Dame Emma Thompson has long captivated audiences on stage and screen — but her off-screen efforts speak just as powerfully. Fyears, she has used her voice and influence to support some of the world’s most vulnerable people: refugees and survivors of extreme trauma. Through her work with the Refugee Council and the Helen Bamber Foundation, Thompson shows what it means to lead with heart, consistency, and purpose.
As an outspoken ambassador for the Refugee Council, Thompson regularly highlights the human cost of forced migration. She speaks out about the emotional and physical toll faced by people fleeing war, persecution, and instability. In interviews, public appearances, and awareness campaigns, she urges the public to remember that behind every label — refugee, asylum seeker, displaced person — there’s a real story. She calls for policies that treat people with dignity and compassion, pushing back against the rhetoric that dehumanizes those seeking safety.
At the Helen Bamber Foundation, where she serves as President, Thompson helps shine a light on the lives of survivors of torture, trafficking, and sexual violence. She describes the organization as “a safe harbor” — a place where people begin to heal after unthinkable trauma. The Foundation provides a lifeline: legal support, mental health care, medical treatment, and a path toward rebuilding. Thompson doesn’t just lend her name to the cause. She actively helps raise funds, participates in planning, and uses her public platform to share survivor stories with empathy and urgency.
Her activism goes far beyond visibility. Thompson listens to those with lived experience and works alongside experts and advocates. She consistently challenges systems that ignore, silence, or harm vulnerable populations. Instead of seeking the spotlight, she redirects attention to where it’s most needed.
In a world where many turn away from crisis, Emma Thompson turns toward it — and invites others to do the same. With every action, she reminds us that influence is most powerful when it uplifts the voices of others.
Source: Refugee Council & Helen Bamber Foundation
