Dame Emma Thompson DBE (born 15 April 1959) is a British actress and screenwriter. Her work spans over four decades of screen and stage, and her accolades include two Academy Awards, three BAFTA Awards, two Golden Globe Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award. In 2018, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to drama. Born to actors Eric Thompson and Phyllida Law, Thompson was educated at Newnham College, Cambridge, where she became a member of the Footlights troupe, and appeared in the comedy sketch series Alfresco (1983–1984). Besides acting, Thompson is also an active environmentalist and a supporter of Greenpeace; she even participated in a Greenpeace 'Save the Arctic' expedition and is an ambassador for the Galapagos Conservation Trust. She is also politically liberal and a supporter of the Labour Party.