Emma Thompson claims she could have 'changed the world' if she'd dated Donald Trump
Emma Thomson reckons she could have "changed the course of American history" if she had accepted Donald Trump's offer of a date 27 years ago.
The Oscar-winning actress, 66, left fans gobsmacked when she revealed that the US President, 79, invited her to dinner while she was on set for the 1998 political satire, Primary Colours.
Joking that The Apprentice star had 'stalked' her after he got her phone number, Emma told an audience at the Locarno Festival in Switzerland: "I could have gone on a date with Donald Trump, and then I would have a story to tell. I could have changed the course of American history.' It comes after the actress admitted she'd cheekily asked Prince William for a kiss when she received her damehood.
READ MORE: Victoria Beckham posts mortifying underwear snap of son Cruz during lavish family trip
Recalling the jaw-dropping phone call with Trump, Emma explained: "I was in my trailer one day while we were making that movie, and the phone rang, and it was Donald Trump.
"I didn't know the number of the phone. No one had rung me on it before, and I said, 'Hello.' 'Hi, this is Donald Trump here,' and I thought it was a joke. And then I said, 'How can I help you?,' thinking maybe he needed directions."
The Sense and Sensibility star said that Trump replied by saying, "I'd love you to come and stay at one of my beautiful places. Maybe we could have dinner" to which she responded, "Well, that's very sweet. Thank you so much. I'll get back to you."
At the time, Trump had just split from his second wife, Marla Maples. Emma meanwhile, had just finalised her divorce from Kenneth Branagh.
Only later did she twig the timing. 'I realised my divorce decree had come through that day,' she said on Saturday. 'I bet he's got people looking for a nice divorcee to take out on his arm.
'And he found the number in my trailer,' she joked. 'I mean, that's stalking.'
Emma is full of juicy stories and once revealed she asked Prince William for a kiss back in 2021. The iconic actress has had several memorable encounters with the future king over the years, including being asked to be a presenter at the first annual Earthshot Prize Awards, and a hilarious video call between the unlikely pals.
But arguably the most unforgettable moment they shared happened in 2018, when the actress was invited to Buckingham Palace to receive her damehood for her outstanding contribution to the arts and entertainment.
Reflecting on the moment while on the press tour for her 2021 film Cruella, Emma revealed that she asked William for a kiss. Speaking via a video link, she joked about her ballsy request to Prince William, who has a knack for forging friendships with A-list film stars, as he handed over her award.
Emma explained: "Prince William was absolutely fantastic. I wrote him a fan letter afterwards. His face and body language, so kind and generous to every single person. I've known him since he was little really. I've always liked him.
"I couldn't believe how tall he'd got. I did say, 'I suppose I better not kiss you' and he said, 'Probably better not.' I asked him about him and he said, 'Will you please stop talking about me, it's about you.' What a nice man."
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The Independent
14 minutes ago
- The Independent
Israel is in talks to possibly resettle Palestinians from Gaza in South Sudan
Israel is in discussions with South Sudan about the possibility of resettling Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to the war-torn East African country, part of a wider effort by Israel to facilitate mass emigration from the territory left in ruins by its 22-month offensive against Hamas. Six people familiar with the matter confirmed the talks to The Associated Press. It's unclear how far the talks have advanced, but if implemented, the plans would amount to transferring people from one war-ravaged land at risk of famine to another, and raise human rights concerns. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he wants to realize U.S. President Donald Trump 's vision of relocating much of Gaza's population through what Netanyahu refers to as 'voluntary migration.' Israel has floated similar resettlement proposals with other African nations. Palestinians, rights groups, and much of the international community have rejected the proposals as a blueprint for forcible expulsion in violation of international law. For South Sudan, such a deal could help it build closer ties to Israel, now the almost unchallenged military power in the Middle East. It is also a potential inroad to Trump, who broached the idea of resettling Gaza's population in February but appears to have backed away in recent months. Israel's Foreign Ministry declined to comment and South Sudan's foreign minister did not respond to questions about the talks. A U.S. State Department spokesperson said it doesn't comment on private diplomatic conversations. Egypt opposes proposals to resettle Palestinians out of Gaza Joe Szlavik, the founder of a