Emma Thompson: ‘The best gift is kindness’
Husband-and-wife team, Emma Thompson and Greg Wise, open their hearts to explain that Christmas for their family is about an abundance of love, laughter, storytelling - and hope for the future…
For those of us who are older, the final scene in the romantic comedy LastChristmas will no doubt make you cry. It reminds us life is short - so be kind and enjoy every moment while you are here... Emma Thompson and her husband of 16 years, Greg Wise hope that their movie will strike a chord with everyone who watches it. But as well as their movie, they have produced a new audiobook, Last Christmas:Memories ofChristmasesPast andHopesofFuture Ones, which they cowrote - featuring the music of George Michael and starring Gameof Thrones’ Emilia Clarke, with Emma, 60, playing her on-screen mum. The couple - who have a daughter Gaia, 20, also an actress, and adopted son, Tindy, 32 – talk to us about their movie and festive plans...
Tell us about your collection of stories?
Emma: The stories are about kindness, tolerance, hope, care, love, family. It doesn’t matter where you find yourself living – be it Iraq, Palestine, Myanmar, Africa, the US or the UK – we all desire the same thing at this time of the year – to be with those we love. It is impossible to single out any favourite pieces – each is a gem.
It includes stories from ex-homeless people, refugees… are these issues close to your heart?
Emma: We met our son, Tindy, a refugee, just before Christmas 2003, at a party we had arranged for recently arrived children. It was that chance meeting that led to this remarkable young man becoming part of our family. Also, as hopefully everyone else in Britain [is], we are appalled by the rise in homelessness here, so our film explores that crisis, as well as being a refugee.
You put this book together as a couple. Did you ever fall out over it?!
Greg: We have different strengths – one taking responsibility more for story structure, the other working on character and dialogue. It’s always a delicate undertaking but, after nearly 25 years, you get to know how the other works! Differences are really useful. If you can’t defend an idea, it has to go into the bin.
Emma, in Last Christmas, you play Emilia Clarke’s mum, Kate. Any funny moments on set?
Emma: There’s a scene where I have to sing her to sleep – a very dirge-like song, which was impossible for either to
do without seriously cracking up! It took forever. In the end, I had to threaten to replace Emilia with a member of the crew. But that wouldn’t have worked – because they were all laughing, too.
Do us Brits love a festive movie that tugs at the heartstrings?
Emma: Not necessarily.
But to reiterate the singer Pink’s wonderful recent remark – kindness is an ‘act of rebellion’. Cynicism is rampant right now – about almost everything. It is extremely important that we try to make movies that are about care, love and kindness – in an intelligent and nonsentimental way, of course. As for the Brits and Christmas,
‘It doesn’t matter where you are - we all just want to be with those we love...’
perhaps Dickens put it best in A Christmas Carol. It’s the same kind of story – about someone who rediscovers love, is redeemed and made so much bigger by it. And also, the dangers of focusing your life on material aspects and ignoring everything else.
Last Christmas is also a love song to London. What are your favourite corners of the city?
Greg: Like our character, Tom, in the film, it’s the ‘ hidden’ bits that are our most favourite – the alleys, the ‘secret garden’ – the oases of calm in London.
When you think back to Christmases past, what made them magical?
Greg: My Christmases when I was younger weren’t particularly magical – over to the wife!
Emma: Being with my family – a collection of very funny, unorthodox people was always a joy because there was mischief, silliness and laughs at all times.
What are your necessary components for the festive season? Greg:
Christmas at the cottage in Scotland. With those we love. A huge spruce
tree cut from the hill behind us, sunk into the yard and festooned with lights. Log fires. Readings from a collection of ghost stories. Silly games. Long walks. Long meals. And trying to get someone else to do the washing up…
Will you be making any New Year’s resolutions?
Emma: I have always tried to avoid those! They get broken. Just try to resolve on a daily basis to be as kind as possible. To oneself as much as to others. Kindness is a human anti-depressant. It calms and strengthens us in all our dealings.
Finally, will you work together again in future?!
Greg: If we’re able, we will hopefully try to write something else together. This last one took seven years, so look out for our new piece of work sometime in… 2026?!
Last Christmas: Memories of Christmases Past and Hopes of Future Ones (Quercus), curated and introduced by Greg Wise and Emma Thompson, is out now with 25p from each sale donated to Crisis and The Refugee Council.