Thompson's screenwriter role to avoid typecasting

Emma Thompson refuses to worry that ageing might affect her Hollywood career - because she writes her own parts.

The Oscar-winning actress has added her own twist to scripts of several of her movies, and fully tackled the role of screenwriter for her adaptation of kids' book Nanny McPhee.

But she insists the added workload is worth it - because it prevents her from being typecast in the ageist film industry.

Thompson says, "I write my own roles, which is helpful. Of course though, there are older parts like the one I played in Brideshead Revisited, which was excellent."

And the Brit is adamant she will never go under the knife to turn back the clock - insisting it's possible to look great as you get older.

She adds, "I'm not fiddling about with myself. We're in this awful youth-driven thing now where everybody needs to look 30 at 60. The trick is to age honestly and make it look great so that everyone looks forward to it."

Titles related to this article

Related/similar articles

• Branagh honoured at BPG Awards (29 March 2009)
• Emma Thompson: Top of the Class (3 June 2009)
• Nanny McPhee takes control of box office (31 March 2010)
• Top 10 Rising British Actors (21 May 2010)
• Thompson features in Clash of the Titans as Nanny McPhee (12 August 2010)
• Whedon revamps Shakespeare's Much Ado in 12 days (24 October 2011)