U.S. lobbying firm working with South Sudan, said he was briefed by South Sudanese officials on the talks. He said an Israeli delegation plans to visit the country to look into the possibility of setting up camps for Palestinians there. No known date has been set for the visit. Israel did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation of the visit. Szlavik said Israel would likely pay for makeshift camps. Edmund Yakani, who heads a South Sudanese civil society group, said he had also spoken to South Sudanese officials about the talks. Four additional officials with knowledge of the discussions confirmed talks were taking place on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss them publicly. Two of the officials, both from Egypt, told AP they've known for months about Israel's efforts to find a country to accept Palestinians, including its contact with South Sudan. They said they've been lobbying South Sudan against taking the Palestinians. Egypt is deeply opposed to plans to transfer Palestinians out of Gaza, with which it shares a border, fearing an influx of refugees into its own territory. The AP previously reported on similar talks initiated by Israel and the U.S. with Sudan and Somalia, countries that are also grappling with war and hunger, and the breakaway region of Somalia known as Somaliland. The status of those discussions is not known. 'Cash-strapped South Sudan needs any ally' Szlavik, who's been hired by South Sudan to improve its relations with the United States, said the U.S. is aware of the discussions with Israel but is not directly involved. South Sudan wants the Trump administration to lift a travel ban on the country and remove sanctions from some South Sudanese elites, said Szlavik. It has already accepted eight individuals swept up in the administration's mass deportations, in what may have been an effort to curry favor. The Trump administration has pressured a number of countries to help facilitate deportations. 'Cash-strapped South Sudan needs any ally, financial gain and diplomatic security it can get,' said Peter Martell, a journalist and author of a book about the country, 'First Raise a Flag.' Israel's Mossad spy agency provided aid to the South Sudanese during their decades-long civil war against the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum ahead of independence in 2011, according to the book. The State Department, asked if there was any quid pro quo with South Sudan, said decisions on the issuing of visas are made 'in a way that prioritizes upholding the highest standards for U.S. national security, public safety, and the enforcement of our immigration laws.' From one hunger-stricken conflict zone to another Many Palestinians might want to leave Gaza, at least temporarily, to escape the war and a hunger crisis bordering on famine. But they have roundly rejected any permanent resettlement from what they see as an integral part of their national homeland. They fear that Israel will never allow them to return, and that a mass departure would allow it to annex Gaza and reestablish Jewish settlements there, as called for by far-right ministers in the Israeli government. Still, even those Palestinians who want to leave are unlikely to take their chances in South Sudan, among the world's most unstable and conflict-ridden countries. South Sudan has struggled to recover from a civil war that broke out after independence, and which killed nearly 400,000 people and plunged pockets of the country into famine. The oil-rich country is plagued by corruption and relies on international aid to help feed its 11 million people – a challenge that has only grown since the Trump administration made sweeping cuts to foreign assistance. A peace deal reached seven years ago has been fragile and incomplete, and the threat of war returned when the main opposition leader was placed under house arrest this year. Palestinians in particular could find themselves unwelcome. The long war for independence from Sudan pitted the mostly Christian and animist south against the predominantly Arab and Muslim north. Yakani, of the civil society group, said South Sudanese would need to know who is coming and how long they plan to stay, or there could be hostilities due to the 'historical issues with Muslims and Arabs.' 'South Sudan should not become a dumping ground for people,' he said. 'And it should not accept to take people as negotiating chips to improve relations.' ___ ___
Scottish Sun
15 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
‘Vicious' Meg is trying to one-up Kate with money-grabbing Netflix deal but it WON'T work, expert slams
