Finding a love that lasts is possible and not just in films, it even happens between actors on movie sets. Hollywood marriages rarely last, yet Emma Thompson and Greg Wise have shared 28 remarkable years since their wedding in 1995. Their love story unfolded on the set of Sense and Sensibility, where destiny and their castmate’s intuition brought them together.
The wedding celebration captured their shared values and deep connection perfectly. They opted for an intimate ceremony that balanced their need for privacy with their status as beloved British actors. Their partnership stands as evidence of lasting love in an industry known for fleeting relationships. Sometimes the best matches emerge from unexpected places.
This piece reveals how their special day created a strong foundation for their enduring marriage, starting from their chance meeting to the meaningful details that made their celebration uniquely theirs.
A Serendipitous Meeting on Sense and Sensibility
The love story of Emma Thompson and Greg Wise started with a strange twist of fate on the set of Sense and Sensibility in 1995. Their paths crossed to prove that magical love stories sometimes begin with mysticism and a dash of confusion.
The prophetic prediction
Greg Wise received a life-changing prediction before he walked onto the set of Sense and Sensibility. A friend with psychic abilities simply told him he would “meet his future partner on the film”. This prophecy sparked a chain of events leading to one of Hollywood’s most lasting marriages, though not exactly how Wise first thought.
Kate Winslet’s matchmaking role
Wise got the prediction wrong at first. Thompson was married then and “quite a lot older than him,” so he thought Kate Winslet must be his destined partner. Their date to the Glastonbury festival fell flat, with Winslet ending up “so bored”. The failed romance had an unexpected upside. Kate’s intuition spotted something special between her co-stars. She “pointed out that we were right for each other and told me that Emma’s marriage was over”, Wise later shared.
From co-stars to soulmates
Their relationship evolved beautifully from colleagues to life partners. Thompson was dealing with her marriage’s end to Kenneth Branagh when she found unexpected healing with Wise. “Work saved me and Greg saved me. He picked up the pieces and put them together again,” Thompson revealed with heartfelt honesty. Their bond grew naturally, showing how the best love stories often break from the usual script.
Their original meeting turned into a deep connection that grew stronger through:
- A shared passion for their craft
- Mutual understanding and support
- Knowing how to find joy in life’s surprises
Thompson later mused, “Then things happened that probably shouldn’t have happened, and it’s been 25 years”. Her simple words capture their love story’s beautiful unpredictability.
Planning Their Intimate Wedding Celebration
Emma Thompson and Greg Wise celebrated their wedding at the time of July 2003 amid Scotland’s breathtaking Argyll region. The couple wanted their special day to remain private and guarded the details until the very end.
Choosing the perfect venue
A beautifully converted barn at their Scottish home served as the ceremony venue, with the historic 17th-century Coylet Inn hosting the reception on Loch Eck’s shores. Their choice reflected their deep connection to Scotland’s rugged landscape. The location offered several perfect elements:
- A secluded spot away from public attention
- Magnificent views of Loch Eck
- Easy access to their cherished holiday home
- The reception venue’s rich historical significance
Personal touches and meaningful traditions
The bride looked stunning in an elegant white sleeveless dress with a sheer white top. Greg Wise honored Scottish tradition by wearing a traditional kilt paired with a waistcoat and long-sleeved white shirt. The typical Scottish weather made its presence known as the couple exchanged vows during a romantic downpour. Thompson’s wit shone through as she remarked, “We’ll need to get inside, Greg has got no knickers on.”
Celebrity guests and family attendance
The celebration remained intimate with only their closest family and friends present. Their three-year-old daughter Gaia’s role as flower girl added a heartwarming touch to the ceremony. Distinguished actor Sir Derek Jacobi attended the celebration, though Kate Winslet and Sam Mendes regrettably couldn’t make it.
The newlyweds shared their happiness with local villagers by treating them to champagne as they arrived at the reception venue. Sophie Thompson, the bride’s sister, captured the day’s emotion perfectly when she shared that “There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.” The celebration ended on a perfect note as the bride declared, “This for me is heaven. It has been a wonderful day,” setting the stage for their journey together.
Building a Strong Foundation
Emma Thompson and Greg Wise show us that strong marriages need more than just romantic feelings. Their practical take on love and partnership proves that lasting marriages thrive on constant care and realistic expectations.
Navigating age differences
The seven-year age gap between Thompson and Wise never became a roadblock in their relationship. They handled it with their usual wisdom and humor. Thompson speaks up about breaking age-related stereotypes, especially about older women with younger partners.
Blending families and traditions
Their family story shows how love can surpass conventional boundaries. They welcomed their daughter Gaia in 1999, but faced challenges having more children. Thompson openly talks about her fertility issues, saying she “would have desperately liked to have had more children”. Life had other plans when they met Tindyebwa at a Refugee Council event. Thompson reflects on adopting him: “Because there was space in my life for him, and I don’t think there would have been space if I’d had another young child around”.
Creating shared values
Their lasting marriage stands on several core principles:
- They take a practical view of love, with Thompson noting that “romantic love is a myth and quite dangerous”
- They know relationships change, as Thompson puts it, “you’re not going to have the same relationship after 20 years as the relationship you had when you met”
- They accept that “long-term relationships are hugely difficult and complicated”
Their honest viewpoint acknowledges that in twenty years together, their relationship has “died and comeback as a new one maybe four or five times”. This down-to-earth approach helps them stay connected while growing as individuals.
