Curiosidades

He has been a fan of "Thor" since childhood. When Marvel Studios selected Branagh as the director of the film adaptation, they sent him the complete collection of the Marvel Thor comics series as reference material for the character.

Grew up in poverty in the shadow of a tobacco factory in Belfast. Kenneth was just nine years old when he and his family left Belfast and moved to England.

Despite having lived in England for the majority of his life and being associated closely with it, he considers himself more Irish than English.

Was originally considered for the part of the younger Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: Episódio I - A Ameaça Fantasma (1999).

In 2022, he became the first person to be nominated for an Oscar in seven different categories over the course of his career:

• Best Picture
• Best Director
• Best Actor in a Lead Role
• Best Actor in a Supporting Role
• Best Original Screenplay
• Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
• Best Live Action Short Film.

Claims that Derek Jacobi is the reason he got into acting, and thus Jacobi became a frequent collaborator with him in most of his movies.

He and his ex-wife, Emma Thompson, have appeared in separate films in the Harry Potter series. Branagh played Gilderoy Lockhart in Harry Potter e a Câmara Secreta (2002), and Thompson played Sybil Trelawney in Harry Potter e o Prisioneiro de Azkaban (2004). Depending on what has been cut from the script for the fifth film, Harry Potter e a Ordem da Fênix (2007) could be the first time both have appeared together in the same film since their divorce. Also appearing in Harry Potter e a Ordem da Fênix (2007) is his ex-girlfriend, Helena Bonham Carter.

At age 23, he became the youngest actor in the Royal Shakespeare Company to ever play the lead in Shakespeare's "Henry V".

Was one of the directors considered for Harry Potter e o Prisioneiro de Azkaban (2004). He had appeared in the previous film, Harry Potter e a Câmara Secreta (2002).

Originally cast as the lead in Amadeus (1984) before the production company decided on casting American actors in the leading roles.

He can play guitar, piano and tap.

He can speak Italian.

The last film he made with Emma Thompson was Muito Barulho por Nada (1993). Their roles had previously been played in an earlier film by Robert Stephens and Maggie Smith, who were also a couple at the time. Branagh and Thompson appeared together in Fortunes of War (1987) and Henrique V (1989), which also featured Stephens, and in the Harry Potter films with Smith.

Often circles the camera around his actors when they are performing a monologue or having a conversation in one of his Shakespearean films.

He was awarded the Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire at the Nov. 9, 212 Queen's Birthday Honours List at Buckingham Palace for his services to Drama and to the community in Northern Ireland.

His extramarital affair with co-star Helena Bonham Carter during the Frankenstein de Mary Shelley (1994) shoot, ultimately precipitated his divorce from then wife Emma Thompson in 1995.

Along with Orson Welles, Laurence Olivier, Woody Allen, Warren Beatty, Clint Eastwood and Roberto Benigni, he is one of only seven men to receive Academy Award nominations for both Best Actor and Best Director for the same film: Welles for Cidadão Kane (1941), Olivier for Hamlet (1948), Allen for Noivo Neurótico, Noiva Nervosa (1977), Beatty for both O Céu Pode Esperar (1978) and Reds (1981), Branagh for Henrique V (1989), Eastwood for both Os Imperdoáveis (1992) and Menina de Ouro (2004), and Benigni for A Vida é Bela (1997).

Has directed many other Harry Potter cast members in his own movies. Ex-wife Emma Thompson appeared with him in Henrique V (1989), Voltar a Morrer (1991), and Muito Barulho por Nada (1993). Robbie Coltrane appeared in Henrique V (1989). Julie Christie and Timothy Spall appeared in Hamlet (1996). Imelda Staunton appeared in Muito Barulho por Nada (1993). John Cleese, Robert Hardy, and Helena Bonham Carter appeared in Frankenstein de Mary Shelley (1994).

Youngest actor to receive the Golden Quill (Gielgud Award), 2000.

Educated at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), London.

He has directed Derek Jacobi in five films: Henrique V (1989), Voltar a Morrer (1991), Hamlet (1996), Cinderela (2015) and Assassinato no Expresso do Oriente (2017).

One of only three actors to have their names mentioned by a character in the Blackadder series, alongside Charles Chaplin (Blackadder Goes Forth (1989), and Delia Smith (Blackadder: Back & Forth (1999)). Blackadder mentioned his name in Blackadder: Back & Forth (1999) whilst talking to William Shakespeare on the topic of 'Hamlet'.

He allegedly declined the C.B.E. (Commander of the order of the British Empire) in 1994.

He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Laurence Olivier in Sete Dias com Marilyn (2011). Olivier himself was nominated for the award for his role as Dr. Christian Szell in Maratona da Morte (1976).

He has no children from either of his marriages.

He was one of the guests at King Charles III's and Queen Camilla' wedding on 9 April 2005.

As of 2024, he has appeared in two films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Dunkirk (2017) and Oppenheimer (2023). However, early in his career he did appear as an uncredited extra in the Best Picture Winning Carruagens de Fogo (1981).

Until 2022, he was the last actor to have received an Academy Award nomination for his role in a Shakespearean film. He was nominated for Best Actor for playing the title character in Henrique V (1989), which he also directed. In 2022 Denzel Washington was nominated for Best Actor for playing the title character in Macbeth.

