Emma Thompson is one of Britain’s most respected actors and screenwriters, with a film career spanning more than three decades. Born in London in 1959, she rose to prominence through British television and theatre before becoming a major film star in the late 1980s. Her performances in films such as Howards End, The Remains of the Day, Sense and Sensibility, and Love Actually established her as a versatile performer equally comfortable with period drama, comedy, romance, fantasy, and contemporary stories. Thompson also became an accomplished screenwriter, winning an Academy Award for adapting Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. Her later career has included major franchises such as Harry Potter, Men in Black, and Beauty and the Beast, as well as acclaimed dramas including Saving Mr. Banks and Good Luck to You, Leo Grande. The following Emma Thompson movies by year list covers her relevant released feature-film appearances chronologically, including notable voice, cameo, and uncredited roles.
1989 — Henry V
Henry V was released in 1989 and was directed by Kenneth Branagh, who also played King Henry V. Emma Thompson portrayed Princess Katherine of France in this acclaimed historical drama adapted from William Shakespeare’s play. The film follows Henry’s campaign in France and his famous victory at the Battle of Agincourt, combining Shakespearean dialogue with a grounded visual style. It marked one of Thompson’s earliest major film appearances and began an important period of screen collaborations with Branagh.
1989 — The Tall Guy
Richard Curtis’s romantic comedy The Tall Guy arrived in 1989, with Emma Thompson playing Kate Lemon opposite Jeff Goldblum’s Dexter King. The story follows an American actor working in London whose professional frustrations become complicated by his relationship with Kate. The film blends romantic comedy with theatrical satire and gave Thompson one of her first prominent leading roles in a feature film. Her performance helped establish the comic timing that would remain an important part of her career.
1991 — Impromptu
Released in 1991, Impromptu is a romantic historical comedy directed by James Lapine. Thompson plays the Duchess d’Antan, appearing alongside Judy Davis, Hugh Grant, Mandy Patinkin, and other performers in a story inspired by the relationship between writer George Sand and composer Frédéric Chopin. The film mixes literary figures, romance, and witty period comedy. It was an early example of Thompson’s ability to work successfully in sophisticated historical ensembles.
1991 — Dead Again
Kenneth Branagh directed Dead Again, a mystery thriller in which Thompson plays Grace, a woman suffering from amnesia, as well as Margaret Strauss in the film’s historical storyline. Branagh stars opposite her as a private investigator who becomes involved in uncovering the mystery surrounding her identity and apparent connection to a decades-old murder. The film combines romance, psychological mystery, reincarnation, and film-noir influences. Thompson’s dual performance became one of the more distinctive roles of her early career.
1992 — Howards End
Howards End, directed by James Ivory, was released in 1992 and adapted from E. M. Forster’s novel. Thompson plays Margaret Schlegel, an intelligent and principled woman whose life becomes connected with the wealthy Wilcox family and the working-class Basts. The Merchant Ivory period drama explores class, inheritance, relationships, and social change in Edwardian England. Thompson’s performance earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress and helped make the film one of the defining achievements of her early career.
1992 — Peter’s Friends
Kenneth Branagh directed Peter’s Friends, a comedy-drama about a group of university friends who reunite at a country house years after leaving Cambridge. Thompson plays Maggie Chester, one of the friends attending the New Year’s gathering. The ensemble includes Branagh, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Imelda Staunton, and Rita Rudner. The film combines friendship, comedy, grief, and unresolved personal relationships, and it became an important early ensemble performance for Thompson.
1993 — Much Ado About Nothing
Thompson played Beatrice in Kenneth Branagh’s 1993 adaptation of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. The romantic comedy features Branagh as Benedick, with the central pair locked in a witty battle of words before gradually acknowledging their feelings. The large cast also includes Denzel Washington, Keanu Reeves, Michael Keaton, and Kate Beckinsale. Thompson’s lively performance showcased her talent for Shakespearean dialogue while maintaining the film’s accessible comic tone.
