Emma Thompson says Oscars left her 'seriously ill' when she picked up awards

22 February 2023 , 10:15

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Emma Thompson says Oscars left her 'seriously ill' when she picked up awards

Emma Thompson has attracted global fame for movies including Sense And Sensibility and Love Actually but she's admitted that she's developed an 'allergy' to part of her job.

The actress, 63, confessed to Radio Times, to not being a fan of 'the glare' of red carpet events — and twice fell unwell at the star-studded Oscars.

Remarking on her appearances, she started: "Both times I had to do the Oscars I got seriously ill.

"I found the pressure and glare of it too much."

She told how she found the scrutiny of the interviews under the spotlight of the red carpet 'astonishing' and made her want to escape to lie down in a dark room.

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Emma Thompson admits she isn't a fan of acceptance speeches and finds it uncomfortable (Popperfoto via Getty Images)

Thompson with a BAFTA in 1996 (WireImage)

Emma continued: "You think, 'Please don't ask me any questions or make me talk about myself'."

But poking fun at her plight she added: "I'm lucky, I think it must be awful if you're James Bond."

A quick look back at her 'genuinely breathless' acceptance Speech for her Howard's End Oscar shows her 'allergy' for all to see.

In a speech flooded with ums she utters: “And um, finally, I would like, if I may, to dedicate this Oscar, um, to the heroism and the courage of women and to hope that it inspires the creation of more true screen heroines to represent them. Thank you so much.”

Emma Thompson has achieved phenomenal success appearing in roles including Harry Potter, Nanny McPhee and Love Actually (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images f)

The legendary actress was made a dame by Prince William in 2018 (PA)

And although most actors bask in the spotlight, Thompson has used her 'uncomfortable' moment to turn outwards on the role of women in the industry rather than acknowledge her own brilliance.

In the past four decades she has secured two Academy Awards, three BAFTA Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Emmy Award.

And in 2018, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for services to drama.

Thompson used her Oscar speech to acknowledge women in the industry rather than focus on her own success (PA)

Thompson said it was 'inevitable' she would be an actor after Cambridge (Getty)

She is widely regarded as one of the finest British actresses off a generation, and admits when reading English at Cambridge she felt her pathway for acting became 'inevitable'

She told: "I was "surrounded by creative people and I don't think it would ever have gone any other way, really".

But what has become her life's work she admits started as 'for fun' when she became the first female to be invited to joining the university's prestigious Cambridge Footlights drama group.

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Her alumni included fellow actors Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie were also members.

"Stephen and Hugh were remarkable. Those times were magical," she said.

Louise Lavigueur