During the 78th Locarno Film Festival, Emma Thompson shared a surprising anecdote from the late 1990s that unexpectedly touched on American political history. At the time, she was recovering from a public divorce from actor Kenneth Branagh and filming the political satire Primary Colors.

One day, while sitting in her trailer, Thompson received an unexpected phone call. The confident voice on the line introduced himself: “Hello, this is Donald Trump.” Known then as a New York real estate mogul and media personality, Trump was far from the political figure he would later become.

Initially, Thompson thought it was a prank. But it quickly became clear the call was genuine—Trump had tracked down her number to invite her out. The actress was amused but declined, focusing instead on rebuilding her career and personal life.

Looking back, Thompson has joked that saying yes might have “changed the course of history.” Her humor underscored the strange intersections of celebrity, business, and politics in 1990s America, when high-profile figures from different industries often mingled in the same social circles.

At the time, Thompson was navigating career transitions amid a shifting entertainment landscape. Her post-divorce years brought critically acclaimed roles and the beginning of her relationship with actor Greg Wise, whom she later married.

Trump, meanwhile, continued his rise in business and media before entering politics and eventually becoming U.S. president. The brief, missed connection between them now feels like a curious footnote in both entertainment and political narratives.

Thompson’s story is less about romance and more about the “roads not taken”—how small personal decisions can intersect with larger historical currents.

Today, she remains celebrated for her acting, writing, and advocacy. The Trump call remains an amusing reminder that history is shaped as much by what doesn’t happen as by what does.