1993 — The Remains of the Day
James Ivory directed The Remains of the Day, a period drama based on Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel. Thompson plays Miss Kenton, the housekeeper at Darlington Hall, opposite Anthony Hopkins as the emotionally restrained butler Stevens. Their relationship develops through years of professional duty, missed opportunities, and unspoken feelings against the backdrop of a changing Britain. Thompson received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for the role, which remains one of the most acclaimed performances in her film career.
1993 — In the Name of the Father
Jim Sheridan’s In the Name of the Father is a historical legal drama based on the case of the Guildford Four. Thompson portrays Gareth Peirce, the lawyer who works to challenge the wrongful convictions, alongside Daniel Day-Lewis and Pete Postlethwaite. The film examines the consequences of the Troubles and the British justice system through the experience of Gerry Conlon. Thompson received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, giving her two Oscar nominations in the same year.
1994 — Junior
Ivan Reitman’s Junior is a science-fiction comedy starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito. Thompson plays Dr. Diana Reddin, a scientist whose research becomes central to the film’s unusual pregnancy experiment involving Schwarzenegger’s character. The movie combines body-swapping-style comedy, science-fiction ideas, and romantic elements. It gave Thompson an opportunity to move away from the period dramas that had dominated much of her early filmography.
1994 — My Father the Hero
My Father the Hero is a 1994 romantic comedy starring Gérard Depardieu and Katherine Heigl. Thompson appears briefly as Isabel in an uncredited role. The film follows a father and daughter on a holiday in the Bahamas, where a misunderstanding causes increasingly complicated situations. Thompson’s appearance is a minor cameo rather than a substantial feature-film role, so it is best treated as a non-standard entry in her filmography.
1995 — Carrington
Christopher Hampton directed Carrington, a biographical drama about British painter Dora Carrington and her unconventional relationship with writer Lytton Strachey. Thompson plays Carrington, with Jonathan Pryce portraying Strachey. The film explores love, friendship, artistic life, and relationships that did not conform to conventional expectations of the period. Thompson’s performance demonstrated her ability to carry a demanding literary and historical drama.
1995 — Sense and Sensibility
Ang Lee’s Sense and Sensibility became one of the most important films in Emma Thompson’s career. She stars as Elinor Dashwood and also wrote the screenplay, adapting Jane Austen’s novel for the screen. The period romance follows the Dashwood sisters as they navigate love, financial uncertainty, family expectations, and social restrictions. Thompson won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and received the Academy Award for Best Actress nomination, making the film a landmark in both her acting and writing careers.
1997 — The Winter Guest
The Winter Guest was directed by Alan Rickman and adapted from Sharman Macdonald’s play. Thompson plays Frances, a grieving woman whose relationship with her mother forms the emotional centre of the story. Phyllida Law, Thompson’s real-life mother, plays her mother Elspeth, giving their scenes an especially personal dimension. The quiet drama examines grief, family, aging, and the possibility of starting again.
1998 — Primary Colors
Mike Nichols directed Primary Colors, a political comedy-drama inspired by a novel based loosely on the 1992 U.S. presidential campaign. Thompson plays Susan Stanton, a character widely understood as fictionalized from the political world surrounding a presidential candidate. John Travolta and Billy Bob Thornton lead the cast alongside her. Thompson’s performance demonstrated her ability to combine comedy, political satire, and character drama within a large ensemble.
1998 — Judas Kiss
Judas Kiss is a 1998 crime thriller written and directed by Sebastian Gutierrez. Thompson plays FBI Agent Sadie Hawkins in a story involving a kidnapping, deception, and a group of criminals whose plans become increasingly complicated. The film also features Alan Rickman, Carla Gugino, Emma Thompson, and other members of its ensemble. Thompson’s role is considerably more genre-focused than many of her better-known period dramas.
