Emma Thompson recounts Trump date invite at Locarno

Thompson says Donald Trump called to invite her to dinner the same day her divorce was finalized.

Emma Thompson recalls Trump date invitation on the day of her divorce

Emma Thompson spoke about a notable moment from the late 1990s at Locarno, recounting that she was in a trailer on the set of Primary Colors when Donald Trump called to propose dinner and a stay at one of his properties. She says she thought the call was a joke and that the timing matched the day her divorce from Kenneth Branagh was finalized.

Thompson added that she suspects staff were looking for a high-profile match for him at the time. She also described the approach as intrusive, noting how personal life and public interest intersected in an era of rising celebrity culture.

The anecdote highlights how the boundary between private life and public entertainment can blur when a future president enters a famous actor’s orbit. It also shows how festival stages like Locarno can elevate personal memories into broader media conversations. The story invites readers to consider how such moments shape public perception of both the person involved and the era’s celebrity politics.

Highlights

Private memories travel far when they pass through public channels.