EMMA THOMPSON
FAMILY IS THE CENTRE OF EVERYTHING
◆ Family is the centre of everything for me. But family is about connection, not necessarily blood ties. It’s about extended family – and extending family. Tindy, our adopted son, came to Britain after tremendous suffering in Rwanda. We just got talking and I said, “Come and spend Christmas with us.” He came for half the day and slowly became a permanent fixture, went on holidays with us and became part of the family.
◆ I don’t have that many years left to be glamorous so I thought I should make an attempt. Shortly, you’ll be seeing me in flat shoes, wearing something resembling a duvet for warmth and comfort. There was a time when my feminist rage inter fered with my capacity even to dress up as a woman. Now, I think it’s great there are women out there like Joan Collins who make an effort every time they leave the house.
◆ If I buy anything, I lie about it, hide it or stain/chip it slightly and claim it was 75p in the charity shop. I have successfully managed to introduce three pairs of shoes, a handbag and a Fedora using this deception, although I have to colour in the designer logos with magic marker in case they’re spotted!
◆ It’s a different patch of life, your fifties. If you look
after yourself and you’re healthy, then you’ll have the energy to do things. But people wanting to be 35 when they’re 50 makes me think why – why not be 50 and be good at that?
◆ The only way you can have it all is by delegating the running of the home to other people, which I don’t ever want to do. So you do it yourself and it takes time and energy and effort, and if you give it the time, it’s profoundly enjoyable. ◆ Emma Thompson is currently starring in the new Netflix movie, THE MEYEROWITZ STORIES.