64 years old (Born on December 10, 1960)
Irish actor and film director; He is famous from Henry V, Dead Again.
Wrote many of the In the Bleak Midwinter (1995) characters for specific actors. To date (2005), he has appeared as the title character in four films: Henry V (1989), Frankenstein (1994), Hamlet (1996) and Shackleton (2002) (TV). He can play guitar, piano and tap. He allegedly declined the C.B.E. (Commander of the order of the British Empire) in 1994. Former son-in-law of Phyllida Law.Kenneth Branagh's Best Moments
Fun Facts About Kenneth Branagh
Claims that Derek Jacobi is the reason he got into acting, and thus Jacobi became a frequent collaborator with him in most of his movies.
Dated Alicia Silverstone. [October 1999]
He was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1983 (1982 season) for Most Promising Newcomer for his performance in "Another Country".
Dated Helena Bonham Carter. [1994-1999]
Is a vice-president of Chichester Cinema at New Park. Maggie Smith and Anita Roddick are also vice-presidents.
(October 2008) Currently starring in Tom Stoppard`s version of Chekov`s Ivanov at the Donmar West End at Wyndhams Theater in London. Is also directing Jude Law in Hamlet later in the season (Spring, 2009).
He was nominated for a 2003 London Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actor for his performance in "Edmond" at the Royal National Theatre.
He was one of the guests at Prince Charles`s and Camilla Parker-Bowles` wedding on 9 April 2005.
He and his ex-wife, Emma Thompson, have appeared in separate films in the Harry Potter series. Branagh played Gilderoy Lockhart in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), and Thompson played Sybil Trelawney in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004). Depending on what has been cut from the script for the fifth film, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) could be the first time both have appeared together in the same film since their divorce. Also appearing in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) is his ex-girlfriend, Helena Bonham Carter.
He is a strong supporter of Belfast football team Linfield, as well as Tottenham Hotspur and Glasgow Rangers. (en.wikipedia.org)
Was 15 when he first saw "Hamlet" performed.
Grew up in poverty in the shadow of a tobacco factory in Belfast.
Co-founded the Renaissance Theatre Company with David Parfitt, with Prince Charles as a royal patron.
He was awarded the 1988 London Critics Circle Theatre Award (Drama Theatre Award) for Special Award.
Originally cast as the lead in Amadeus (1984) before the production company decided on casting American actors in the leading roles.
Has directed two people who have played Batman: Christian Bale in Henry V (1989), and Michael Keaton in Much Ado About Nothing (1993).
Youngest actor to receive the Golden Quill (Gielgud Award), 2000.
Moved to Reading, England at the age of nine. At age 23, he became the youngest actor in the Royal Shakespeare Company to ever play the lead in Shakespeare`s "Henry V".
Mentioned in theme song in The Adventures of George the Projectionist (2006).
A Member of the RADA Council.
Shares two roles with Laurence Olivier: Henry V and Hamlet. He and Olivier also both directed their own performances in both films. He also directed Sleuth (2007), a remake of the 1972 film, in which Olivier starred. This time, Michael Caine played Olivier's part, while Jude Law played the second of two roles he shared with Caine--having previously appeared in Alfie (2004).
Denies rumor that he is dating Alicia Silverstone. [November 1999]
Was originally considered for the part of the younger Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999).
Was considered for the role of Jack Crawford in The Silence of the Lambs (1991).
The last film he made with Emma Thompson was Much Ado About Nothing (1993). Their roles had previously been played in an earlier film by Robert Stephens and Maggie Smith, who were also a couple at the time. Branagh and Thompson appeared together in "Fortunes of War" (1987) (mini) and Henry V (1989), which also featured Stephens, and in the Harry Potter films with Smith.
Ex-brother-in-law of Sophie Thompson and Richard Lumsden.
Was one of the directors considered for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004). He had appeared in the previous film, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002).
In 1990, he received an honorary doctorate in Literature from Queen's University (located in Belfast, Northern Ireland).
He can speak Italian.
He was nominated for a 2004 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Actor of 2003 for his performance in "Edmond" at the Royal National Theatre: Olivier Stage.
One of only three actors to have their name mentioned by a character in the Blackadder series (Alongside Charles Chaplin ("Blackadder Goes Forth" (1989), and Delia Smith (Blackadder Back & Forth (1999)). Blackadder mentioned his name in Blackadder: Back and Forth whilst talking to William Shakespeare on the topic of 'Hamlet'.
Appeared with Campbell Scott in Dead Again (1991). Scott later starred in and co-directed Hamlet (2000/II) (TV), and Branagh later starred in and directed Hamlet (1996).
Educated at RADA, London
Frequently casts his ex-wife Emma Thompson.