A Legacy of Acting and Family
Phyllida Law, an accomplished actress and the mother of Academy Award winner Emma Thompson and her sister Sophie Thompson, has passed away at the age of 94. Her representative, Jacky Leggo, confirmed the news, stating that Law died peacefully at her home on July 27, surrounded by her loved ones.
A Distinguished Career
Law was a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, gaining recognition for her work throughout the 1960s. Her television credits included appearances in Play School, A Picture of Katherine Mansfield, That’s Love, and Kingdom. She made her big-screen debut in the 1968 film Otley. Later in her career, she shared the screen with her daughter Sophie in the 1996 adaptation of Emma.
The Strong Bond of the Thompson Women
Law’s late husband, Eric Thompson, passed away in 1982. Following his death, Emma Thompson often spoke about how the loss brought the surviving family members closer together. In past interviews, the Oscar winner described her mother and sister as a resilient "triumvirate" of working actresses who built their careers through independent effort.
Reflecting on her daughters' successful careers, Law once remarked with characteristic wit in a 2017 interview with The Telegraph:
«They are both my colleagues in a way. They didn’t follow in our footsteps, they rushed past us, trampling on us.»
Jacky Leggo, who represented the late actress for over five decades, paid tribute to her legacy, calling her a truly beautiful person both professionally and personally.