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Kenneth Branagh Biography |
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Kenneth Charles Branagh was born on December 10, 1960, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK, to parents William Branagh, a carpenter born in 1930, and Frances Branagh, also born in 1930. His brother William Branagh Jr. was born in 1955 and sister Joyce Branagh was born in 1970. At 23 Branagh joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he took on starring roles in "Henry V" and "Romeo and Juliet". He soon found the RSC too large and impersonal and formed his own, the Renaissance Theatre Company, which now counts Prince Charles as one of its royal patrons. At 29 he directed and starred in the film Henry V (1989), which costarred his then-wife, Emma Thompson. The film brought him Best Actor and Best Director Oscar nominations. In 1993 he brought Shakespeare to mainstream audiences again with his hit adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing (1993), which featured an all-star cast that included Denzel Washington and Keanu Reeves. At 30 he published his autobiography and at 34 he directed and starred as Victor Frankenstein in the big-budget adaptation of Mary Shelley`s novel, Frankenstein (1994), with Robert De Niro as the monster himself. The bad reviews may have had some effect on his marriage, though, because in October 1995 he and Thompson announced their plans to divorce. In 1996 Branagh wrote, directed and starred in a lavish adaptation of Hamlet (1996). In recent years he starred in a series of non-Bard-related roles in Celebrity (1998), Wild Wild West (1999), and as a voice in The Road to El Dorado (2000).
Biography Credit: www.imdb.com/name/nm0000110/bio |
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Trivia |
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Quotes Friendship is one of the most tangible things in a world which offers fewer and fewer supports. I feel more Irish than English. I feel freer than British, more visceral, with a love of language. Shot through with fire in some way. That`s why I resist being appropriated as the current repository of Shakespeare on the planet. That would mean I`m part of the English cultural elite, and I am utterly ill-fitted to be. I think the best actors are the most generous, the kindest, the greatest people and at their worst they are vain, greedy and insecure. I`m just a foul-mouthed Brit. My definition of success is control.Trivia Has directed two people who have played Batman: Christian Bale in Henry V (1989), and Michael Keaton in Much Ado About Nothing (1993). He can play guitar, piano and tap. He can speak Italian. He was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1983 (1982 season) for Most Promising Newcomer for his performance in "Another Country". He was one of the guests at Prince Charles`s and Camilla Parker-Bowles` wedding on 9 April 2005. Is a vice-president of Chichester Cinema at New Park. Maggie Smith and Anita Roddick are also vice-presidents. Mentioned in theme song in The Adventures of George the Projectionist (2006). Was 15 when he first saw "Hamlet" performed. 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). Was originally considered for the part of the younger Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999). (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). Co-founded the Renaissance Theatre Company with David Parfitt, with Prince Charles as a royal patron. Dated Helena Bonham Carter. [1994-1999] Denies rumor that he is dating Alicia Silverstone. [November 1999] Frequently casts his ex-wife Emma Thompson. Grew up in poverty in the shadow of a tobacco factory in Belfast. He allegedly declined the C.B.E. (Commander of the order of the British Empire) in 1994. 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". Originally cast as the lead in Amadeus (1984) before the production company decided on casting American actors in the leading roles. Youngest actor to receive the Golden Quill (Gielgud Award), 2000. | ||
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