2000 — Maybe Baby
Ben Elton’s Maybe Baby is a British romantic comedy about a married couple struggling with infertility and the pressures surrounding parenthood. Thompson plays Druscilla, while Hugh Laurie stars as Sam Bell and the film explores the couple’s attempts to have a child. The story combines relationship comedy with a more serious look at fertility and marriage. It was one of Thompson’s notable British comedy roles at the beginning of the 2000s.
2002 — Treasure Planet
Disney’s animated science-fiction adventure Treasure Planet reimagines Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island in a futuristic space setting. Thompson provides the voice of Captain Amelia, an intelligent and commanding feline-like ship captain who joins the expedition. Directed by Ron Clements and John Musker, the film combines traditional adventure storytelling with space travel and computer animation. Thompson’s role was a voice performance rather than a live-action appearance.
2003 — Imagining Argentina
Christopher Hampton directed Imagining Argentina, a political drama set during Argentina’s period of military dictatorship. Thompson plays Cecilia Rueda, whose husband is among those who disappear, while Antonio Banderas plays her husband Carlos. The film blends political repression, family drama, and elements of magical realism. Thompson’s performance places a personal emotional story at the centre of a much larger historical tragedy.
2003 — Love Actually
Richard Curtis’s Love Actually is a romantic comedy-drama built around multiple interconnected stories set in London during the Christmas season. Thompson plays Karen, a wife and mother whose marriage to Harry, played by Alan Rickman, faces a painful crisis. The ensemble also includes Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Keira Knightley, Liam Neeson, and Bill Nighy. Thompson’s restrained and emotional performance became one of the film’s most memorable dramatic storylines.
2004 — Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
In Alfonso Cuarón’s Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Thompson made her first appearance as Professor Sybill Trelawney. Trelawney is the eccentric Divination teacher at Hogwarts who frequently predicts ominous events involving Harry and his classmates. The film stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Gary Oldman, and Alan Rickman. Thompson’s unusual comic performance gave the character a distinctive place within the Harry Potter ensemble.
2005 — Nanny McPhee
Nanny McPhee, directed by Kirk Jones, stars Thompson as the mysterious magical governess who arrives to discipline the unruly Brown children. Thompson also wrote the screenplay, adapting characters from Christianna Brand’s children’s books. The family fantasy combines comedy, magic, and a story about children learning responsibility and respect. The role became one of Thompson’s most recognizable family-film characters and led to a sequel.
2006 — Stranger Than Fiction
Marc Forster directed Stranger Than Fiction, a fantasy comedy-drama starring Will Ferrell as Harold Crick, an ordinary man who suddenly begins hearing a narrator describing his life. Thompson plays Karen Eiffel, the troubled novelist whose narration is connected to Harold’s existence. The film also features Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, and Queen Latifah. Thompson’s performance balances dark humour with the film’s more philosophical questions about mortality and the meaning of life.
2007 — Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Thompson returned as Professor Sybill Trelawney in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Directed by David Yates, the fantasy adventure follows Harry and his friends as the wizarding world struggles to accept that Voldemort has returned. Trelawney remains a quirky but important member of the Hogwarts teaching staff. Thompson’s performance again brought comic energy to the increasingly dark Harry Potter series.
2007 — I Am Legend
Francis Lawrence’s I Am Legend stars Will Smith as Robert Neville, a scientist apparently left alone in a devastated New York City after a virus transforms much of humanity. Thompson appears as Dr. Alice Krippin in an uncredited role connected to the origin of the virus. Her brief appearance is part of the film’s scientific backstory rather than a conventional supporting performance. The post-apocalyptic science-fiction thriller became a major commercial success.
2008 — Brideshead Revisited
Julian Jarrold directed Brideshead Revisited, a period drama based on Evelyn Waugh’s celebrated novel. Thompson plays Lady Marchmain, the formidable matriarch of the Flyte family, opposite Matthew Goode, Ben Whishaw, and Hayley Atwell. The story examines religion, class, friendship, love, and the decline of an aristocratic family. Thompson brings considerable authority to a complicated character whose influence shapes the family throughout the film.
