Kenneth Branagh
Kenneth Branagh | |
---|---|
Born | Kenneth Charles Branagh 10 December 1960 Belfast, Northern Ireland |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1981–present |
Works | Filmography |
Spouses |
|
Partner(s) | Helena Bonham Carter (1994–1999) |
Awards | Full list |
Sir Kenneth Charles Branagh (
He has directed and starred in several film adaptations of
Branagh directed and starred as Hercule Poirot in Murder on the Orient Express (2017), Death on the Nile (2022), and A Haunting in Venice (2023). He has also acted in Celebrity (1998), Wild Wild West (1999), The Road to El Dorado (2000), Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002), and Valkyrie (2008). His portrayal of Laurence Olivier in My Week with Marilyn (2011) earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He played supporting roles in Christopher Nolan's films Dunkirk (2017), Tenet (2020), and Oppenheimer (2023).
Branagh has starred in the
Early life and education
Kenneth Charles Branagh was born in
At school, Branagh learned to speak with an
Career
1980–1988: Rise to prominence
Branagh's first film appearance was as an uncredited role as a Cambridge student in the sports drama
The first major Renaissance production was Branagh's Christmas 1987 staging of
Branagh became a major presence in the media and on the British stage when Renaissance collaborated with
1989–1999: Breakthrough
A year later, in 1989, Branagh co-starred with Emma Thompson in the Renaissance company's stage revival of Look Back in Anger. Judi Dench directed both the theatre and television productions, presented first in Belfast then at the London Coliseum and Lyric Theatre. In 1990, he wrote his autobiography Beginning, recounting his life and acting career up to that point. In the book's introduction, he admits that the main reason for producing the book was "money" and that "The deal was made, and a handsome advance was paid out. The advance provided the funds to buy accommodation for the Company's offices, this moving Renaissance out of my flat and bringing me a little closer to sanity."[24]
Notable non-Shakespeare films in which Branagh has acted in and directed include the
Branagh is known for his film adaptations of William Shakespeare, beginning with Henry V (1989), returned with Shakespeare's romantic comedy Much Ado About Nothing (1993). The film premiered at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival where it competed for the Palme d'Or. The film starred Branagh, Thompson, Denzel Washington, Kate Beckinsale, Keanu Reeves, and Michael Keaton. Vincent Canby film critic of The New York Times praised Branagh's direction writing, "Now he has accomplished something equally difficult. He has taken a Shakespearean romantic comedy, the sort of thing that usually turns to mush on the screen, and made a movie that is triumphantly romantic, comic and, most surprising of all, emotionally alive."[25]
However Branagh had a career misstep with his adaptation of the
Also in 1995, Branagh portrayed
Branagh returned to directing, in the acclaimed adaptation of
Post-Hamlet, Branagh took a break from directing choosing to act in films directed by auteur directors. He starred in Robert Altman's legal thriller The Gingerbread Man (1998), Paul Greengrass' dramedy The Theory of Flight (1998) and Woody Allen's celebrity satire Celebrity (1998). The following year he starred in the Western film Wild Wild West opposite Will Smith, Kevin Kline, and Salma Hayek, which received negative reviews. During this time Branagh took on voice roles playing the title role in BBC radio broadcasts of Hamlet and Cyrano de Bergerac, and the role of Edmund in King Lear.[29] Branagh has narrated several audiobooks, such as The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis[30] and Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. In 1998, he narrated the 24-episode documentary series Cold War.[31] Branagh also narrated the BBC documentaries Walking with Dinosaurs, World War I in Colour, Walking with Beasts and Walking with Monsters, and the BBC miniseries Great Composers.
2000–2010: Established director
Branagh found commercial and critical failure with
In 2002, Branagh played
Branagh has been involved in several
Branagh is the star of the English-language
From September to November 2008, Branagh appeared at
2011–2020: Career expansion
In 2011, Branagh directed
Branagh participated in the
In April 2015, Branagh announced his formation of the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company, in which he would appear as
In 2014 Branagh directed and acted in the action thriller Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014) starring Chris Pine, Keira Knightley, and Kevin Costner. The film was a box office hit but received mixed reviews from critics. The following year, Branagh directed Disney's live-action adaptation of Cinderella (2015) starring Lily James.[52] The film was a financial and critical success. Peter Debruge of Variety praised his direction writing, "the underlying property emerges untarnished, as director Kenneth Branagh reverently reimagines Charles Perrault’s fairy tale for a new generation the world over, spelling countless opportunities to exploit fresh interest in the story throughout the Disney universe."[53]
Branagh started his first collaboration with
In 2018, he directed the film All Is True, in which he starred as William Shakespeare. Branagh also directed the fantasy adventure film Artemis Fowl, which was released on Disney+ in June 2020. In May 2019, Branagh was cast in Christopher Nolan's Tenet (2020) in which he portrayed the villain Andrei Sator and was praised for his performance. Branagh acted alongside Robert Pattinson, John David Washington, and Elizabeth Debicki.[58][59]
2021–present
In 2021, Branagh directed the semi-autobiographical film
He reprised his role as Hercule Poirot in 2022's Death on the Nile, a sequel to Murder on the Orient Express which he also directed.[62] In March 2021, Branagh signed on to direct a biopic of music group the Bee Gees.[63] In March 2022, it was revealed that Branagh left the project due to scheduling conflicts and was replaced by John Carney.[64] In October 2022, it was announced that Branagh would direct and star in a third Poirot film titled A Haunting in Venice, based on Christie's Hallowe'en Party.[65][66] Branagh reunited with Christopher Nolan, portraying the Danish physicist Niels Bohr in the war epic Oppenheimer (2023).
