Emma Thompson is sharing her candid views on romance, and they might not be what we expect. The 63-year-old recently opened up about the way she sees relationships based on her own journey and love life, which hasn’t always been so simple. We admire Thompson for her honesty, and we’re curious to see if you agree with her.

Despite having starred in so many acclaimed romantic comedies, it seems that the Love Actually actress isn’t a big believer in ’’romantic love.’’

In a recent interview, she noted, ’’It’s incredibly philosophically calming and helpful and uplifting to remember that romantic love is a myth.’’ She added that it’s ’’actually quite dangerous.’’

According to Thompson, ’’We can’t think sensibly about love anymore.’’

However, she insists that thinking sensibly about love is crucial, adding that ’’long-term relationships are hugely difficult and complicated.’’

She also noted that real relationships are far from being fairytale-like stories, saying, ’’If anyone thinks that happy ever after has a place in our lives, forget it.’’

Thompson herself has been in a few long-term relationships and is now with her husband of 20 years, actor and producer Greg Wise, with whom she has 2 kids.

She was married to her first husband, actor Kenneth Branagh, for 6 years. They divorced in 1995 after she found out he was having an affair with his co-star, actress Helena Bonham Carter.

Speaking on the affair, Thompson recalled being ’’utterly blind’’ to what was happening and admitted to having felt ’’unlovable’’ and ’’humiliated’’ after discovering the truth.

Thompson shared, ’’I was utterly, utterly blind to the fact that he had relationships with other women on set.’’

After their divorce, Branagh went on to have a 5-year relationship with Bonham Carter, who is now 56.

Later on, the 2 women worked together on the Harry Potter series, and Thompson noted that she had long ’’forgiven’’ the actress for the affair.

The 63-year-old actress credits her current partner, Wise, for helping her get through her heartbreak during that rough period of her life. She shared that he was the one who ’’picked up the pieces and put them back together.’’

’’I’ve learned more from my second marriage just by being married,’’ Thompson revealed. ’’As my mother says, ’The first 20 years are the hardest.’”