helena until 1999.

Emma said: “That scene where my character is standing by the bed crying is so well known because it’s something everyone’s been through…”

“I had my heart very badly broken by Ken. So I knew what it was like to find the necklace that wasn’t meant for me.”

“Well it wasn’t exactly that, but we’ve all been through it.”

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The actress also spoke about her heartbreak back in 2012, and insisted she’s made peace with Kenneth and Helena – who she called a “wonderful woman”.

During an interview with The Times, she said: “That is… all blood under the bridge. You can’t hold on to anything like that. I just think… pfft.”

Actress Emma Thompson and husband Greg Wise attend the World Premiere of "Love Actually" at the Ziegfeld Theatre November 06, 2003 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images)Actress Emma Thompson and husband Greg Wise attend the World Premiere of "Love Actually" at the Ziegfeld Theatre November 06, 2003 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images)
Actress Emma Thompson and husband Greg Wise attend the World Premiere of "Love Actually" at the Ziegfeld Theatre November 06, 2003 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images)

Emma went on to meet her wonderful husband Greg Wise on the set of Sense and Sensibility in 1995, a film based on Jane Austen’s novel and which starred them both. It led to Emma winning best writer and actress awards and was a huge source of comfort and therapy following her first marriage collapse.

Thompson received the award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Sense and Sensibility, becoming the only person to have won Academy Awards for both acting and screenwriting.