Thompson sums up their shared belief: “To think sensibly about love and the way it can grow is essential”. This practical mindset builds a thriving marriage that proves lasting love needs both heart and wisdom.
Their Unique Approach to Marriage
Emma Thompson and Greg Wise have become skilled at a practical way to keep their marriage strong after 28 years. Their secret? “To keep bloody working at it,” Wise says candidly.
Balancing careers and personal life
The couple’s acting careers often keep them apart, but they’ve turned this challenge into an advantage. “As actors, there is a lot of separation in our life because we get ripped away to spend months filming or touring,” Wise explains. This natural distance helps them keep their own identities while deepening their connection.
Their work-life balance philosophy has these elements:
- Supporting each other’s career decisions unconditionally
- Making the most of their time together
- Finding strength in their periods apart
- Maintaining separate creative pursuits
Supporting each other’s dreams
Thompson and Wise champion each other’s professional attempts consistently. Wise got an offer to join Strictly Come Dancing, and Thompson pushed him to accept it even though they had to delay their first holiday in seven years. “I told my dear lady wife when they asked that I’d said no, and she said ‘You’re mad! You’ve got to do it!'” Wise recalls.
Maintaining independence while growing together
The couple’s marriage approach challenges what most people think about being together all the time. “Possibly the secret is not spending the entire time together,” Wise reflects. They’ve found that having their own space lets them “plumb ourselves back in after long times of being apart”.
Thompson takes a down-to-earth viewpoint of their relationship, noting that “within that time your relationship will die and comeback as a new one maybe four or five times”. This honest outlook shows that relationships change and need constant adjustment.
Their marriage shows that love grows stronger when partners:
- Respect each other’s need for personal space
- Support individual growth opportunities
- Maintain honest communication
- Accept new ideas about their relationship
Thompson films in Finland with their daughter Gaia now, while Wise focuses on his own projects and plans visits when he can. This setup shows their belief that a strong marriage needs mutual trust and understanding rather than being together all the time.
Keys to Their Lasting Love
Emma Thompson and Greg Wise’s lasting partnership runs on their steadfast dedication to growth and honest communication. Their way of keeping a healthy marriage gives great insights to couples who want to build lasting relationships.
Regular communication and therapy
This prominent couple sees therapy beyond crisis management—it’s relationship maintenance. “I think, honestly, for everyone it is sort of essential,” Wise explains, noting how therapy has “boosted” their 21-year marriage. Thompson started therapy before meeting Wise, and he later welcomed it too. Now he attends weekly sessions.
Their therapeutic approach has:
- Individual sessions rather than couples therapy
- Regular “emotional housekeeping”
- Professional support to manage long periods apart
- Space to process personal challenges separately
Embracing imperfection
Thompson and Wise don’t buy into the “happily ever after” idea. They prefer something more real. “When couples say they’ve had two decades of unbroken bliss, they’re lying,” Thompson openly shares. She explains that in a long-term relationship, “your relationship will die and come back as a new one maybe four or five times”.
Their marriage stays strong with this realistic outlook. Both partners know that “long-term relationships are hugely difficult and complicated”. They accept imperfection and face challenges without pretending to have constant harmony.
Growing through challenges
The couple knows how to support each other through tough times while growing individually. This has made their bond stronger. Wise appreciates Thompson’s understanding during his grief. He shares how “Em was a fabulous person to have in the sense that, very shortly after Clare died… she was able to allow me to go off on my own up to our cottage on the west coast of Scotland, and be outside in nature and howl and do whatever I needed to do on my own”.
This mindset extends to their careers too. “Possibly the secret is not spending the entire time together,” Wise reflects. Their acting careers create natural periods apart that ended up strengthening their connection. They’ve learned to “quite good at plumbing ourselves back in after long times of being apart”.
Thompson’s practical view of love forms the base of their lasting partnership: “It’s philosophically helpful and uplifting to remember that romantic love is a myth and quite dangerous. We really do have to take it with a massive pinch of salt. To think sensibly about love and the way it can grow is essential”.
Emma Thompson and Greg Wise Wedding Frequently Asked Questions
Did Emma Thompson meet Greg Wise on the set of Sense and Sensibility?
Yes, Emma Thompson met Greg Wise on the set of Sense and Sensibility in 1995. Greg played the role of Willoughby in the film, and their relationship developed during the filming process. They began dating shortly after they met and later married in 2003.
How many times was Emma Thompson married?
Emma Thompson has been married twice. Her first marriage was to actor and director Kenneth Branagh in 1989, but the couple divorced in 1995. She later married actor Greg Wise in 2003, with whom she has been happily married since.
Do Greg Wise and Emma Thompson have children?
Yes, Greg Wise and Emma Thompson have one daughter, Gaia, who was born in 1999. They also raised a son, Tindyebwa Agaba, whom they adopted from Rwanda in 2003. Their family is known for being close-knit and supportive.
How old was Emma Thompson in Sense and Sensibility?
Emma Thompson was born on April 15, 1959, and Sense and Sensibility was released in 1995. This means she was 36 years old when she portrayed Elinor Dashwood in the film. Her performance earned her widespread acclaim, including an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.
How old was Greg Wise in Sense and Sensibility?
Greg Wise was born on May 15, 1966, which means he was 29 years old when he played the role of Willoughby in Sense and Sensibility. His role in the film helped to establish him as a prominent actor in the UK.
