When Emma Thompson picks up the phone, she probably expects a call from a director, a co-star, or maybe her agent—not a future U.S. president inviting her to dinner. But in 1998, while filming the political dramedy Primary Colors, the Oscar-winning actress received one of the more bizarre phone calls in Hollywood history: an unsolicited date invitation from none other than Donald J. Trump.
And here’s the kicker—it happened on the very same day she finalized her divorce from actor-director Kenneth Branagh. That’s right. One moment she’s signing off on the end of one marriage, and the next she’s fielding an offer from a real estate mogul who would one day occupy the White House.
A Phone Call Straight Out of a Rom-Com (or a Farce)
According to Thompson, the phone rang in her trailer during filming. She answered, and on the other end came that unmistakable Queens-meets-TV-persona voice:
“Hello, this is Donald Trump.”
At first, Thompson assumed it was a prank—perhaps a mischievous crew member, or even co-star John Travolta pulling her leg. But no, this was very much the real Donald Trump, pre-political career but fully in character, complete with self-promotion.
As Thompson tells it, Trump went straight into pitch mode, offering her an invitation to “come and stay at one of my beautiful places” followed by the suggestion they could “have dinner.”
The actress, ever the picture of British politeness, responded with a noncommittal,
“Well, that’s very sweet. Thank you so much. I’ll get back to you.”
1998: A Year of Plot Twists for Thompson
To understand just how surreal this moment was for Thompson, you have to rewind to the emotional rollercoaster that was her late ’90s life. She had just wrapped a long and publicly scrutinized marriage to Branagh—one that had been shadowed by rumors of infidelity with Frankenstein co-star Helena Bonham Carter.
Professionally, however, Thompson was flying high. She was fresh off an Oscar win for Sense and Sensibility and was starring in Primary Colors, a film loosely based on the Bill Clinton–Monica Lewinsky political saga. So, imagine being in the middle of portraying the fictionalized chaos of a political scandal… and then the phone rings with an invitation from one of the most scandal-prone figures in American public life.
Trump’s Star-Studded Rolodex
By 1998, Trump had already perfected his mix of media savvy and celebrity networking. This was the man who dated models, sat ringside at heavyweight title fights, and bought full-page ads in newspapers just to congratulate himself. A call to one of Hollywood’s most respected actresses? That was just Tuesday.
But here’s where it gets interesting: Trump’s approach to celebrity courtship wasn’t exactly subtle. His MO, according to multiple public anecdotes, often involved reaching out directly—sometimes out of the blue—and dangling an invitation to one of his properties. His call to Thompson was part charm offensive, part brand promotion.
Thompson’s Version vs. Trump’s Silence
While Thompson has shared this story multiple times (always with a wry grin), Trump himself has never publicly commented on it. Perhaps he doesn’t remember, or perhaps the idea of being turned down by a two-time Academy Award winner isn’t the kind of branding he prefers.
For Thompson, it’s become one of those career footnotes she can deliver with perfect comedic timing—an anecdote that reveals as much about the world of celebrity politics as it does about her own grace under social surprise.
The Politics of the Invite
What’s worth noting is the timing: this was not just any day in Thompson’s life, but the day she legally severed ties with Branagh. Was Trump’s call pure coincidence, or had word somehow reached him through the high-speed gossip grapevine of the ’90s celebrity circuit?
In Hollywood and New York society circles, information moves faster than a fax machine could spit out a headline. It’s entirely possible that Trump, always on the lookout for high-profile connections, saw an opportunity to make a timely move.
Emma Thompson, Politics, and the Long View
In the decades since, Thompson has been far more publicly engaged with social and political causes than with the billionaire who once tried to woo her. She’s been outspoken on climate change, refugee rights, and women’s equality—causes not typically associated with Trump’s political platform.
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In fact, the anecdote plays almost like a mini-parable about the differences in their public personas: Thompson, the principled and witty British actress, versus Trump, the brash and opportunistic dealmaker.
The Celebrity Crossroads Moment
This wasn’t the only time Trump tried his hand at courting high-profile women. But Thompson’s story stands out because it so perfectly captures the strange crossroads of celebrity, politics, and personal timing. It’s a “what if” scenario that feels like it belongs in a Nancy Meyers movie—if Nancy Meyers decided to cast one lead as a polarizing future president.
And for Thompson, the offer was politely declined—leaving history to play out as we know it.