2008 — Last Chance Harvey
Last Chance Harvey, directed by Joel Hopkins, stars Dustin Hoffman as Harvey Shine, a struggling songwriter who travels to London for his daughter’s wedding. Thompson plays Kate Walker, a lonely government employee who forms an unexpected connection with Harvey. The film is a gentle romantic drama about companionship, regret, and finding a new direction later in life. Thompson and Hoffman carry much of the film through their understated performances.
2009 — An Education
Lone Scherfig’s An Education is a coming-of-age drama set in 1960s London. Thompson plays the unnamed Headmistress at the girls’ school attended by Jenny, portrayed by Carey Mulligan. The film follows Jenny as she becomes involved with an older man and begins questioning the future expected of her. Thompson’s role is supporting but fits naturally into the film’s exploration of education, ambition, and social expectations.
2009 — The Boat That Rocked
Richard Curtis’s The Boat That Rocked, released in the United States as Pirate Radio, is a British comedy set around an illegal offshore radio station in the 1960s. Thompson plays Charlotte, a lively character associated with the station’s colourful group of broadcasters. The ensemble includes Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost, and Kenneth Branagh. The film celebrates the rebellious spirit of pirate radio through music, comedy, and an ensemble of eccentric characters.
2010 — Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang
Thompson returned as the magical Nanny McPhee in Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang, also known as Nanny McPhee Returns. Directed by Susanna White, the sequel follows a young mother struggling to manage her children while her husband is away at war. Nanny McPhee arrives with her unusual methods and helps the children learn a series of important lessons. Thompson again wrote the screenplay as well as starring in the title role.
2011 — Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Thompson’s Professor Trelawney returned for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, the final film in the Harry Potter series. Directed by David Yates, the fantasy epic follows Harry, Ron, and Hermione during the final battle against Voldemort. Trelawney has a brief but memorable appearance during the Battle of Hogwarts. Thompson’s contribution completed her recurring role as the eccentric Hogwarts Divination professor.
2012 — Men in Black 3
Barry Sonnenfeld directed Men in Black 3, with Thompson joining the franchise as Agent O, the head of the Men in Black organization. The science-fiction comedy stars Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, with Josh Brolin playing a younger version of Agent K. The story involves time travel as Agent J travels back to 1969 to prevent a major change in history. Thompson’s role expanded the franchise’s leadership structure while adding another authoritative character to the series.
2012 — Brave
Pixar’s animated fantasy Brave features Thompson as the voice of Queen Elinor, the mother of Princess Merida. Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, the film follows Merida as she resists the expectations placed on her as a young princess. Thompson’s performance as Elinor is central to the mother-daughter relationship that drives the story. Because this is an animated film, Thompson’s contribution is a voice role rather than a live-action appearance.
2013 — Beautiful Creatures
Beautiful Creatures, directed by Richard LaGravenese, is a supernatural romantic fantasy based on the novel by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. Thompson plays two connected characters, Mrs. Lincoln and the supernatural Sarafine Duchannes, opposite Alice Englert and Alden Ehrenreich. The story centres on a young man and a mysterious girl whose supernatural family is caught between opposing forces. Thompson’s dual performance allowed her to play both a seemingly ordinary Southern woman and a powerful supernatural antagonist.
2013 — Saving Mr. Banks
John Lee Hancock’s Saving Mr. Banks dramatizes the complicated effort to bring P. L. Travers’s Mary Poppins to the screen. Thompson portrays Travers, while Tom Hanks plays Walt Disney and Colin Farrell plays Travers’s father in flashback sequences. The film explores Travers’s difficult negotiations with Disney and the personal memories that shaped her famous character. Thompson’s performance received substantial attention for portraying the author’s stubbornness, vulnerability, and complicated relationship with her childhood.