Personal life
From 1989 to 1995, Branagh was married to English actress Emma Thompson, who appeared with him in Fortunes of War, Look Back in Anger, Henry V, Much Ado About Nothing, Dead Again, and Peter's Friends. During their marriage, while directing and starring in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994), he began an affair with his co-star Helena Bonham Carter.[67] After Thompson divorced him, he and Bonham Carter were in a well-publicised relationship until 1999.[68] In 2003, he married film art director Lindsay Brunnock,[69] whom he met during the shooting of Shackleton in 2002.[70]
Branagh has said that he considers himself Irish.[71] He has said that he became "much more religious" after listening to Laurence Olivier's dramatic reading of the Bible every morning in preparation for his role as Olivier in My Week with Marilyn.[72]
Filmography
Year | Title | Distributor |
---|---|---|
1989 | Henry V | The Samuel Goldwyn Company |
1991 | Dead Again | Paramount Pictures |
1992 | Peter's Friends | The Samuel Goldwyn Company |
1993 | Much Ado About Nothing | |
1994 | Mary Shelley's Frankenstein | TriStar Pictures |
1995 | In the Bleak Midwinter | Sony Pictures Classics |
1996 | Hamlet | Sony Pictures Releasing
|
2000 | Love's Labour's Lost | Pathé / Miramax |
2006 | The Magic Flute | Revolver Entertainment / Les films du losange
|
As You Like It | HBO Films / Lionsgate Films | |
2007 | Sleuth | Sony Pictures Classics |
2011 | Thor | Paramount Pictures |
2014 | Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit | |
2015 | Cinderella | Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures |
2017 | Murder on the Orient Express | 20th Century Fox |
2018 | All Is True | Sony Pictures Classics |
2020 | Artemis Fowl | Disney+ |
2021 | Belfast | Focus Features |
2022 | Death on the Nile | 20th Century Studios |
2023 | A Haunting in Venice |
Awards and honours
Branagh has been nominated for eight
He is Honorary President of
On 10 July 2009, Branagh was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the RomaFictionFest.[76] He was also listed on the Radio Times's TV 100 power list in 2023.[77]
He was appointed a
In October 2015, it was announced that Branagh would be the new President of the
Year | Title | Academy Awards | BAFTA Awards | Golden Globe Awards | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nominations | Wins | Nominations | Wins | Nominations | Wins | ||
1989 | Henry V | 3 | 1 | 6 | 1 | ||
1991 | Dead Again | 1 | 1 | ||||
1993 | Much Ado About Nothing | 1 | 1 | ||||
1994 | Mary Shelley's Frankenstein | 1 | 1 | ||||
1996 | Hamlet | 4 | 2 | ||||
2006 | As You Like It | 1 | |||||
2015 | Cinderella | 1 | 1 | ||||
2021 | Belfast | 7 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 1 |
Total | 16 | 2 | 18 | 2 | 10 | 1 |
Discography
- Shakespeare's Richard III (complete) for Naxos Audiobooks
- In the Ravine & Other Short Stories by Anton Chekhov (unabridged) for Naxos Audiobooks
- Sony Classical, conducted by Claudio Abbado
- The Diary of Samuel Pepys 1660–1669 (abridged) for Hodder Headline Audio Classics
- The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis for Harper Books
- Shakespeare's "Sonnet 30" for the 2002 compilation album, When Love Speaks (EMI Classics)
- Mary Shelley's Frankenstein [Abridged]
- Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness for Audible.com.
- "The Duck and the Kangaroo", read for Fairy Tales, an album of poems and music for children (orchidclassics.com)
Notes
- ^ Act III, Scene 2
References
- ^ a b c "Birthday Honours: Branagh, Winslet and royal designer Burton on list". BBC News. 16 June 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
- ^ a b "Belfast celebrates Branagh's Freedom award – Belfast City Council". www.belfastcity.gov.uk. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ Clarke, Donald; Brady, Tara (13 June 2020). "The 50 greatest Irish film actors of all time – in order". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 28 February 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ^ "Monitor". Entertainment Weekly. No. 1237. 14 December 2012. p. 26.
