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Helena Bonham Carter is a name synonymous with eccentricity, bold outfits, and a penchant for quirky roles. But her personal life, too, has been no less dramatic, filled with its own twists and turns. One particularly colorful chapter began in 1994 when she became romantically involved with Kenneth Branagh on the set ofMary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
But wait…this was a classic love triangle. Well, Branagh was still married to Emma Thompson at the time. The affair concluded not only in significant emotional upheaval for theHarry Potter actressbut ultimately led to the end of her marriage in 1995.
Thompson, however, being the high road-taker extraordinaire, later stated in a 2013 interview that she’s no longer interested in revisiting old conflicts as she made peace with Bonham Carter long ago.
The Surprising Truth Behind Emma Thompson & Kenneth Branagh’s Split
After two years of playing the romantic game, Emma Thompson andKenneth Branaghtook the plunge and tied the knot in 1989 (seeUS Magazine). They became the quintessential showbiz couple, sharing the screen in several films, includingDead Again, Henry V, andMuch Ado About Nothing.
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But as they say, not everything that shines is a diamond. In 1995, the couple announced their separation, attributing it to their hectic work schedules. Their joint statement read:“Our work has inevitably led to our spending long periods of time away from each other, and as a result, we have drifted apart,” according toThe New York Times.
However, as it often happens in Hollywood, the truth was a bit more tangled. Thompson later spilled the beans toThe New Yorker, revealing that the real reason for their split was Branagh’s off-screen affair withHelena Bonham Carter, who was co-starring with him inMary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The former, 65, confessed:
I was utterly, utterly blind to the fact that he had relationships with other women on set. What I learned was how easy it is to be blinded by your own desire to deceive yourself.
During this rocky period, Thompson felt as if she was“half alive,” and any sense of being lovable or worthy had vanished. Thankfully, actor Greg Wise came into her life while she was working onSense & Sensibility. They eventually tied the knot in 2003, proving that love can bloom even after a storm.
As she told The New Yorker, she learned more from her“second marriage”simply by being married.
Moving On: Emma Thompson Gave Helena Bonham Carter a Fresh Start
Despite the pain of the past,Emma Thompsonhas made peace with both Kenneth Branagh and Helena Bonham Carter in the years since. By 2013, the former had moved on, expressing the following in an interview withThe Telegraph:
Oh we are. Being slightly mad and a bit fashion-challenged. Perhaps that’s why Ken loved us both… Helena and I made our peace years and years ago.
She also described the affair as “blood under the bridge,” emphasizing that holding onto past grievances was pointless. Bonham Carter echoed this sentiment during a 2020 interview withThe Guardian, using the phrase“blood under the bridge”to describe her past with Branagh:
Ken avoided directing me once we were together because it can be complicated and I think he didn’t want—anyway, that’s all blood under the bridge.
Note that Branagh and Bonham Carter’s relationship lasted for five years before they called itquits in 1999. The former went on to marry art director Lindsay Brunnock in 2003, while Bonham Carter enjoyed a decade-long relationship with Tim Burton, which ended in 2014 (seeIndependent).
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She referred to their split as “divorce,” explaining that, even if you’re not legally married, having children can turn any relationship into a never-ending saga. As for Thompson, her career kept hitting all the right notes with roles inHarry Potter,Men in Black 3,Brave, andBeauty and the Beast.
Siddhika Prajapati
Senior Journalist & Content Head
Articles Published :3309
With over 3,300 articles carved into the digital walls of FandomWire, Siddhika Prajapati excels at creating, curating, and elevating engaging stories. She takes pride in giving these stories a home and, of course, she’s got a Google Knowledge Panel to prove it!Whether it’s reviewing the latest drop on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV+, or analyzing the cultural echoes of a streaming hit on Paramount+ or Max, Siddhika is always writing three steps ahead of the discourse.