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MEGHAN Markle has been labelled as "vicious" amid her latest venture - as her "Christmas special" clashes with Princess Kate's beloved holiday concert. Season 2 of Meghan's controversial cookery show will drop later this month - after she and Harry signed their latest deal with the streamer. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Season 2 of Meghan's controversial cookery show will drop later this month Credit: Netflix 6 With Love, Meghan was blasted for being out of touch Credit: Netflix 6 Her Christmas Special may clash with Kate's holiday concert Credit: Shutterstock Editorial The couple announced yesterday they had signed a new "multi-year, first look deal" with the American streaming giant to produce "film and television projects" - despite doubts being cast on their future. The deal is a "downgraded" version of the couple's original $100million contract - with the US streaming giant only approving projects it likes. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex previously released a number of shows on the platform, including a 2022 documentary on their lives and Meghan's lifestyle show With Love, Meghan this year. But one show already earmarked to feature as part of the new deal is Meghan's own 'holiday special' this December. This will clash with the Princess of Wales' annual Christmas carol concert. Kate Middleton's annual Together At Christmas concert at Westminster Abbey is usually a heartfelt and profound end to the year. Royal Expert Hugo Vickers said the Christmas crossover is another example of Meghan trying to 'cap' her sister-in-law's work. This is especially harsh given how Kate's TV special celebrates charity work and is done for the benefit of 'the rest of the world' - rather than 'vicious' Meghan's need to keep 'money coming in'. He told The Sun: "It's always said that whenever Catherine the Princess of Wales starts something that Meghan Markle does something else to cap it, or in some ways clash with it. "Maybe that is the case. Obviously, there are lots of Christmas shows around Christmas. Harry & Meghan were 'not in a strong position' & signed Netflix deal for 'much less'… TV giant 'did it for publicity' "Having said that, of course, the initiative of the Princess of Wales at Westminster Abbey is incredibly moving and incredibly special, and is done for the benefit of the rest of the world, for all the people who've been suffering, all the people who've helped with charities, all that sort of thing, so it's all for the public good. "And I'm not quite convinced that Meghan Markle is going to be dissecting some more petals and scattering them over salads, or whatever she's going to be doing in California, is in quite the same league. "I can see how a Christmas special on the cards. "It's a bit like Downton Abbey, which ran and ran and ran and always had a Christmas special, which people tuned into." Hugo added: "Obviously Netflix is a very hard-nosed business operation, and they won't have taken them on just out of charity, or they obviously think it's worthwhile. And of course, she does have an enormous number of followers. "The one great thing that Harry and Meghan have in their favour is that anything they do, however trivial, seems to attract a lot of publicity, which must surely be good for Netflix. "They've got to rely on things like this, because they lead such an expensive lifestyle. And they just need money coming in, because the money must be pouring out." It comes after Newsweek's royal editor Jack Royston claimed the "rivalry" between Kate and Meghan is still going strong. Speaking on The Sun's Royal Exclusive show, Jack shared: 'There was 100 per cent definitely a massive rivalry between the Sussexes and the Waleses dating back to when they were sharing a private office at Kensington Palace. 'And this sort of thing, you would absolutely cut and dry say, was a 100 per cent massive rivalry.' Both Meghan and Kate proudly shared photos of their kids artwork on social media in the same week - Kate posting on the Monday, and Meghan on the Thursday. One person commented: "She's so ever, a copycat!" And in an explosive tell-all chat with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan later claimed it was Kate that made her cry just days before her wedding. Previously, it was claimed Meghan left Kate in tears over her demands for Princess Charlotte's dress. In the announcement of the Netflix deal extension, Meghan said in a statement: 'We're proud to extend our partnership with Netflix and expand our work together to include the As Ever brand. "My husband and I feel inspired by our partners who work closely with us and our Archewell Productions team to create thoughtful content across genres that resonates globally, and celebrates our shared vision.' Hugo said the announcement seemed "very Meghan-centric", leading on her ventures and only referring to Harry as her "husband". What appears to be his personal passion project was mentioned later on, a short film called "Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within". 