Kenneth Branagh

Sir Kenneth Charles Branagh (born 10 December 1960) is a British actor and filmmaker. Branagh trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London; in 2015 he succeeded Richard Attenborough as its president. He has been nominated for five Academy Awards and five Golden Globe Awards. He has won three BAFTAs and two Emmy Awards. He was appointed a Knight Bachelor in the 2012 Birthday Honours and knighted on 9 November 2012. He was made a Freeman of his native city of Belfast in January 2018. In 2020, he was listed at number 20 on The Irish Times list of Ireland's greatest film actors. Branagh has both directed and starred in several film adaptations of William Shakespeare's plays, including Henry V (1989), Much Ado About Nothing (1993), Othello (1995), Hamlet (1996), Love's Labour's Lost (2000), and As You Like It (2006). He was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actor and Best Director for Henry V and for Best Adapted Screenplay for Hamlet. He has also starred in the television series Fortunes of War (1987), Shackleton (2002), and Wallander (2008–2016) and in the films Celebrity (1998), Wild Wild West (1999), The Road to El Dorado (2000), as SS leader Reinhard Heydrich in Conspiracy (2001), Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), Warm Springs (2005), as Major General Henning von Tresckow in Valkyrie (2008), The Boat That Rocked (2009), and as Sir Laurence Olivier in My Week with Marilyn (2011), Dunkirk (2017), and Tenet (2020). He won an International Emmy ...

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Chariots of Fire (1981)

UpliftingInspiringBeautifulClassic

In the class-obsessed and religiously divided UK of the early 1920s, two determined young runners train for the 1924 Paris Olympics. Eric Liddell, a devout Christian born to Scottish missionaries in China, sees running as part of his worship of God's glory and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hugh Hudson
CAST:  Ben Cross  •  Ian Charleson  •  Cheryl Campbell  •  Alice Krige

In the class-obsessed and religiously divided UK of the early 1920s, two determined young runners train for the 1924 Paris Olympics. Eric Liddell, a devout Christian born to Scottish missionaries in China, sees running as part of his worship of God's glory and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hugh Hudson
CAST:  Ben Cross  •  Ian Charleson  •  Cheryl Campbell  •  Alice Krige

Thor (2011)

Action-packedFunnyBoringClever

Against his father Odin's will, The Mighty Thor - a powerful but arrogant warrior god - recklessly reignites an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kenneth Branagh
CAST:  Chris Hemsworth  •  Natalie Portman  •  Tom Hiddleston  •  Anthony Hopkins

Against his father Odin's will, The Mighty Thor - a powerful but arrogant warrior god - recklessly reignites an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kenneth Branagh
CAST:  Chris Hemsworth  •  Natalie Portman  •  Tom Hiddleston  •  Anthony Hopkins

Anne Frank Remembered (1995)

Using previously unreleased archival material in addition to contemporary interviews, this academy award-winning documentary tells the story of the Frank family and presents the first fully-rounded portrait of their brash and free-spirited daughter Anne, perhaps ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jon Blair
CAST:  Kenneth Branagh  •  Glenn Close

Using previously unreleased archival material in addition to contemporary interviews, this academy award-winning documentary tells the story of the Frank family and presents the first fully-rounded portrait of their brash and free-spirited daughter Anne, perhaps ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jon Blair
CAST:  Kenneth Branagh  •  Glenn Close

Celebrity (1998)

The career and personal life of writer Lee are at a standstill, so he divorces his bashful wife, Robin, and dives into a new job as an entertainment journalist. His assignments take him to the swankiest corners of Manhattan, but as he jumps from one lavish party to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Woody Allen
CAST:  Kenneth Branagh  •  Judy Davis  •  Joe Mantegna  •  Leonardo DiCaprio

The career and personal life of writer Lee are at a standstill, so he divorces his bashful wife, Robin, and dives into a new job as an entertainment journalist. His assignments take him to the swankiest corners of Manhattan, but as he jumps from one lavish party to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Woody Allen
CAST:  Kenneth Branagh  •  Judy Davis  •  Joe Mantegna  •  Leonardo DiCaprio

Conspiracy (2001)

The historical recreation of the 1942 Wannsee Conference, in which Nazi and SS leaders gathered in a Berlin suburb to discuss the "Final Solution to the Jewish Question". Led by SS-General Reinhard Heydrich, this group of high ranking German officials came to the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Frank Pierson
CAST:  Kenneth Branagh  •  Stanley Tucci  •  Colin Firth  •  Ian McNeice

The historical recreation of the 1942 Wannsee Conference, in which Nazi and SS leaders gathered in a Berlin suburb to discuss the "Final Solution to the Jewish Question". Led by SS-General Reinhard Heydrich, this group of high ranking German officials came to the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Frank Pierson
CAST:  Kenneth Branagh  •  Stanley Tucci  •  Colin Firth  •  Ian McNeice

Hamlet (1996)

IntenseSmartTragicEpic

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, returns home to find his father murdered and his mother now marrying the murderer... his uncle. Meanwhile, war is brewing.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kenneth Branagh
CAST:  Kenneth Branagh  •  Julie Christie  •  Judi Dench  •  Gérard Depardieu

