EMMA THOMPSON - THOMPSON: 'I CONSIDERED ADOPTION'

Oscar-winning actress EMMA THOMPSON considered adoption after she failed to conceive a second child through fertility treatment, before deciding she should concentrate on Africa's orphans instead.

The HOWARDS END star, who conceived five-year-old daughter GAIA with husband GREG WISE thanks to IVF, eventually dropped the idea of welcoming an orphan into her home because it would be unfair to have one biological and one adopted child.

And she realised she should focus on her charity work rather than fulfil her dream of more children.

She says, "We considered adoption but I worry about having one adopted and one biological child.

"At some point the difference is going to become very painful and difficult so, in the end, because of all the work I do for the charity ActionAid, I decided I can be of good use to a lot of children in Africa and the best mum I can to Gaia here."