'Meghan & Harry need to come up with a hit soon' By Matt Wilkinson JUST when you thought it was safe to turn the telly on again... Harry and Meghan are back. And their multi-year renewal with Netflix means they are not going away anytime soon. There have been tense negotiations in recent weeks but Netflix is so deeply involved with Meghan's As Ever brand it was always likely that the streaming giants would want them back. Make no mistake, Harry and Meghan would have been desperate for the deal to be renewed. They will likely be opening a bottle or two of As Ever Rose in Montecito. Because they have invested heavily in Archewell Productions and getting on board with Netflix is central not only to their post-Royal endeavours but more importantly crucial to their bank accounts. If they lost their Netflix money then how could they afford their life in the US? While the length of the deal or how much the couple are getting paid is vague we do know that Meghan will appear in a 'holiday special' in December that will likely clash with the Princess of Wales's annual Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey. And finally, two years after I revealed in The Sun the couple had bought the rights to the book Meet Me At The Lake, production is in active development. Sources close to the couple are coy about whether Harry or Meghan will appear on screen for the production of Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within which will air later this year. But perhaps the best piece of news from the announcement is no repeat of the six-part documentary which dumped on the Royal Family. However, 'Harry & Meghan' was a ratings dream and none of their projects since have been anywhere as successful. They need to come up with a hit soon. And this 'first look' deal means Netflix has the first option on new projects from the couple without any guaranteed commitment. But remember the Sussexes are not the only Royals to be in bed with Netflix. The King will feature in a documentary on The King's Foundation with Idris Elba. It will look at Uganda's Masaka region and the HIV/AIDS crisis there. This has echoes of Harry's mum Diana's work, who changed the world's view about HIV and Aids. Hugo commented: "His skill, of course, is totally different. He was trained to do things for the Army, the Commonwealth, Invictus Games, all those sort of things, which he's actually very good at, and that's where his skills should be used. "She is more of a red carpet Hollywood person, and so I'm not surprised at all that he is only a kind of walk-on part, but she needs him there every now and again. "As you will have seen if you watch the cookery programs, he has to come in at the end, you know, with a with a grin to show that he's onside about it. "And again, in the awful Oprah Winfrey interview, he was wheeled in at the end so that we knew that he knew about it. "So, husband? Yep, that's what it is. He is the husband of Meghan Markle now." Asked if he thinks Harry will make an appearance in Meghan's Season 2, he said: "He probably will. He usually does. He does what he's told." Hugo wishes Harry would do more charitable work and raise awareness of good causes, which would be more in line with the work of the Royal Family. "I'm all for him doing things for Uganda and for other countries like that. I wish he'd do more of it, because he's very good at it, he's very good at it, and he does attract attention to it, to these different enterprises. "Our royal family all are always doing things for the United Kingdom and Commonwealth, and they aren't seeking to do things for themselves, whereas Harry and Meghan are doing things for themselves. "If he can focus attention on issues in Uganda... That's what he's good at, and that's what he should do much more of, and I think we would greatly respect him if he did." Speaking about the contrast between Meghan's cookery show and Harry's more serious short film, Hugo said: "They are two very different people. "There's a huge contrast between focusing on issues that need to be thought about in Uganda, and being all sort of lovey in the kitchen. "We would take her happy kitchen life much more seriously if we hadn't seen the other Meghan in the Oprah interview. "We've seen how vicious she can be, which is the real Meghan Markle? "The one with the black eyeliner, spitting venom and fury against the royal family, or the one chopping up the petals and scattering them on the salads." He also slammed the show as out-of-touch - wondering if Meghan will heed the backlash to her first season. Across eight 33-minute episodes the mum-of-two made cringe jokes about her bacon, shared recipes with pals, learnt from celeb chefs and even became emotional over bees. But less than an hour after the release, harsh viewers already left scathing criticism. One penned on X: "I'm not even 30 seconds into the first episode and I already know that With Love, Meghan is the FAKESTEST stuff ever." Another added: "Six minutes of with love Meghan... ok only for richest bye bye." "All of Meghan Markle's 'recipes' can be found on Pinterest," claimed someone else. Hugo added: "I don't know about you, but you don't normally wear a white dress in the kitchen, and you usually have an apron of any sort. "It all looked a bit fake. It wasn't even her kitchen anyway. It all looks so easy, and it, yeah, it's out of touch, it's just not relevant. "And there are other people who are professional chefs who are very much better at it." The Sun approached Archewell for comment. 6 Meghan has carried out a number of business ventures this year Credit: Instagram 6 It is yet to be revealed whether Harry will appear in Season 2 Credit: BackGrid