- ^ "Kenneth Branagh Biography". Tiscali.co.uk. Archived from the original on 27 September 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
- ^ Claire O'Boyle, Our Belfast with Branagh, Daily Mirror, London, 22 January 2022, pages 34-35.
- ^ "Kenneth Branagh: I left Belfast but it's still my home and I'd love to shoot a movie here". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk. Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
- ^ White, p. 2
- ^ "The Kenneth Branagh Compendium: Conspiracy". Branaghcompendium.com. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
- ^ White p. 3
- ^ "My best teacher – Kenneth Branagh". TES Connect.
- ^ "Berkshire's BAFTA Branagh". BBC Berkshire.
- ^ "Meadway School Reunion – Staff Memories (Jim Morrison)". Archived from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
- ^ "Kenneth Branagh Archive" (PDF). Queen's University Belfast. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 June 2011.
- ^ "Kenneth Branagh – Biography". Talktalk.co.uk. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
- ^ "Kenneth Branagh". Culturenorthernireland.org. 27 February 2007. Archived from the original on 18 January 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
- ^ "RFVM History 1957–2012". Reading Film & Video Makers.
- ISBN 9780393331165.
- ^ "The Times, 20 February 2000". Members.tripod.com. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
- ^ The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (1980) An Entertainment, 19 November 1980 programme, GBS Theatre: London
- ^ White p. 17
- ^ Parr, Connal (29 January 2018). "Kenneth Branagh and why it's never too late to talk about Billy". Belfast Telegraph. Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
- ^ Quoted in The London Stage in the 20th Century by Robert Tanitch, Haus (2007)
- OCLC 20669813.
- ^ Canby, Vincent (7 May 1993). "Review/Film; A House Party of Beatrice, Benedick and Friends". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
- New York Times. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
- ^ Maslin, Janet (14 December 1995). "FILM REVIEW;Fishburne and Branagh Meet Their Fate in Venice". The New York Times.
- ^ "Hamlet movie review". rogerebert.com. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
- ^ "Shakespeare on Audio". Watershade.net. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
- ^ "Kenneth Branagh Book Search". AddALL.com. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2007.
- ^ "CNN – Cold War". CNN. 10 December 2008. Archived from the original on 10 December 2008.
- ^ "Shackleton" awards.
- ^ Archer, Graeme (24 September 2001). "Branagh ready for the next stage". Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
- ^ "The Play What I Wrote, a CurtainUp London and New York review". Curtainup.com. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
- ^ "Talkin' Broadway Review: The Play What I Wrote". Talkinbroadway.com. 30 March 2003. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
- ^ "Killing time". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
- ^ Douglas, Torin (27 March 2009). "Winners – 35th BPG Television and Radio Awards". Broadcasting Press Guild. Retrieved on 27 March 2009.
- ^ "Television Awards Nominations 2009 Archived 27 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine". British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved on 24 March 2009.
- ^ Martin, Lara (16 July 2009). "Emmys Awards 2009: The nominees". Digital Spy. Retrieved on 16 July 2009.
- ^ Allen, Kate (7 September 2009). "Coben, Cole, Atkinson vie for crime awards". The Bookseller. Archived from the original on 10 September 2009. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
- ^ "BBC One – Wallander, Series 3". BBC. 22 July 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
- ^ Staff writer (18 September 2008). "Rave reviews for Kenneth Branagh's West End return Archived 15 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine", inthenews.co.uk. Retrieved on 18 September 2008.
- ^ Hoyle, Ben (4 February 2009). "David Tennant and Kenneth Branagh miss out on Olivier nominations", The Times, Times Newspapers. Retrieved on 22 February 2009.
- ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Kenneth Branagh Breaks Silence On 'Thor,' Says Casting Talk Is Premature". Splashpage.mtv.com. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
- Marvel.com. 11 January 2010. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
- ^ Bradshaw, Peter (24 November 2011). "My Week With Marilyn – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
- ^ Boyle, Danny (28 July 2012). "Danny Boyle Welcomes The World To London". The Descrier. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
- ^ "London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony Media guide" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
- ^ "Kenneth Branagh and Alex Kingston MACBETH Directed by Rob Ashford and Kenneth Branagh". Mif.co.uk. Archived from the original on 21 September 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
- ^ McDermon, Daniel (20 August 2013). "Branagh's 'Macbeth' Coming to New York's Park Avenue Armory in 2014".
- ^ Porteous, Jacob (11 September 2015). "Live Cinema Broadcasts And A First Look At Judi Dench In The Winter's Tale". London Theatre Direct. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
- ^ "Disney Negotiating With Kenneth Branagh to Direct Cinderella". vulture.com. 31 January 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
- ^ "Berlin Film Review: 'Cinderella'". Variety. 13 February 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
- ^ McNary, Dave (11 March 2016). "Harry Styles, Fionn Whitehead to Star in Christopher Nolan WW2 Action-Thriller 'Dunkirk'". Variety.
