Kenneth Branagh Biography

“I think the best actors are the most generous, the kindest, the greatest people and at their worst they are vain, greedy and insecure.”

-Kenneth Branagh, personal quote

The Kenneth Branagh-directed Cinderella is coming to Aksarben Cinema on March 12, 2015. The film is a live action retelling of the classic Cinderella tale made famous by Walt Disney many years ago with his animated film of the same name. The film stars newcomer Lily James, Hayley Atwell, Helena Bonham Carter, and Cate Blanchett.

Cinderella features many popular stars, but more exciting than that is who is behind the camera, Kenneth Branagh. Best known for his direction of Shakespeare adaptations, he will surely excite audiences with his keen eye for the majestic and grandeur of classic tales.

In honor of him and the release of his new film Cinderella we present to you a short biography of the actor, director, screenwriter, and producer.

Acting Comes Early

Branagh was born in Belfast, Ireland to William and Frances Branagh and was the middle of three children. The young Branagh was educated at Grove Primary School where he began performing in school productions. It is in school that Branagh acquired a British accent in order to avoid bullying, hence the reason most consider Branagh’s original home to be Great Britain. Later Branagh went on to train at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

The young thespian found some success in BBC shows including Play for Today. Later he was recognized for his performances as Judd in Another Country and appeared in the Royal Shakespeare Company production of Henry V. It was this production that Branagh later adapted for his own film version.

A Penchant for Shakespeare

In 1987 Branagh founded the Renaissance Theatre Company along with David Parfitt following successful productions including Romeo and Juliet. Branagh went on to star in countless productions directed by some of the greatest Shakespearean thespians such as Judi Dench and Derek Jacobi.

Kenneth Branagh is now best known for his exceptional work in film beginning with Henry V (1989) followed by Much Ado About Nothing, Hamlet, Love’s Labour’s Lost and many more. He has also performed and directed non-Shakespeare films including Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Branagh’s probably best known as Gilderoy Lockhart, the false celebrity in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. After Chamber of Secrets, Branagh went on to direct the critically and financially successful Marvel film Thor and starred as Sir Laurence Olivier in My Week with Marilyn for which he received an Oscar nomination.

Hopefully this is only the beginning of a career for one of the finest directors to adapt Shakespeare’s classic plays and comic books based on the god of thunder. Find out on March 12 if Branagh does an equally good job with Cinderella. For more information on Cinderella and all our new releases check out our website or like us on Facebook. See you at the movies!