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.
Kenneth Charles Branagh; AKA Ken, Kenny, KenBran; EST 10th December 1960, Belfast
Actor, writer, director, producer, winner of hearts, wearer of unusual facial hair, theatre company founder, interpreter of universal stories, player of guitar and piano, tap dancer, rocker of grey hair. Just a bit of a great bloke, really. Run by Jenna Hits:
Actor, writer, director, producer, winner of hearts, wearer of unusual facial hair, theatre company founder, interpreter of universal stories, player of guitar and piano, tap dancer, rocker of grey hair. Just a bit of a great bloke, really. Run by Jenna Hits:
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Stan Grue tried to curtail the movements of my flailing arms, which always seemed to get stuck in the air at the wrong moment, and accompany dramatic lines with entirely inappropriate gestures.
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- Kenneth Branagh - Beginning
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Up in my attic bedroom hideaway I was building up a miniature library of my own. The more I read, the more I wanted to write. My imagination grew in proportion to my isolation, and I started to write letters. To everyone.
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- Kenneth Branagh - Beginning
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My mother now insists that I was always a difficult child. At the age of three I spoke but could be understood by no one but her. Aunt Kathleen was convinced I was German.
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- Kenneth Branagh - Beginning
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On Saturday 10th December 1960, in the late afternoon, a second son was born, Kenneth Charles. It was about ten minutes to five and apparently I was just in time for the football results.
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- Kenneth Branagh - Beginning
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The San Francisco Film Societyannounced today that Kenneth Branagh will be the recipient of the Founder’s Directing Award at the 55th San Francisco International Film Festival (April 19 – May 3). The FDA will be presented to Branagh at Film Society Awards Night, Thursday, April 26 at the historic Warfield Theatre.
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Best supporting actor
Will win: Kenneth Branagh (My Week With Marilyn)
Should win: Kenneth Branagh
Will win: Kenneth Branagh (My Week With Marilyn)
Should win: Kenneth Branagh
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- The Guardian Film blog plumping Ken to win (& believing he should!) at the Oscars.
(Source: Guardian)
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To see Kenneth Branagh play Laurence Olivier is to truly understand destiny. He was born to play this role. As captivated as I was by the vivid portrayal, what impressed me most was Kenneth’s ability to lose himself and disappear inside the ego and vulnerability of the Olivier character. I was so enthralled by Kenneth’s likeness to Olivier that I forgot I was watching a performance. He is able to capture the fragility and frustration of an actor so studied in theater, yet struggling to capture the elusive ‘it’ that one must possess to own the screen. I found myself laughing and relating to Olivier even through his anger-entrenched moments. I admire Kenneth for bringing a sense of reality and humanity to one of the most celebrated actors.
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- Amy Adams on Kenneth Branagh’s performance in My Week With Marilyn. (via beerosie)
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One feels at this point, literally overjoyed & a bit overwhelmed, and I heard the news standing on a hillside in Guernsey with the wind blowing & spray in my face trying to work out how to come up with a location and a shot for what we hope is the next film I direct. Then the phone rang, with the miracles of modern technology, and it seems like a very good omen for the movie. So, it’s a lovely moment.
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- Ken on receiving his Oscar nomination (x)
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I guess that’s how I think about award seasons, full of friendship and a feeling that you’re living in a Magritte painting.
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