- ^ "Daisy Ridley and Dame Judi Dench on board for Murder on the Orient Expres". BBC News. 30 September 2016.
- ^ McGavin, Patrick (17 August 2012). "The Master Rules in Chicago: 70 mm Screening Of Anderson Film Recalls Welles' The Lady From Shanghai". Movieline.com. Movieline. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- ^ "'Murder on the Orient Express': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. 2 November 2017.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (22 May 2019). "Christopher Nolan's New Movie Gets A Title, Final Cast As Shooting Begins". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- ^ "Tenet review – supremely ambitious race against time makes for superb cinema". The Guardian. 25 August 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
- ^ Bradshaw, Peter (20 January 2022). "Belfast review – Kenneth Branagh's euphoric eulogy to his home city". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
- ^ "'Belfast': Film Review - Telluride 2021". The Hollywood Reporter. 4 September 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
- ^ "Kenneth Branagh's Death On The Nile set for October 2020". Film Stories. 18 October 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (10 March 2021). "Kenneth Branagh To Direct Bee Gees Movie For Paramount". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (30 March 2022). "'Once' Director John Carney To Direct Bee Gees Biopic For Paramount; John Logan To Pen Script". Deadline. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ Panaligan, E. J. (10 October 2022). "Kenneth Branagh's Third Hercule Poirot Film 'A Haunting in Venice' Casts Tina Fey, Jamie Dornan, Michelle Yeoh and More". Variety. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
- ^ "Jamie Dornan, Tina Fey, Michelle Yeoh, Jude Hill Join Kenneth Branagh in Agatha Christie Mystery 'A Haunting in Venice'". hollywoodreporter.com. 10 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
- ^ Hedges-Stocks, Zoah (28 February 2018). "Emma Thompson on acting Love Actually betrayal: 'I had my heart very badly broken by Kenneth Branagh'". Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
- ^ "'Love, Actually': Emma Thompson Reveals Heartbreaking Joni Mitchell Scene Inspired by Kenneth Branagh Divorce". Yahoo! Entertainment. 28 February 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
- ^ White p. 271
- ^ "Kenneth Branagh Biography". Tiscali UK. Archived from the original on 13 July 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2007.
- ^ "Sir Kenneth Branagh, Belfast and the BBC". YouTube.
- ^ "Kenneth Branagh on Sir Laurence Olivier in 'My Week With Marilyn': 'He Was Impatient'". www.branaghcompendium.com. 18 November 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ Davis, Clayton (8 February 2022). "Kenneth Branagh Becomes First Person Nominated in Seven Oscar Categories". Variety. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ Over The Wall official website
- ^ "Honorary Graduates of the University of Birmingham since 2000" (PDF). The University of Birmingham. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
- ^ Lyman, Eric J. (12 June 2009). "Rome fest to honor Kenneth Branagh". The Hollywood Reporter. Nielsen Business Media. Archived from the original on 9 January 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
- ^ "RadioTimes.com TV 100 2022 – the full list". Radio Times. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- ^ "No. 60173". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 June 2012. p. 1.
- ^ Furness, Hannah (3 October 2015). "Sir Kenneth Branagh made president of RADA to upstage the posh brigade". TheTelegraph. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
- ^ "Debrett's 500 List: Stage & Screen". The Telegraph. 21 January 2017. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ "Sir Kenneth Branagh to receive Belfast's highest honour". Belfast City Council. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
- ^ "Dame Judi Dench and Sir Kenneth Branagh given Freedom of Stratford-upon-Avon". BBC News. 22 April 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- ^ Suart, Paul (23 March 2022). "Famed duo Dame Judi Dench and Kenneth Branagh coming to Stratford-upon-Avon". The Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- ^ "STRATFORD-UPON-AVON TOWN COUNCIL SPECIAL TOWN COUNCIL MEETING 22 February 2022" (PDF). Stratford-upon-Avon Town Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 June 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- ^ Gallagher, Charlotte (15 February 2024). "David Harewood: Homeland star named new president of drama school Rada". BBC. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
Further reading
- Kenneth Branagh (1990 [1989]) Beginning, London: Chatto and Windus, ISBN 0-393-02862-3.
- ISBN 0-7472-4718-8.
- Mark White (2005) Kenneth Branagh, London: Faber and Faber. ISBN 0-571-22068-1.
External links
- Kenneth Branagh at IMDb
- Kenneth Branagh on Charlie Rose
- Biography on Tiscali film section
- Kenneth Branagh interview from Premiere (1996)
- Branagh Collection at Queen's University, Belfast