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, returns home to find his father murdered and his mother now marrying the murderer... his uncle. Meanwhile, war is brewing.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kenneth Branagh
CAST:  Kenneth Branagh  •  Julie Christie  •  Judi Dench  •  Gérard Depardieu

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

AdventurousSuspensefulCharmingCute

Cars fly, trees fight back, and a mysterious house-elf comes to warn Harry Potter at the start of his second year at Hogwarts. Adventure and danger await when bloody writing on a wall announces: The Chamber Of Secrets Has Been Opened. To save Hogwarts will require ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Chris Columbus
CAST:  Daniel Radcliffe  •  Rupert Grint  •  Emma Watson  •  Kenneth Branagh

Cars fly, trees fight back, and a mysterious house-elf comes to warn Harry Potter at the start of his second year at Hogwarts. Adventure and danger await when bloody writing on a wall announces: The Chamber Of Secrets Has Been Opened. To save Hogwarts will require ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Chris Columbus
CAST:  Daniel Radcliffe  •  Rupert Grint  •  Emma Watson  •  Kenneth Branagh

Henry V (1989)

IntensePowerfulBrilliantDramatic

Gritty adaption of William Shakespeare's play about the English King's bloody conquest of France.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kenneth Branagh
CAST:  Kenneth Branagh  •  Derek Jacobi  •  Brian Blessed  •  James Larkin

Gritty adaption of William Shakespeare's play about the English King's bloody conquest of France.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kenneth Branagh
CAST:  Kenneth Branagh  •  Derek Jacobi  •  Brian Blessed  •  James Larkin

Love's Labour's Lost (2000)

The King of Navarre and his three companions swear a very public oath to study together and to renounce women for three years. Their honour is immediately put to the test by the arrival of the Princess of France and her three lovely companions. It's love at first ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kenneth Branagh
CAST:  Alessandro Nivola  •  Alicia Silverstone  •  Natascha McElhone  •  Kenneth Branagh

The King of Navarre and his three companions swear a very public oath to study together and to renounce women for three years. Their honour is immediately put to the test by the arrival of the Princess of France and her three lovely companions. It's love at first ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kenneth Branagh
CAST:  Alessandro Nivola  •  Alicia Silverstone  •  Natascha McElhone  •  Kenneth Branagh

Much Ado About Nothing (1993)

FunnyRomanticBeautifulLighthearted

In this Shakespearean farce, Hero and her groom-to-be, Claudio, team up with Claudio's commanding officer, Don Pedro, the week before their wedding to hatch a matchmaking scheme. Their targets are sharp-witted duo Benedick and Beatrice -- a tough task indeed, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kenneth Branagh
CAST:  Kenneth Branagh  •  Richard Briers  •  Michael Keaton  •  Robert Sean Leonard

In this Shakespearean farce, Hero and her groom-to-be, Claudio, team up with Claudio's commanding officer, Don Pedro, the week before their wedding to hatch a matchmaking scheme. Their targets are sharp-witted duo Benedick and Beatrice -- a tough task indeed, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kenneth Branagh
CAST:  Kenneth Branagh  •  Richard Briers  •  Michael Keaton  •  Robert Sean Leonard

Othello (1995)

The evil Iago pretends to be friend of Othello in order to manipulate him to serve his own end in the film version of this Shakespeare classic.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Oliver Parker
CAST:  Laurence Fishburne  •  Irène Jacob  •  Kenneth Branagh  •  Nathaniel Parker

The evil Iago pretends to be friend of Othello in order to manipulate him to serve his own end in the film version of this Shakespeare classic.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Oliver Parker
CAST:  Laurence Fishburne  •  Irène Jacob  •  Kenneth Branagh  •  Nathaniel Parker

Peter's Friends (1992)

After inheriting a large country estate from his late father, Peter invites his friends from college: married couple Roger and Mary, the lonely Maggie, fashionable Sarah, and writer Andrew, who brings his American TV star wife, Carol. Sarah's new boyfriend, Brian, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kenneth Branagh
CAST:  Kenneth Branagh  •  Emma Thompson  •  Stephen Fry  •  Hugh Laurie

After inheriting a large country estate from his late father, Peter invites his friends from college: married couple Roger and Mary, the lonely Maggie, fashionable Sarah, and writer Andrew, who brings his American TV star wife, Carol. Sarah's new boyfriend, Brian, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kenneth Branagh
CAST:  Kenneth Branagh  •  Emma Thompson  •  Stephen Fry  •  Hugh Laurie

Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002)

Thought provokingTear-jerker

In 1931, three Aboriginal girls escape after being plucked from their homes to be trained as domestic staff, and set off on a trek across the Outback.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Phillip Noyce
CAST:  Everlyn Sampi  •  Tianna Sansbury  •  Laura Monaghan  •  Kenneth Branagh

In 1931, three Aboriginal girls escape after being plucked from their homes to be trained as domestic staff, and set off on a trek across the Outback.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Phillip Noyce
CAST:  Everlyn Sampi  •  Tianna Sansbury  •  Laura Monaghan  •  Kenneth Branagh

