Emma Thompson, renowned for her Oscar-winning performances and activism on climate and humanitarian issues, holds a unique chapter in her life story, the adoption of her son, Tindy.
Emma Thompson's love story began with actor Kenneth Branagh, whom she met in 1987 while filming the series Fortunes of War. Their connection was undeniable, leading to their marriage two years later. However, their union faced turbulence, and in 1995, after six years of marriage, they parted ways, leaving fans with questions.
It later emerged that Branagh had fallen for Helena Bonham Carter, his co-star in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. In an interview, Emma shared, "I was completely unaware of his relationships with other women on set."
The heartbreak left the Oscar winner feeling shattered, as she recounted, "I was half alive, and any sense of being a lovable or valuable person was completely gone."
Though her marriage to Kenneth Branagh ended, Emma did not lose hope in love. In 1995, while filming Reason and Sensibility, she crossed paths with actor Greg Wise. At the time, Emma was still married to Branagh.
Emma noted that their age difference and her existing marriage initially deterred Wise from considering her as a romantic partner. However, fate intervened when Wise sought dating advice from his co-star Kate Winslet, who suggested he pursue a relationship with Thompson instead.
Three years before their marriage in 2003, Greg Wise and Emma Thompson welcomed their daughter in 1999. They have been together for 27 years, with 19 years of marriage, and their relationship remains strong. Thompson once quipped, "As my mother says, 'the first 20 years are the hardest.'"
Despite their attempts at in vitro fertilization to expand their family, Emma and Greg were unsuccessful. In 2003, during a Christmas party they hosted for those in need, a 16-year-old boy named Tindyebwa Agaba approached Emma to express his gratitude.
Although Tindy did not speak the same language, he and Thompson began spending a significant amount of time together. Over time, Cindy began affectionately calling the actors "mom" and "dad." In 2004, Emma Thompson and Greg Wise formally adopted him as their son.
Reflecting on questions about why they chose a familial bond rather than friendship, Thompson acknowledged the complexity of the situation. However, she emphasized that their relationship with Tindy developed organically.
Emma Thompson shared that she often thinks about how, had the IVF process been successful, there might not have been room in their hearts and homes for Tindy. She expressed immense gratitude that IVF did not work, as every day, she is thankful for Tindy's presence in their lives.
Tindy humorously recounted the moment he realized his mother's fame. One day at school, a teacher showed the class a film titled Much Ado About Nothing. "I was utterly shocked. I went to my teacher and said, 'How was this movie made? Because I know these people.'"
Skeptically, Tindy's teacher dismissed his claim, saying, "Don't be absurd. They are famous actors." However, the next day, Cindy discovered the truth in a newspaper photo of Emma Thompson leaving their house. "That's how I found out that my mother was somehow known. She had no idea," shared the young man.
Emma Thompson's story is not just one of Hollywood fame but also of a profound love that transcended boundaries to create a family bound by the heart.
