hieranarchy

Hugh Laurie and Emma Thompson met in Cambridge when they were 19, were president and vice-president of the famous Cambridge Footlights Comedy Club (along with Stephen Fry, Rowan Atkinson, and many of their friends). They dated but even after they broke up they continued writing comedies together and remained good friends for over 40 years.

Imagine meeting your first love in a drama club in Cambridge amongst a group of friends you'll grow old together with and falling in love with his soul so much that even when it didn't work out, he's still there as a best friend decades later, presenting you with your Hollywood Walk of Fame.

P.S. Here's a hilariously sweet sneak peak of their Cambridge Footlights bio that they wrote of one another:

I'm sorry, but Leo was ROBBED of an Oscar at the age of 19 for "What's Eating Gilbert Grape". 👏🏾

Chiiiiilllle.... Leo's performance was nothing short of amazing in this film. He played that role with such a sense of sensitivity, compassion, and realism, while at the same time, ensuring that his performance didn't tip over into the realm of being over-the-top, offensive, or just downright cringe. It's a VERY fine line to tip-toe around, and he did it wonderfully. 😊👍🏾

I still feel like he should have won an Oscar for this role, but at age 19, he was just way too young, by the Academy's standards. 🙄

& i ask-

it’s 7 in the morning, how can you love me this early in the day?

but she’s loved me through every hour of my worst day, more in a day than i’ve seen love in this lifetime.

everything i know about love i learned from her hands holding my hair back as last night’s decisions make their way out of my guts. love without pre-tense, without a winner & without a martyr. love without boundaries, with a shared hairbrush, and a warm cup of mixed berry tea.

i tell you every terrible thing i’ve done & you hold my hair back anyway. but of course you love me, you’re wearing one of my socks.

i’ve grown to learn that a burnt child loves the fire, that the heat of their rage always finds it’s way off their tongue. where were you before i was all ash & ablaze?

in another life the sky is always pink & i never broke my oath to remain soft. & in another, July’s cherry trees grow upside down with their roots in the air; & in another we met at 6 years old chasing after the same blue-winged butterfly & you got to know me before i grew hard & indignant. before my tongue betrayed me every time a soft-spoken lover was patient with me. & i tell you that i don’t know how to undo the ruin. i don’t know how to believe i am worthy of a gentleness i was never given. you tell me i’m worth the broken bones & i feel my heart take root in my body, like i’ve discovered something which i have no name for. i wish i could believe you.

my winter solitude, my cold blooded touch. i show you my splintered core & you love me despite it. i don’t know how to believe you.

but my words have never been faithful to me, & the reigns have slipped from my hold once again.

can you still love me once you learn what i am?

i’ve grown to learn that a burnt child loves the fire, that the heat of their rage always finds it’s way off their tongue. where were you before i was all ash & ablaze?

in another life the sky is always pink & i never broke my oath to remain soft. & in another, July’s cherry trees grow upside down with their roots in the air; & in another we met at 6 years old chasing after the same blue-winged butterfly & you got to know me before i grew hard & indignant. before my tongue betrayed me every time a soft-spoken lover was patient with me. & i tell you that i don’t know how to undo the ruin. i don’t know how to believe i am worthy of a gentleness i was never given. you tell me i’m worth the broken bones & i feel my heart take root in my body, like i’ve discovered something which i have no name for. i wish i could believe you.

my winter solitude, my cold blooded touch. i show you my splintered core & you love me despite it. i don’t know how to believe you.

but my words have never been faithful to me, & the reigns have slipped from my hold once again.

can you still love me once you learn what i am?