Emma Thompson’s Award Win: ‘I’ll Rock This Medal to Bed!’

Dame Emma Thompson, a well-known actress and writer, has been awarded the Hay Festival Medal for Drama this year. The ceremony took place at the Hay Festival in Hay-on-Wye, a famous event that celebrates books, writers, and the power of storytelling. Emma Thompson was honored for her outstanding work in drama, both on screen and in literature. During the festival, she had a conversation with author Elizabeth Day, where she discussed the novels that have influenced her life and career. Julie Finch, the chief executive of the Hay Festival, praised Thompson for her intelligence, wit, humor, and fearless storytelling. Finch said that Thompson’s work has given audiences a deeper understanding of humanity, thanks to her performances and her writing.

Emma Thompson reflected on her childhood and the books that shaped her love for stories. She shared that the first novel to inspire her was Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Mr Tod. Even though the story had dark themes, she loved it because it was long, and she and her siblings would choose long stories so they could spend more time listening to their father read aloud. She described her father’s voice as ‘honeyed’ and said those moments helped her develop a lifelong passion for language and storytelling. Thompson admired Beatrix Potter’s writing style, especially because Potter never talked down to children. She believes that children are a ‘sacred audience’ and that writers should always do their best work for them. Thompson feels very lucky to have grown up with parents who encouraged her curiosity and never patronized her.

As she grew older, Thompson’s love of reading continued. She was influenced by authors like Jane Austen and fantasy writers, who helped shape her imagination and worldview. She described herself as being ‘devoured’ by books, reading so much that she felt addicted to stories. However, she also felt conflicted because many of the female characters in her favorite books did not reflect her own identity. She wondered where she could find stories about women who felt the way she did. Thompson discussed how, in the past, women writers often had to hide their true selves because society did not accept women as authors. She feels fortunate to have had access to books and intellectual discussions, but she knows that many women in history were denied these opportunities. Thompson stressed the importance of access to books, the arts, and education for everyone, as these help people form opinions about important topics like law, childcare, relationships, and social behavior.

One book that had a huge impact on Thompson was The Madwoman in the Attic, which she read as a student at the University of Cambridge. This book opened her eyes to the different ways women writers had to disguise themselves in order to be heard. She realized that much of women’s writing and experience has been overlooked because it challenged social norms. Thompson was visibly moved when she received her award, saying it was ‘beautiful’ and joking that she would wear it to bed. She hopes that everyone will have the chance to read and learn, just as she did, and she continues to inspire others with her passion for storytelling and her commitment to equality in the arts.