MCCUTCHEON: EMMA THOMPSON'S MY MENTOR

British actress MARTINE McCUTCHEON is a staunch admirer of OSCAR-winning EMMA THOMPSON, the "most gracious woman" she's ever come across.

Emma and the former soap star bonded on the set of new romantic comedy LOVE ACTUALLY, where the SENSE + SENSIBILITY actress offered up-and-coming Martine some friendly advice.

Martine says, "She is the most gracious woman I've ever met. She knocked on my trailer when we were filming Love Actually and said, 'Do you want to have lunch?'

"She gave me some great advice. She told me to remain true to what I want to do and to remember that stardom and everything else is phoney.

"She told me she'd done a musical and that it's nearly killed her, and said, 'I don't know if I'd be in a hurry to do it again.'

"And I said, 'I know how you feel.' She was lovely."