Emma Thompson Reveals Breakdown Of Marriage Inspired Heartbreaking Love Actually Scene

“I had my heart very badly broken... so I knew what it was like to find the necklace that wasn’t meant for me."
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Emma Thompson has revealed she drew on personal experience for one of the most memorable - and heartbreaking - scenes in Love Actually.

In the 2003 film, Emma realises her husband is having an affair after discovering the jewellery he has bought for another woman.

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Emma in Love Actually.
Universal

The actor has revealed she nailed the famous scene because she had her heart “very badly broken” by her first husband Kenneth Branagh.

The couple married in 1989 after falling in love on the set of the BBC drama Fortunes Of War, but filed for divorce in 1995 after the director and actor was linked to his Frankenstein co-star Helena Bonham Carter.

“That scene where my character is standing by the bed crying is so well known because it’s something everyone’s been through”, Emma told the audience at a fundraiser for the Tricycle Theatre in North West London back in 2018.

“I had my heart very badly broken by Ken. So I knew what it was like to find the necklace that wasn’t meant for me.

“Well it wasn’t exactly that, but we’ve all been through it.”

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Emma married Kenneth Branagh in London in 1989.
Georges De Keerle via Getty Images

In 2013, Emma revealed that she had “made peace” with Helena and described her as a “wonderful woman” in an interview with The Sunday Times.

She said: “I’ve had so much bloody practice at crying in a bedroom, then having to go out and be cheerful, gathering up the pieces of my heart and putting them in a drawer.

“That is... all blood under the bridge. You can’t hold on to anything like that. I just think... pfft.

“It’s pointless. I haven’t got the energy for it.. Helena and I made our peace years and years ago... she’s a wonderful woman.”

Watch the scene from Love Actually below...

Celebs Who Handled Their Splits Like A Boss
Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake(01 of11)
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Let's be honest, break-ups can be messy, particularly in the glare of the spotlight, so it's good to see when two celebrities can put their differences aside and still be friends, as Cameron and Justin did - even eventually going on to star in 'Bad Teacher' together. (credit:Jim Spellman via Getty Images)
Harry Styles(02 of11)
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No one is exactly sure what happened between Taylor Swift and Harry Styles, but even after she appeared to mock him during an awards show performance, he's had nothing but good things to say about her and her music in the press.

Whether he's genuinely happy for her, or he's simply killing her with kindness is unclear, but either way, we could all learn a thing or two from Hazza.
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Jennifer Aniston(03 of11)
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And speaking of how to flawlessly handle a break-up... The media coverage surrounding Jennifer Aniston for the decade after her split from Brad Pitt, was often unnecessary, cruel and steeped in sexism.

Through it all, though, she kept her head high, continued working and, more importantly, smiling away, despite what was said about her in the press.

Now she's one of the highest-paid actresses in the world, and is married to her long-time partner, Justin Theroux.
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Mariah Carey(04 of11)
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When she and the father of her two children, Nick Cannon, split, Mariah was determined not to give the press the dirt they were craving.

So much so, when approached by a TMZ reporter, Mimi said simply: "Oh, it's much too hot to talk."

Flawless.
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Elin Nordegren(05 of11)
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Elin Nordegren - better known as the former Mrs Tiger Woods - is our personal break-up hero.

So, your husband has repeatedly cheated on you and the world's media are talking about it? Whatever.

Elin's attitude throughout the scandal was flawless: head down, sunglasses on ... and just wait for that divorce settlement to roll in. Props to you, Elin.
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Katy Perry(06 of11)
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However, sometimes it's difficult to pretend you're anything other than hurt. And do you know what? That's OK too.

In showing her vulnerable side in her documentary film, 'Part Of Me', Katy undoubtedly assured a lot of people that it's not about how hard you fall, it's how you get back up again.
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Gwyneth Paltrow(07 of11)
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Gwyneth Paltrow hasn't had a bad word to say about Chris Martin ever since they "consciously uncoupled" in 2014, and even spoke favourably about his relationship with Jennifer Lawrence.

Instead, she focused on her own career, her family and friends, and the continuing growth of her site, Goop. Now that's how you tackle a break-up like a boss.
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Katie Price(08 of11)
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Perhaps not quite to this extent, but sometimes a night out with your friends can be just the thing to get you through a break-up, as Katie Price proved when she flew to Ibiza, shortly after splitting up from Peter Andre. (credit:Dave Wood via Getty Images)
Jennifer Lopez(09 of11)
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Determined not to let anyone paint her as a victim, J-Lo bounced back from her split with Marc Anthony by getting together with a far younger man.

Nice one, Jen.
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Perrie Edwards(10 of11)
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Similarly, the world of entertainment journalism seemed determined to paint Perrie Edwards as a victim when she broke up with ex-fiancé Zayn Malik, particularly when he quickly got together with Gigi Hadid.

How did she respond to that? With independence anthem 'Shout Out To My Ex', which quickly topped the UK singles chart, and bagged Little Mix their first ever Brit Award.
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Adele(11 of11)
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And then, of course, there's Adele, who managed to turn her disastrous break-up to her advantage and bag herself a wheelbarrow of Grammys, which we have all the admiration in the world for.

What was it Beyoncé said about 'lemons' and 'lemonade' again..?
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