When Peter Leanse last saw Emma Thompson they were students at Cambridge University.
Since then Ms Thompson has appeared in countless films, gained worldwide fame and won two Oscars along the way.
And last Thursday, the 54-year-old actress bumped into her old university chum at an annual bash in West Hampstead to support elderly care charity Keeping In Touch (KIT).
The last time the pair had shared each other’s company Mr Leanse, 55, was director of a 1980 student theatre production starring Ms Thompson and a young Stephen Fry as her father.
Their reunion, more than 30 years later, came courtesy of the fourth annual KIT party at the Cumberland Lawn Tennis Club, in Alvanley Gardens, West Hampstead.
Mr Leanse, a Crouch End resident, was attending the party as a KIT supporter.
After bumping into Ms Thompson, he said: “It was great to see her looking so well, we had a very nice reunion.”
The Hollywood star, who won a best actress Oscar for her role in 1992 film Howards End, attended last week’s party to support her mother, actress Phyllida Law.
Ms Law, 80, spoke at the event about her new book, How Many Camels Are There in Holland?, which explores her own mother’s battle with dementia.
The party was attended by more than 100 people, including eminent sociologist Anthony Giddens, the charity’s patron.
KIT chairman Jeremy Morris said: “It went very well indeed, Emma Thompson chipped in from the sideline and created debate.”
For more information about KIT and to find out how to become a volunteer for the charity, visit www.kitorguk.com
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