Scottish Sun
15 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Meghan says she loves ‘finding ways to show she cares' & reveals food Harry hates in cringe trailer for Netflix show
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MEGHAN Markle has shared a new cringey trailer for her critically panned Netflix show. Footage showed the Duchess of Sussex alongside a host of famous guests speaking about how she "loves finding new ways to show people she cares" ahead of the release of the second series of With Love, Meghan on August 26. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 The second season Meghan Markle's show With Love, Meghan is due to be released on August 26 Credit: JAKE ROSENBERG/NETFLIX 7 Today's trailer has revealed some of the stars who are due to join her in the new series Credit: COURTESY OF NETFLIX 7 The first season of her show aired on Netflix in March Credit: COURTESY OF NETFLIX The first season of Meghan's eight-part Netflix show saw her bee-keeping, making homemade candles and cooking with celeb pals, including Mindy Kaling and make-up artist Daniel Martin. The trailer, released today, shows Meghan awkwardly mention how she "loves spending time together" with people, despite having isolated herself and Harry from the Royal Family five years ago. The show's second series claims it will be "fun and heartwarming", with plethora of celebrity guests due to make their appearance. This includes stars Chrissy Teigen, Christina Tosi, Jamie Kern Lima, and Tan France. Describing the new season, Netflix said: "Meghan returns with a fun and heartwarming new season, welcoming celebrity chefs, talented artists, and beloved friends for hands-on adventures filled with laughter and discovery. "From playful cooking challenges to DIY projects, Meghan and her guests explore bold flavors, experiment with new techniques, and discover simple ways to add beauty to everyday life. "It's all about embracing playfulness over perfection and finding joy in creating together." Meghan can be seen laughing alongside guests at her Montecito home in the trailer, even joking at the end about Prince Harry's lack of love for lobster. Speaking to Chef Andrés, she says: "You know who doesn't like lobster? My husband." In response, the chef light-heartedly retorts: "And you married him anyway?" In one cringey moment during the trailer, in which she is seen cooking and baking with celebrity friends, the Duchess of Sussex also says: "I love the idea of just spending time together... and finding new ways to show people you care." Meghan and Harry's Netflix deal is extended as 'special' Christmas episode of cooking show & new documentary announced She adds: "There are easy ways to show up, lovingly." There are also some notable omissions from the trailer, with husband Harry, 40, and the couple's two kids - Archie, 6, and Lilibet, 4 - nowhere to be seen. This comes after Harry and Meghan announced yesterday they had signed a new "multi-year, first look deal" with the American streaming giant to produce "film and television projects". The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have previously released a number of shows on the platform, including a 2022 documentary on their lives and lifestyle show With Love, Meghan this year. They had secured a lucrative five-year contract - thought to be worth more than $100 million (£74 million) - with Netflix after quitting as senior working royals in 2020. However, this new deal has been signed for "much less", an insider told Page Six. Meghan said in a statement: 'We're proud to extend our partnership with Netflix and expand our work together to include the As Ever brand. "My husband and I feel inspired by our partners who work closely with us and our Archewell Productions team to create thoughtful content across genres that resonates globally, and celebrates our shared vision.' 7 The cringey trailer sees Meghan cooking, baking and creating drinks with celebrity friends Credit: COURTESY OF NETFLIX 7 At one point the duchess remarks how she 'loves the idea of just spending time together and finding new ways to show people you care' Credit: COURTESY OF NETFLIX 7 The cringey clip also sees her say 'there are easy ways to show up, lovingly' Credit: JAKE ROSENBERG/NETFLIX Netflix will only pay for projects they want to screen, rather than pay in a single multi-million pound agreement like the one signed in 2020, The Sun understands. The Sun can also reveal, however, that the streaming giants will cover Archewell Productions's overheads, including all costs for its offices and staff. The new deal was also described as a "downgrade" by PR expert Mark Borkowski. He told the Mail: "I think Netflix has done a very neat job of pivoting away from two very expensive people who didn't deliver, and they've taken that deal off the table, and they've given them a modest one. "It's not like they're gradually uncoupling – it's a downgrade. Netflix are not going to expose themselves to those budgets again. It's Netflix saying, 'Let's have a look at your content, but we'll pick and choose, mate'." 