The Gingerbread Man (1998)

A successful Savannah defense attorney gets romantically involved with a sexy, mysterious waitress troubled by psychopaths and dark family secrets.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Altman
CAST:  Kenneth Branagh  •  Embeth Davidtz  •  Robert Downey Jr.  •  Daryl Hannah

A successful Savannah defense attorney gets romantically involved with a sexy, mysterious waitress troubled by psychopaths and dark family secrets.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Altman
CAST:  Kenneth Branagh  •  Embeth Davidtz  •  Robert Downey Jr.  •  Daryl Hannah

Wild Wild West (1999)

FunnyFunWeird

Legless Southern inventor Dr. Arliss Loveless plans to rekindle the Civil War by assassinating President U.S. Grant. Only two men can stop him: gunfighter James West and master-of-disguise and inventor Artemus Gordon. The two must team up to thwart Loveless' plans.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Barry Sonnenfeld
CAST:  Will Smith  •  Kevin Kline  •  Kenneth Branagh  •  Salma Hayek

Legless Southern inventor Dr. Arliss Loveless plans to rekindle the Civil War by assassinating President U.S. Grant. Only two men can stop him: gunfighter James West and master-of-disguise and inventor Artemus Gordon. The two must team up to thwart Loveless' plans.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Barry Sonnenfeld
CAST:  Will Smith  •  Kevin Kline  •  Kenneth Branagh  •  Salma Hayek

Dead Again (1991)

RomanticBeautifulDramaticMysterious

In 1949, composer Roman Strauss is executed for the murder of his wife. In 1990s Los Angeles, a detective comes across a mute amnesiac woman who is somehow linked to the Strauss murder.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kenneth Branagh
CAST:  Kenneth Branagh  •  Emma Thompson  •  Andy García  •  Robin Williams

In 1949, composer Roman Strauss is executed for the murder of his wife. In 1990s Los Angeles, a detective comes across a mute amnesiac woman who is somehow linked to the Strauss murder.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kenneth Branagh
CAST:  Kenneth Branagh  •  Emma Thompson  •  Andy García  •  Robin Williams

A Midwinter's Tale (1995)

Out of work actor Joe volunteers to help try and save his sister's local church for the community by putting on a Christmas production of Hamlet, somewhat against the advice of his agent Margaretta. As the cast he assembles are still available even at Christmas and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kenneth Branagh
CAST:  Richard Briers  •  Joan Collins  •  Michael Maloney  •  Jennifer Saunders

Out of work actor Joe volunteers to help try and save his sister's local church for the community by putting on a Christmas production of Hamlet, somewhat against the advice of his agent Margaretta. As the cast he assembles are still available even at Christmas and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kenneth Branagh
CAST:  Richard Briers  •  Joan Collins  •  Michael Maloney  •  Jennifer Saunders

The Road to El Dorado (2000)

After a failed swindle, two con-men end up with a map to El Dorado, the fabled "city of gold," and an unintended trip to the New World. Much to their surprise, the map does lead the pair to the mythical city, where the startled inhabitants promptly begin to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bibo Bergeron  •  Don Paul
CAST:  Kenneth Branagh  •  Kevin Kline  •  Rosie Perez  •  Armand Assante

After a failed swindle, two con-men end up with a map to El Dorado, the fabled "city of gold," and an unintended trip to the New World. Much to their surprise, the map does lead the pair to the mythical city, where the startled inhabitants promptly begin to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bibo Bergeron  •  Don Paul
CAST:  Kenneth Branagh  •  Kevin Kline  •  Rosie Perez  •  Armand Assante

How to Kill Your Neighbor's Dog (2002)

The story of Peter McGowan, a chain-smoking, impotent, insomniac playwright who lives in Los Angeles. Once very successful, he is now in the tenth year of a decade-long string of production failures. He finds himself bonding with a new neighbor's lonely young ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Kalesniko
CAST:  Kenneth Branagh  •  Robin Wright  •  Suzi Hofrichter  •  Lynn Redgrave

The story of Peter McGowan, a chain-smoking, impotent, insomniac playwright who lives in Los Angeles. Once very successful, he is now in the tenth year of a decade-long string of production failures. He finds himself bonding with a new neighbor's lonely young ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Kalesniko
CAST:  Kenneth Branagh  •  Robin Wright  •  Suzi Hofrichter  •  Lynn Redgrave

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994)

Based on Mary Shelley's novel, "Frankenstein" tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a promising young doctor who, devastated by the death of his mother during childbirth, becomes obsessed with bringing the dead back to life. His experiments lead to the creation ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kenneth Branagh
CAST:  Robert De Niro  •  Kenneth Branagh  •  Tom Hulce  •  Helena Bonham Carter

Based on Mary Shelley's novel, "Frankenstein" tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a promising young doctor who, devastated by the death of his mother during childbirth, becomes obsessed with bringing the dead back to life. His experiments lead to the creation ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kenneth Branagh
CAST:  Robert De Niro  •  Kenneth Branagh  •  Tom Hulce  •  Helena Bonham Carter
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