Formative Performances: Emma Thompson in “Much Ado About Nothing”

Oh, Emma Thompson. What can I say about you? How do I even begin?

Emma Thompson is my favorite living actress. How others feel about Meryl Streep is the way I feel about Emma Thompson – which isn’t to say you can’t be a fan of both of them, but Thompson gets to my heart in a way that’s unique and makes me want to be her when I grow up. I can’t run out of good things to say about this woman and how much I admire her as both an actress and a writer.

The first time I came across Emma Thompson was in Kenneth Branagh’s adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing, a movie I have watched approximately fifty bajillion times. I still have the VHS somewhere in my house – a gift to me for my seventeenth birthday, and I watched it every day for a week after I got it. Benedick and Beatrice are the quintessential Bickering Couple. Modern romantic comedy pairings wish they could be Benedick and Beatrice.

I could write a separate post all about the relationship between Benedick and Beatrice, but not THIS day. This day is about celebrating Emma Thompson’s work in that movie. Her Beatrice is joyous and spirited and cynical and mistrusting all at once, and has a sparkling wit that shines through her and makes her the favorite person in the room, even when she’s gently poking fun at all of their social mores.

And for special bonus footage, here’s a scene of Benedick and Beatrice arguing!