Of his fifteen directorial efforts, only four - Voltar a Morrer (1991), Para o Resto de Nossas Vidas (1992), Sonhos de Uma Noite de Inverno (1995) and Belfast (2021) - were not based on preexisting material: (1) Henrique V (1989), Muito Barulho por Nada (1993), Hamlet (1996), Amores Perdidos (2000) and Como Você Quiser (2006) were all adaptations of plays by William Shakespeare, (2) Frankenstein de Mary Shelley (1994) was an adaptation of Mary Shelley's 1818 novel "Frankenstein; or the Modern Prometheus", (3) A Flauta Mágica (2006) was based on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's 1791 opera "Die Zauberflöte", (4) Um Jogo de Vida ou Morte (2007) was an adaptation of the 1970 play of the same name by Anthony Shaffer, (4) Thor (2011) was based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, (5) Operação Sombra: Jack Ryan (2014) was based on the "Jack Ryan" novel series by Tom Clancy, (6) Cinderela (2015) was based on Charles Perrault's fairy tale of the same name and, more directly, Cinderela (1950) and (7) Assassinato no Expresso do Oriente (2017) was based on the 1934 novel of the same name by Agatha Christie.

In 1990, he received an honorary doctorate in Literature from Queen's University (located in Belfast, Northern Ireland).

Is a vice-president of Chichester Cinema at New Park. Maggie Smith and Anita Roddick are also vice-presidents.

Was considered for the role of Jack Crawford in O Silêncio dos Inocentes (1991).

Shares two film roles with Laurence Olivier: Henry V and Hamlet. He and Olivier also both directed their own performances in both films. He also directed Um Jogo de Vida ou Morte (2007), a remake of the 1972 film, in which Olivier starred. This time, Michael Caine played Olivier's part, while Jude Law played the second of two roles he shared with Caine - having previously appeared in Alfie, o Sedutor (2004). Kenneth Branagh has also played the title role in a Naxos Audiobook CD of "Richard III', by William Shakespeare, another role that Olivier also played. Branagh portrayed Laurence Olivier in Sete Dias com Marilyn (2011) and was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance.

He directed his then wife Emma Thompson in four films: Henrique V (1989), Voltar a Morrer (1991), Para o Resto de Nossas Vidas (1992) and Muito Barulho por Nada (1993).

Co-founded the Renaissance Theatre Company with David Parfitt, with King Charles III as a royal patron.

He has two roles in common with Laurence Olivier, whom he played in Sete Dias com Marilyn (2011): (1) Olivier played King Henry V in Henrique 5º (1944) while Branagh played him in Henrique V (1989) and (2) Olivier played the title character in Hamlet (1948) while Branagh played him in Hamlet (1996). In each case, Olivier and Branagh directed the relevant film.

His top ten films of all time are: Napoleão (1927), Cidadão Kane (1941), Desencanto (1945), Narciso Negro (1947), O 3º Homem (1949), Rastros de Ódio (1956), Manhattan (1979), Touro Indomável (1980), Tootsie (1982) and Adeus, Meninos (1987).

He was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1983 (1982 season) for Most Promising Newcomer for "Another Country", and nominated in 2004 for "Edmond".

Has directed two people who have played Batman: Christian Bale in Henrique V (1989), and Michael Keaton in Muito Barulho por Nada (1993).

A Member of the RADA Council.

He has directed Brian Blessed in four films: Henrique V (1989), Muito Barulho por Nada (1993), Hamlet (1996) and Como Você Quiser (2006).

Was considered for the role of Paul Smecker in Santos Justiceiros (1999). The role ultimately went to Willem Dafoe.

He directed Richard Briers in nine films: Henrique V (1989), Para o Resto de Nossas Vidas (1992), Swan Song (1992), Muito Barulho por Nada (1993), Frankenstein de Mary Shelley (1994), Sonhos de Uma Noite de Inverno (1995), Hamlet (1996), Amores Perdidos (2000) and Como Você Quiser (2006).

Was age 15 when he first saw "Hamlet" performed.

He was awarded the 1988 London Critics Circle Theatre Award (Drama Theatre Award) for Special Award.

Is one of 13 actors who have received an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of a real-life king. The others in chronological order are Charles Laughton for Os Amores de Henrique VIII (1933), Robert Morley for Maria Antonieta (1938), Basil Rathbone for Se Eu Fora Rei (1938), Laurence Olivier for Henrique 5º (1944) and Ricardo III (1955), José Ferrer for Joana D'Arc (1948), Yul Brynner for O Rei e Eu (1956), John Gielgud for Becket, o Favorito do Rei (1964), Peter O'Toole for Becket, o Favorito do Rei (1964) and O Leão no Inverno (1968), Robert Shaw for O Homem que Não Vendeu sua Alma (1966), Richard Burton for Ana dos Mil Dias (1969), Nigel Hawthorne for As Loucuras do Rei George (1994), and Colin Firth for O Discurso do Rei (2010).

To date (2008), he has appeared as the title character in five films: Henrique V (1989), Frankenstein de Mary Shelley (1994), Hamlet (1996), Shackleton (2002), Wallander (2008).

Although he played Cherie Lunghi's son in Frankenstein de Mary Shelley (1994), he is only eight years her junior in real life.

In 1994 a biography was released, "Ken & Em: A Biography of Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson" by Ian Shuttleworth.

Appeared with Campbell Scott in Voltar a Morrer (1991). Scott later starred in and co-directed Hamlet (2000), and Branagh later starred in and directed Hamlet (1996).