'Meghan & Harry need to come up with a hit soon' By Matt Wilkinson JUST when you thought it was safe to turn the telly on again... Harry and Meghan are back. And their multi-year renewal with Netflix means they are not going away anytime soon. There have been tense negotiations in recent weeks but Netflix is so deeply involved with Meghan's As Ever brand it was always likely that the streaming giants would want them back. Make no mistake, Harry and Meghan would have been desperate for the deal to be renewed. They will likely be opening a bottle or two of As Ever Rose in Montecito. Because they have invested heavily in Archewell Productions and getting on board with Netflix is central not only to their post-Royal endeavours but more importantly crucial to their bank accounts. If they lost their Netflix money then how could they afford their life in the US? While the length of the deal or how much the couple are getting paid is vague we do know that Meghan will appear in a 'holiday special' in December that will likely clash with the Princess of Wales's annual Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey. And finally, two years after I revealed in The Sun the couple had bought the rights to the book Meet Me At The Lake, production is in active development. Sources close to the couple are coy about whether Harry or Meghan will appear on screen for the production of Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within which will air later this year. But perhaps the best piece of news from the announcement is no repeat of the six-part documentary which dumped on the Royal Family. However, 'Harry & Meghan' was a ratings dream and none of their projects since have been anywhere as successful. They need to come up with a hit soon. And this 'first look' deal means Netflix has the first option on new projects from the couple without any guaranteed commitment. But remember the Sussexes are not the only Royals to be in bed with Netflix. The King will feature in a documentary on The King's Foundation with Idris Elba. On top of Season 2 of With Love, Meghan - which will drop later this month - the couple will also film a "Holiday Celebration" Christmas special. "Join Meghan in Montecito for a magical holiday celebration," the announcement read. "Together, friends and family deck the halls, create holiday feasts, craft heartfelt gifts, and share lots of laughs – with simple how-tos to follow at home. It's a holiday wonder with warmth, tradition, and a generous dose of joy." The couple will also release a short film called "Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within" which will look at Uganda's Masaka region and the HIV/AIDS crisis there. This has echoes of Harry's mum Diana's work, who pioneered social change on perceptions of HIV/AIDS. She famously shook the hand of a man suffering with the illness without gloves, publicly challenging the idea that HIV/Aids was passed from person to person by touch. There is also "active development" on other projects with Netflix which "span a variety of content genres", including a feature adaptation of the bestselling romantic novel by Carley Fortune, Meet Me At The Lake. Bela Bajaria, Netflix's Chief Content Officer, said: 'Harry and Meghan are influential voices whose stories resonate with audiences everywhere. "The response to their work speaks for itself — Harry & Meghan gave viewers an intimate look into their lives and quickly became one of our most-watched documentary series. "More recently, fans have been inspired by With Love, Meghan, with products from the new As Ever line consistently selling out in record time. "We're excited to continue our partnership with Archewell Productions and to entertain our members together.' It was previously thought that the Sussexes' £74million deal with the streamer was not going to be renewed. Harry's vanity project, Polo, about the sport, was watched by just 500,000 people. But it was also understood that bosses were mildly infuriated by Meghan making her As Ever brand a priority. The With Love, Meghan viewing figures have reportedly been "dismal". Lifestyle and cookery show With Love, Meghan only ranked at number 383 in Netflix's six-monthly engagement report this year, with just 5.3million viewers across the globe. Described by one critic as an 'exercise in narcissism', it was beaten by reruns of the first four seasons of legal drama Suits, which also starred the Duchess in her pre-royal days. Once judged by some as Britain's greatest soft power asset since Princess Diana, Meghan was filmed for her show making ladybird-shaped canapes from cherry tomatoes and mozzarella balls. In truth, the show is a smash hit compared to her husband's vanity docuseries Polo, blasted as 'a dull indulgence about a rich person's pursuit'. In the first six months of the year the programme attracted a disastrous 500,000 views globally, ranking it at number 3,442 out of around 7,000 shows.
