Kenneth is the son of William and Frances Branagh. His father was an Ulster carpenter. Educated in Northern Ireland, he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1984 (after other stage and screen work) and was soon taking on leading roles.
Next, he formed his own 'Renaissance Theatre Company', and then directed and starred in a film version of Shakespeare's 'Henry V' (1989), opposite his first wife, actress and screen writer Emma Thompson. The couple met whilst filming the BBC World War Two period drama
Ironically, Branagh has fallen back in favour with the press and many of his films that were dismissed when they were first released are considered classics.
Kenneth married film art director Lindsay Brunnock in 2003.
"The Shepherd" proved that not only are OUaT's writers following a solid roadmap, but that the first stop is breaking our hearts.
The 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards will take place on January 16, 2006, and we've got the list of nominees ready for you to memorize. Who rocked your TV world in 2005?
The 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards will take place on January 16, 2006, and we've got the list of nominees ready for you to memorize. Who rocked your TV world in 2005?
Sometimes I make a small game of imagining actors in roles for the vast history of Middle-Earth. To that end, if I were to make a Tolkien-esque comparison for Branagh I would venture that he is the embodiment of Feanor. His passion for Shakespeare is akin to Feanor's love of smithmaking and he has bravado on the level of Feanor as I could easily see him laughing at Mandos.
Outstanding actor and truly a giant of our time. Who else these days could be said to embody, "...the vitality of Olivier, the passion of Gielgud, the assurance of Guinness" ?
In my view there is none but Branagh.
Where to begin...Peter's Friends was my first introduction to Kenneth and his crew of co-workers. Emma Thompson, pure perfection, could play the phone book and make you want to turn the pages yourself! Imelda Staunton, such a force or nature when it comes to her craft, and so bloody underated - she should have won the Oscar for Vera Drake!
But Kenneth, the man to rival Richard Burton's own interpretation of Hamlet and get away with it. His direction is always spot on perfect, even is he fleshes out every syllable of Shakespeare, he makes it worthwhile to watch!
His films, like that of Richard Burton, have run the gambit from comedy (wild wild west) to high drama (fortunes of war - also with emma) to suspense (dead again - also with emma and derek jacobi).
Like his ex-wife Emma Thompson, he can play the phone book with such amazing grace, the numbers dial themselves!
Equally good behind the camera (a midwinter's tale and Hamlet) he can be the new Orson Wells of the 21st century as long as he wants to be.
There is but so much that The Bard has put to pen. Kenneth could interpret it all and leave a legacy of film that would rival that of Chaplin in it's masterful workmanship of storytelling, acting, and directing.
Missybea
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