2013 — The Love Punch
Joel Hopkins directed The Love Punch, a romantic comedy starring Thompson and Pierce Brosnan as divorced couple Kate and Richard. After discovering that a retirement-related financial problem has affected them, the pair become involved in an elaborate scheme involving a valuable diamond. The film mixes romance, comedy, and caper elements against European locations. It reunited Thompson with Last Chance Harvey director Hopkins in another adult romantic comedy.
2014 — Effie Gray
Effie Gray is a historical drama written by Thompson and directed by Richard Laxton. She plays Lady Eastlake, while Dakota Fanning portrays the title character in a story inspired by the troubled marriage between Effie Gray and art critic John Ruskin. The film examines Victorian society, marriage, artistic circles, and the restrictions placed on women. Thompson’s involvement extended beyond acting because she also wrote the screenplay.
2014 — Men, Women & Children
Jason Reitman’s Men, Women & Children is a contemporary ensemble drama examining how the internet and digital communication affect relationships and family life. Thompson provides the film’s narration in a voice role rather than appearing as a conventional on-screen character. The ensemble includes Adam Sandler, Jennifer Garner, Rosemarie DeWitt, and Ansel Elgort. Her narration helps connect the different stories as the film explores technology, intimacy, parenting, and isolation.
2015 — A Walk in the Woods
Based on Bill Bryson’s memoir, A Walk in the Woods follows two friends attempting to hike the Appalachian Trail. Thompson plays Catherine Bryson, the wife of Robert Bryson, portrayed by Robert Redford. Nick Nolte co-stars as Stephen Katz, the companion who joins Bryson on the journey. Directed by Ken Kwapis, the film combines outdoor adventure with comedy and reflections on friendship and aging.
2015 — The Legend of Barney Thomson
Robert Carlyle directed and stars in The Legend of Barney Thomson, a dark Scottish crime comedy. Thompson plays Cemolina, the mother of Barney Thomson, a Glasgow barber whose life becomes entangled in a series of murders. The film blends black comedy, crime, and macabre humour, with Thompson embracing a much more eccentric character than many of her traditional dramatic roles. Her performance adds to the film’s deliberately offbeat tone.
2015 — Burnt
John Wells’s Burnt is a culinary drama starring Bradley Cooper as chef Adam Jones, who attempts to rebuild his career by assembling a new restaurant team in London. Thompson plays Dr. Rosshilde, a supporting character connected to the film’s professional and personal world. The cast also includes Sienna Miller, Daniel Brühl, Alicia Vikander, and Omar Sy. The film focuses on ambition, perfectionism, second chances, and the intense pressures of professional kitchens.
2016 — Alone in Berlin
Alone in Berlin, directed by Vincent Perez, is a historical drama based on Hans Fallada’s novel about resistance to Nazi Germany. Thompson plays Anna Quangel, a working-class woman whose son has died during the war and who, with her husband, begins leaving anti-Nazi messages around Berlin. Brendan Gleeson plays her husband Otto, with Daniel Brühl also starring. Thompson’s performance anchors the film’s intimate portrait of grief, courage, and resistance under an authoritarian regime.
2016 — Bridget Jones’s Baby
Sharon Maguire directed Bridget Jones’s Baby, the third major film in the Bridget Jones series. Thompson plays Doctor Rawlings, Bridget’s outspoken and memorable obstetrician, alongside Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth, and Patrick Dempsey. The romantic comedy follows Bridget after she discovers that she is pregnant but does not know which of two men is the father. Thompson’s character provides much of the medical guidance and comic energy surrounding Bridget’s pregnancy.
2017 — Beauty and the Beast
Bill Condon’s live-action Beauty and the Beast stars Emma Watson as Belle and Dan Stevens as the Beast. Thompson provides the voice of Mrs. Potts, the enchanted teapot who performs the famous musical number “Beauty and the Beast.” The fantasy musical also features Luke Evans, Kevin Kline, Josh Gad, Ewan McGregor, and Ian McKellen. Thompson’s voice performance brought a warm, theatrical quality to one of the film’s best-known supporting characters.
