Daring To Be Difficult Dame Emma Thompson's Role Of A Lifetime

When one is awarded the title of Dame, you might think the honour would come with a suggested level of decorum.

- Ciara Pratt

However, no-one has told Emma Thompson that. In fact, the Love Actually star, who was made a Dame of the British Empire in the latest Queen’s Birthday honours, has made it clear she intends to carry on just as she is, thank you very much – and that is defiant, opinionated and witheringly witty.

“I’ve always wanted to be able to refer to myself as a dame. Small D. Dame with a capital D is even more thrilling,” she jokes. “I was, however, disappointed it didn’t come with a castle. I plan to go on being very difficult, just in case anyone was wondering if it might shut me up.”

Could anyone shut Emma Thompson up? Not likely.

Honoured for her services to drama, Dame Emma now joins the likes of Dames Judi Dench, Helen Mirren and Maggie Smith, who have all received Queen’s Birthday honours. But really, Emma is in a league of her own.

Playing dramatic roles including Margaret Schlegel in Howards End, which earned her Best Actress Oscar in 1993, Alan Rickman’s betrayed wife in Love Actually and the formidable Nanny McPhee, the actress and environmentalist has long proven to be a force to be reckoned with whether writing, acting or campaigning for climate change action.

But it’s her willingness to tackle any issue with an opinion and a well-chosen, pointed witticism that’s always endeared the mum-of-two to her fans, and this includes taking on issues such as the #MeToo movement, climate change and even the recent royal wedding. It turns out, she didn’t much care for it. “There’s not a single thought about it in my head to share with you, I’m so sorry,” she told a reporter on a red carpet.