What's Inside?
- Emma Thompson revealed Donald Trump once called her during filming in 1998, inviting her to dinner the same day she divorced Kenneth Branagh.
- Trump’s advances toward Thompson mirrored Salma Hayek’s story, where he pursued her despite knowing she was in a committed relationship.
- Both actresses shared their encounters publicly, offering glimpses into Trump’s history of bold approaches toward high-profile women in unexpected situations.
It’s not every day you receive a divorce decree and a date invitation from a future U.S. president within hours of each other. Yet that’s exactly what Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson experienced in the late 1990s. Speaking at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland, the Love Actually star revealed how Donald Trump once called her directly, asking her to dinner — on the very same day her marriage to Kenneth Branagh officially ended.
Donald Trump Once Asked Emma Thompson on a Date the Very Day She Ended Her Marriage
Emma Thompson was in her trailer filming the political dramedy Primary Colors in 1998 when the phone rang. On the other end was a voice introducing itself as Donald Trump. “I thought it was a joke and asked: ‘How can I help you?’ Maybe he needed directions from someone,” she told the audience with a laugh.
But the businessman’s intentions were more personal. “Then he said: ‘I’d love you to come and stay at one of my beautiful places. Maybe we could have dinner.’” (Via The Telegraph)
Thompson, then 38, responded politely, saying, “Well, that’s very sweet. Thank you so much. I’ll get back to you.” At the time, Trump had recently divorced his second wife, Marla Maples, and Thompson believes he may have been looking for what she called “a nice divorcée” to accompany him. “I bet he’s got people looking for suitable people he could take out on his arm,” she remarked.
The call, Thompson mused, could have been the start of a very different chapter in her life — and perhaps even history. “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,” she joked.
Thompson’s marriage to Branagh had ended after six years, following his affair with Helena Bonham Carter. She later married actor Greg Wise in 2003, with whom she shares two children. Trump, meanwhile, would go on to marry Melania Trump in 2005.
The revelation at Locarno, where Thompson was honored with the Leopard Club Award and premiered her thriller The Dead of Winter, became one of the festival’s most talked-about moments. Blending Hollywood glamour, political intrigue, and a dash of romantic curiosity, it was a reminder that even in the unpredictable world of celebrity, some phone calls truly stand out.
Donald Trump Once Asked Salma Hayek for a Date, But Got Rejected
Emma Thompson’s revelation, which left many surprised, is not the only celebrity account involving Donald Trump. Mexican star Salma Hayek has also shared her own unsettling story, detailing how Trump pursued her despite her being in a committed relationship at the time.
Before she married François-Henri Pinault, the CEO of Kering, Hayek was one of Hollywood’s most admired rising stars — celebrated for her charm, wit, and undeniable talent. During an appearance on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Hayek revealed that Trump approached her at an event while she was with her boyfriend.
“I’m cold and Trump put his jacket on my shoulders… He said hello, presented himself – super nice,” Hayek recalled. But what started as a seemingly courteous gesture quickly escalated. Trump invited the couple to dinner, then offered them a stay at one of his hotels in Atlantic City. When both declined, Trump boldly asked for their numbers — later calling Hayek directly to invite her out alone.
When she reminded him she had a boyfriend, Trump reportedly replied, “He’s not good enough for you… He’s not big enough for you. You have to go out with me.” Hayek turned him down.
According to Hayek, Trump didn’t take the rejection well. Soon after, a story appeared in the National Enquirer claiming Trump had refused to date her because she was “too short.” Hayek alleged that this was no coincidence. “Someone told the National Enquirer — I’m not going to say who… whatever he wants to come out, comes out in the National Enquirer,” she said.
Later, Trump left her a voicemail insisting he hadn’t made the comment and suggesting she should go out with him so people wouldn’t believe it. Hayek, however, stood her ground, leaving Trump with yet another unsuccessful attempt.
