'I’m depressed about my thighs' Emma Thompson, 62, admits her ‘joy and grief’ over ageing

express.co.uk:

Celebrated actress Dame Emma Thompson has admitted that the experience of living with both her mother and daughter throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has left her feeling “grateful she can still get up a hill” but “depressed about her thighs”.She spoke about witnessing the ageing process in her mother, while her daughter’s life seemed to be just getting started.

In a piece for The Guardian, Emma described the intergenerational connection between all three women, and, in turn, how “existing between” affected her own self-image.Remembering her second Christmas under COVID-19 restrictions, Emma reflected on being “sandwiched” between her 22-year-old daughter, who she shares with husband Greg Wise, and 89-year-old mother.She wrote: “This year, more than ever, the umbilical connection between us tugged at me as I, Janus-in-waiting, observed, monitored and enjoyed the miraculous luxury of three generations together.”The actress went on to discuss the turbulent emotions that come with watching your parents and children get older.“Living between these bodies is an odd mixture of joy and grief,” she admitted.“I exist between them.

I’m grateful I can still get up a hill and I’m depressed about my thighs.”However, Emma went on to explain that the feeling she had from spending time with both generations was overwhelmingly positive.“Instead of grieving my mother's ageing, instead of envying my daughter's youth, I find I am buoyed up and calmed down by turn,” she said.

During the article, Emma also observed the “patience” and “fragility” of her elderly mother, in contrast to the “chaos” and “electrical charge” of her daughter.