Acclaimed actress Dame Emma Thompson and her daughter, Gaia Wise, have made a stylish return to Finland to champion their new cinematic collaboration, the gripping thriller Dead Of Winter.
A Family Affair On Screen
The iconic British actress, 66, and her 25-year-old daughter travelled to Helsinki on Thursday for a promotional photocall, where they coordinated their looks effortlessly. Emma appeared characteristically chic in a black abstract print shirt and trousers, while Gaia looked radiant in a floral cardigan and mini skirt.
The film, shot in the breathtaking Koli region in North Karelia, Finland, sees both women portraying the same character at different stages of life. Emma plays a widow travelling through snowbound northern Minnesota who interrupts the kidnapping of a teenage girl. With no phone service and hours from help, she becomes the girl's sole hope.
Gaia takes on the role of the younger version of her mother's character, depicting a journey from a life of happiness and richness, through trauma, to becoming someone capable of profound sacrifice.
Cherished Time Together
Reflecting on the unique experience of working with her mother, Gaia shared her excitement with the PA news agency at the film’s UK premiere. 'I was just very excited,' she said. 'I think I was also excited that we could be together for this amount of time, because I stayed in Finland the whole time we were filming.'
She elaborated on the unpredictable filming schedule, noting, 'Because I was on call, it was like, if the weather didn’t quite permit a scene they might call us in to do something, so it was always up in the air.' Her motivation for staying on set, however, went beyond professional duty. 'I just wanted to be there, not just to support her, but to be there for the whole thing, because I just wanted to sort of see it and see our character as well.'
Overcoming Personal Challenges
Gaia, whose father is Emma's second husband, former Strictly star Greg Wise, has been open about her past struggles. In 2021, she detailed her three-year battle with anorexia, which began when she was 16. The illness left her so thin that sitting on a chair was painful.
She credits her parents with saving her life through an emergency intervention in 2017. Gaia recalled her father saying, 'I don't know where my child is any more,' which she described as a 'kick in the teeth' that made her listen. She agreed to a three-month rehab stint, beginning on December 29, 2017, and has since expressed eternal gratitude for the therapy that saved her.
Professionally, Gaia made her acting debut in the BBC series Silent Witness and last year landed her first major break in the anime feature The Lord Of The Rings: The War Of The Rohirrim.
The mother-daughter duo were joined at the Helsinki event by producers Meri-Tuuli Varis and Timo Vierimaa. The film Dead Of Winter is poised to explore the darker facets of human nature and narratives of revenge, while simultaneously highlighting the immense resilience and strength of its heroine.
