With more years in the acting business than it might be polite to remind her, Emma Thompson knows all about picking a dashing leading man.

And with actor husband Greg Wise and her unofficially adopted son Tindyebwa Agaba around she doesn't have to look too far.

For Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday dinner in London, Miss Thompson was accompanied by Mr Agaba – a former child soldier from Rwanda.

That’s my boy: Emma Thompson with Tindyebwa at the Mandela celebrations

Earlier this year Miss Thompson and Mr Wise took legal action over a Home Office attempt to deport the 21-year-old.

Mr Agaba is now in his second year of a Cambridge politics degree – to the delight of the Oscar-winner he calls 'mum'.

'I am so proud of him,' Miss Thompson, 48, has said. 'He wants to be a human rights lawyer and to go home and be active, either in law or politics.'

And at Wednesday's Mandela celebrations, where guests included Sir Elton John and Robert De Niro, that pride was clear to see.

Smartly dressed in a white shirt and black trousers, a beaming Mr Agaba posed with Miss Thompson as they arrived at Mandela's star-studded party whose invited guests included world leaders, Hollywood stars, and television's queen of chat Oprah Winfrey.
But Mr Agaba's decision to attend was something of a surprise given his views on celebrity culture.

When at Exeter University, where he did his first degree, he attacked student apathy and complained of the 'death of politically and socially stimulating activism which has been replaced by the pathetic celebrity culture and living a pretentious life'.

Mr Agaba seemed at ease in the rarified atmosphere, but clearly Miss Thompson's presence was a comfort.

Five years ago he escaped a life of unimaginable hardship as a child soldier after fleeing war-torn Rwanda.

He was unofficially adopted by Miss Thompson in 2003 after she met him at a Christmas party in London held by the Refugee Council.

Tindyebwa had been sleeping rough in Trafalgar Square and she invited him to spend Christmas Day with her and Mr Wise.

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High jinks: Miss Thompson was soon involved in some fun with actor Will Smith as he hosted the auction

Since then Mr Agaba has lived at the actress's Hampstead home and had his university education paid for by her.

Meanwhile Miss Thompson got involved in some high jinks with Hollywood actor Will Smith who was hosting the auction at the charity dinner. As he serenaded her, the mischievious actress played the matador.

The night raised more than £5 million for Mandela's many charities.

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Lively: The event raised £5million for Mandela's many charities