2017 — The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)
Noah Baumbach’s The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) is an ensemble comedy-drama centred on an unconventional New York family. Thompson plays Maureen Meyerowitz, appearing alongside Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Dustin Hoffman, and Elizabeth Marvel. The film explores sibling rivalry, parental relationships, artistic ambition, and family resentment through overlapping stories. Thompson’s performance is part of the film’s deliberately eccentric ensemble style.
2017 — The Children Act
The Children Act, directed by Richard Eyre, stars Thompson as Fiona Maye, a High Court judge dealing with difficult family-law cases. One major case involves a teenage boy whose religious beliefs conflict with the medical treatment his doctors recommend. Stanley Tucci and Fionn Whitehead co-star in the serious legal drama. Thompson’s performance focuses on the tension between professional judgment, personal relationships, and emotionally difficult decisions.
2018 — Johnny English Strikes Again
David Kerr directed Johnny English Strikes Again, the third film in the spy-comedy franchise starring Rowan Atkinson. Thompson plays the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, who calls Johnny English out of retirement after a cyberattack exposes Britain’s undercover agents. The film combines traditional spy-film parody with modern technology jokes and physical comedy. Thompson’s authoritative political character provides a comic contrast to Atkinson’s deliberately old-fashioned secret agent.
2019 — How to Build a Girl
Based on Caitlin Moran’s novel, How to Build a Girl follows teenager Johanna Morrigan as she reinvents herself as a confident music journalist in 1990s Britain. Thompson plays Amanda Watson, appearing alongside Beanie Feldstein, Alfie Allen, and Paddy Considine. Directed by Coky Giedroyc, the coming-of-age comedy explores identity, ambition, sexuality, and the excitement of discovering a creative world. Thompson’s supporting performance contributes to the film’s lively family and personal dynamics.
2019 — Late Night
Nisha Ganatra’s Late Night stars Thompson as Katherine Newbury, a veteran television talk-show host facing declining ratings and criticism that her writing staff lacks diversity. Mindy Kaling plays Molly Patel, a new writer who joins the team and challenges the established workplace culture. The comedy-drama examines age, gender, workplace politics, television, and the pressure to remain relevant. Thompson’s central performance carries both the character’s sharp humour and her professional vulnerability.
2019 — Missing Link
Missing Link is an animated adventure comedy from Laika, directed by Chris Butler. Thompson provides the voice of the Elder, a yeti character who becomes involved in the film’s search for the mythical creatures of Shangri-La. The voice cast also includes Hugh Jackman, Zach Galifianakis, Stephen Fry, and Zoe Saldana. Thompson’s contribution is a voice role in this stop-motion animated feature rather than a live-action performance.
2019 — Men in Black: International
In Men in Black: International, Thompson reprises Agent O, the senior Men in Black official she first played in Men in Black 3. Directed by F. Gary Gray, the science-fiction action comedy stars Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson as agents operating within the international branch of the organization. The story expands the franchise beyond the original New York-focused setting. Thompson’s appearance connects the spin-off to the wider Men in Black continuity.
2019 — Last Christmas
Paul Feig directed Last Christmas, a romantic comedy-drama inspired in part by the music of George Michael and Wham! Thompson plays Petra, the mother of Kate, portrayed by Emilia Clarke. The story follows Kate, a young London woman whose life changes after she meets Tom, played by Henry Golding. Thompson also co-wrote the screenplay, making the film another significant example of her work behind the camera as well as in front of it.
2020 — Dolittle
Stephen Gaghan’s Dolittle is a fantasy adventure comedy starring Robert Downey Jr. as the famous physician who can communicate with animals. Thompson provides the voice of Polynesia, Dolittle’s intelligent parrot companion. The cast also includes Antonio Banderas, Michael Sheen, and numerous actors providing animal voices. Thompson’s role is entirely voice-based and places her within the film’s large ensemble of animal characters.
