Sophie Thompson

Sophie Thompson

Sophie Thompson in 2014
Born 20 January 1962
London, England
Occupation Actress
Years active 1977–present
Spouse(s) Richard Lumsden (m. 1995)
Children Ernie James Lumsden
Walter Eric Lumsden
Parent(s) Eric Thompson
Phyllida Law
Relatives Emma Thompson (sister)

Sophie Thompson is an Olivier award-winning English actress, who trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre school.

Life and work

The second daughter[1] of actress Phyllida Law and actor Eric Thompson, Sophie is the younger sister of actress and screenwriter Emma Thompson.

Thompson made her debut at the age of 15, starring in A Traveller in Time, before going on to study at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

Big-screen roles include Four Weddings and a Funeral, Eat Pray Love, Emma, Dancing at Lughnasa, Gosford Park, Fat Slags, Relative Values and Morris: A Life with Bells On. Thompson appeared in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in 2010, as Mafalda Hopkirk and Hermione Granger disguised as Hopkirk. Thompson starred alongside popular British comedians Alan Davies, in Jonathan Creek, and Lee Evans in So What Now? She has also appeared in Persuasion, Midsomer Murders, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, A Harlot's Progress, and Magnolia. She played Miss Bartlett in Andrew Davies' 2007 adaptation of E.M. Forster's A Room with a View and also appeared in the last episode of series 4 of Doc Martin.

Thompson played the role of child abuser Stella Crawford in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders. She came into the show as Phil Mitchell's lawyer and they gradually developed a romantic link. Stella later became jealous of Phil's relationship with his son Ben and began to emotionally and physically abuse him—becoming one of soaps most-hated villains. Thompson left EastEnders on 20 July 2007, after the exposure of Stella's evil ways on her wedding day led to the character's suicide. She won the "inside soap Best bitch award" for her portrayal of Stella. In 2009, Thompson appeared in the BBC One comedy series Big Top. Thompson was in the three part television series Love Life on ITV in 2012, and appeared in ITV's 2012 production Lightfields.

Recent theatre includes the role of Mrs Hardcastle in She Stoops To Conquer at the National Theatre, directed by Jamie Lloyd, and also the part of Doctor Mathilde von Zahnd in Josie Rourkes production of The Physicists at the Donmar. She also played Kathy/Bev in Dominic Cooks 2011 production of Clybourne Park at The Royal Court, which transferred to The Wyndhams. Thompson received an Olivier nomination for Best Actress. In 1996, Thompson played the role of Amy in Sam Mendes' acclaimed Donmar Warehouse revival of Company, receiving an Olivier Award nomination for her performance. She also appeared as the Baker's Wife in the Donmar's revival of Into the Woods, which garnered her the 1999 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She also played Ophelia in the Renaissance Theatre Company production of Hamlet in 1988 in Birmingham, later touring around England. That production was directed by Sir Derek Jacobi and starred her future brother-in-law Kenneth Branagh as Hamlet, Richard Easton as Claudius and Dearbhla Molloy as Gertrude. A film documentary called Discovering Hamlet was made of the process of producing and rehearsing this play. It was released in 1990, and a DVD version was released in 2010.

Thompson appeared in Celebrity Masterchef 2014, emerging as the winner beating the other finalists Jodie Kidd and Charley Boorman.[2]

Personal life

Sophie Thompson has been married to actor Richard Lumsden since 1995. They have two sons and live in East Finchley in north London.[3] Thompson is a charity Ambassador for Dan's Fund For Burns, and ran the 2010 Marathon for CINI, a charity supporting vulnerable families in India, and 24th Tottenham, a London-based group for children and young adults with special needs.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

References

  1. ↑ "Sophie Thompson". FilmReference.com.
  2. ↑ "Celebrity MasterChef final 2014: Sophie Thompson wins final with her 'original' dishes". wn.com. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  3. ↑ "The Players: Sophie Thompson (actor)". The Guardian (London).
  4. ↑ http://tv.uk.msn.com/drama/lightfields-new-itv-drama-follows-up-marchlands?page=7

External links