Kenneth Branagh

Kenneth Branagh married actress Emma Thompson in 1989. They were featured together in several television series like ‘Fortunes of War’ and films including ‘Look Back in Anger’, ‘Henry V’, and ‘Much Ado About Nothing.’

While still married to Emma, Kenneth started having an affair with actress Helena Bonham Carter while he was directing and co-starring with her in ‘Mary Shelley's Frankenstein’. Emma ended the marriage in 1995. His relationship with Helena continued for several years.

He met film art director Lindsay Brunnock during the filming of ‘Shackleton’. They got married in 2003.

Kenneth Charles Branagh was born on December 10, 1960 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, to Frances Harper and William Branagh, a plumber who also ran a company that specialized in suspended ceilings and fitting partitions. He belongs to a family of working class Protestants. Kenneth has two siblings.

When he was nine, his family left Ireland to avoid the ongoing violent religious conflict known as ‘The Troubles’, and settled in Reading, Berkshire, England.

He received his early education at Grove Primary School, Whiteknights Primary School, and Meadway School in Tilehurst. In Meadway School, he participated in school plays like ‘Toad of Toad Hall’, and ‘Oh, What a Lovely War!

Kenneth Branagh received training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and embarked on a career as a stage actor. In 1982, he won the SWET Award for Best Newcomer, for his performance as Judd in ‘Another Country’, directed by Julian Mitchell.

He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company and in 1984, performed in the company’s production of ‘Henry V’, directed by Adrian Noble. The play ran to full houses in London. Later, he would adapt this version of the play into a film in 1989.

In 1987, he co-founded the Renaissance Theatre Company with English film producer and actor David Parfitt. He experienced success with several productions including ‘Romeo and Juliet’, in which he co-starred with English actress Samantha Bond.

One of Renaissance’s major productions was ‘Twelfth Night’ (1987), starring Frances Barber as Viola and Richard Briers as Malvolio. The play featured an original score by musician and composer Patrick Doyle, who would also compose the music for Kenneth's film adaptation of ‘Henry V’.

In 1988, he collaborated with Birmingham Rep for a tour of three Shakespearean plays—comedy ‘Much Ado About Nothing’, romantic drama ‘As You Like It’, and tragedy ‘Hamlet’. The project was called Renaissance Shakespeare on the Road.

One of Kenneth Branagh’s early works, ‘Henry V,’ received much praise. The historical drama film was adapted from William Shakespeare's play of the same name. Branagh starred in and also directed the film. Besides him, the film had Paul Scofield, Derek Jacobi, Ian Holm, and Emma Thompson. The film received worldwide critical acclaim for Branagh's performance and direction, and was nominated for three Oscars. He won the British Academy Film Award for best direction.

His directorial venture ‘Thor’ was a huge commercial success. It earned $181.0 million in North America and $449.3 million worldwide, making it the 15th highest grossing film in 2011. It starred Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, and Stellan Skarsgård as Erik Selvig. Patrick Doyle composed the film's score. The film bagged one Empire Award and one Saturn Award, besides earning several other award nominations.