2021 — Cruella
Craig Gillespie’s Cruella explores the early life of the character who would become Disney’s iconic fashion-focused villain. Thompson plays the Baroness, an influential and ruthless fashion designer whose relationship with the younger Estella, played by Emma Stone, drives much of the story. The film also stars Joel Fry, Paul Walter Hauser, and Mark Strong. Thompson’s performance as the Baroness gave the film one of its central dramatic antagonists and placed her in a stylish crime-comedy setting.
2022 — Good Luck to You, Leo Grande
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, directed by Sophie Hyde, stars Thompson as Nancy Stokes, a recently widowed retired teacher who hires a young sex worker, played by Daryl McCormack, in an effort to explore experiences she has long denied herself. The film is primarily a two-character comedy-drama focused on conversation, intimacy, self-confidence, aging, and personal expectations. Thompson’s performance is unusually intimate and dialogue-driven compared with many of her large ensemble roles. The film became one of the most distinctive dramatic performances of her later career.
2022 — What’s Love Got to Do with It?
Shekhar Kapur directed What’s Love Got to Do with It?, a romantic comedy-drama about love, friendship, family, and arranged marriage. Thompson plays Cath Stevenson, the mother of Lily James’s character, in a story that moves between British and Pakistani cultural settings. The cast includes Shazad Latif, Emma Thompson, Lily James, and Shabana Azmi. Although the film premiered in 2022, its UK theatrical release came in 2023, which accounts for the different year listings found in film databases.
2022 — Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical
Matthew Warchus directed Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical, a musical fantasy adaptation of the stage production based on Roald Dahl’s novel. Thompson plays the terrifying headmistress Miss Trunchbull, who rules Crunchem Hall with extreme discipline and cruelty. Alisha Weir stars as Matilda, with Lashana Lynch and Stephen Graham also appearing. Thompson’s transformation into Trunchbull is one of the film’s most distinctive performances, combining physical comedy, menace, and musical theatre.
2025 — Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy continues the story of Bridget Jones, with Renée Zellweger returning to the title role. Thompson reprises Doctor Rawlings, maintaining the character’s blunt and humorous approach to Bridget’s life and relationships. Michael Morris directed the film, which also features Hugh Grant, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Leo Woodall. The movie continues Thompson’s involvement in the long-running Bridget Jones film series after her appearance in Bridget Jones’s Baby.
2025 — Dead of Winter
Brian Kirk’s Dead of Winter is a thriller in which Thompson plays Barb, a woman caught in a dangerous situation during a winter journey. The film places its central character in a remote and hostile environment as she becomes involved in a rescue and survival struggle. Thompson also served as an executive producer on the project. Released in 2025, it added a darker thriller role to a filmography that has covered drama, comedy, fantasy, romance, and family entertainment.
2026 — The Sheep Detectives
The Sheep Detectives is a 2026 mystery comedy directed by Kyle Balda and based on Leonie Swann’s novel Three Bags Full. Thompson plays Lydia Harbottle in the live-action ensemble, which includes Hugh Jackman, Nicholas Braun, Nicholas Galitzine, Molly Gordon, and Patrick Stewart. The story follows a flock of sheep who investigate the mysterious death of their shepherd after realizing that the human world is more complicated than the detective stories they have heard. The film was released theatrically on May 8, 2026, making it the latest released feature-film entry in Emma Thompson’s filmography as of 2026.
Conclusion
Emma Thompson’s movie career stretches from Shakespearean adaptations and British romantic comedies to major fantasy franchises, animated adventures, historical dramas, and contemporary character pieces. Her work in Howards End, The Remains of the Day, and Sense and Sensibility established her as a leading dramatic performer, while films such as Love Actually, Nanny McPhee, Harry Potter, and Beauty and the Beast introduced her work to wider international audiences. Later projects including Saving Mr. Banks, The Children Act, Late Night, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, Cruella, and Matilda the Musical further demonstrated her range. The Emma Thompson movies by year filmography also shows how frequently she has combined acting with screenwriting and voice work throughout her career.
