Christopher Nolan, Wife Emma Thomas Receive Knighthood and Damehood

Christopher Nolan and his wife Emma Thomas have added acclaimed new titles to their name.

Wednesday 18 Dec. Oppenheimer director Nolan, 54, and producer Thomas, 53, met King Charles at Buckingham Palace in London, where they were recognized with a knighthood and an honor for their contribution to the film industry.

“He said he had seen Oppenheimer and enjoyed it,” Nolan told reporters of speaking with King Charles, 76, after the event, according to Sky News Australia. “It was very nice that he knew our work and was aware of it, and yes, he hoped that I would take this as an encouragement to do more of it.”

The British government announced that Nolan and Thomas would receive a knighthood back in March, just weeks after Oppenheimer swept the Oscars. Nolan won best director at March’s Oscar ceremony, and the film won best picture, giving both Nolan and Thomas, who produces all of Nolan’s films, an additional statuette.

“Stand up, Sir Christopher Nolan and Dame Emma Thomas!” -one declaration divided among the official of the royal house social media accounts read. “Congratulations to everyone who received honors at today’s Investiture ceremonies, including film director Christopher Nolan and film producer Emma Thomas.”

“The pair were recognized for their extraordinary contribution to film, with their partnership producing major blockbusters such as The Dark Knight trilogy and Oppenheimer“, the statement added.

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Nolan and Thomas first met as students at University College London and married in 1997, a year before releasing their first feature film together, Follow. Since then, Nolan has directed 11 more films, and Thomas has worked on each of them as a producer. They share four children: Flora, Oliver, Rory and Magnus.

Nolan and Thomas’ knighthood ceremony comes weeks after casting reports began indicating the couple’s top-secret next film will star Tom Holland, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Matt Damon, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron and Lupita Nyong’o . The project is scheduled for release on July 17, 2026.