Kenneth Branagh is an entertainer extraordinaire. Born in Belfast in 1960, he began classical training as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art by the time he was a teenager and nabbed an uncredited role in Academy-Award-winning Chariots of Fire not long after. With Shakespeare as his primary muse, Branagh has by now appeared as dozens of impressively-diverse characters over four decades.
But that's not all. Branagh has established himself as a respectable director, though this list will focus on his performances. Most exciting is that he may only just be getting started, and a role in Christopher Nolan's highly-anticipated espionage thriller Tenet may elevate him from go-to thespian to household celebrity.
A Month In The Country
While little known, A Month in the Country is of a familiar vein – a British period piece featuring some accented hunks and one of the world wars. Friends Tom Birkin and James Moon spend a summer palling around, which would represent a coming-of-age phase if not for the years they've already put on in a combative world.
More notable than Branagh in this one is a young Colin Firth, who plays the protagonist. With straight-to-TV movies still ahead of him, viewers can already see Firth's timeless charm.
My Week With Marilyn
Kenneth Branagh's part in My Week with Marilyn represents a full-circle of sorts. He portrays Laurence Olivier, a classically trained Shakespearean actor of Hollywood's golden age who was among the greatest to ever tread the boards.
In Branagh's era, Hollywood has thousands of stories to tell, and The Bard's tales represent less of the production, making his proclivity for Shakespeare more of a novelty than a market-cornering quality. The underrated multi-biopic is an acting showcase within a showcase, also featuring Michelle Williams, Eddie Redmayne, Judi Dench, and more.
Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets
Not unlike The Lord of the Rings series, the Harry Potter films became something of a red carpet of U.K. stars. There's Alan Rickman as Snape, Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall, and even John Cleese as Nearly-Headless Nick, all just in the first installment.
What better role is there in the wizarding world than the constantly-rotating Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts position at Hogwarts to pack more familiar faces into the franchise? Branagh is the cocky and spinless Gilderoy Lockhart in the second Harry Potter adventure.
Dead Again
A typical '90s "worth-a-rent" pulp story, Dead Again offers psychological crime thrills and steamy romance; however, the more important element is the on-screen dynamic between Branagh and another ceaseless joy, Dame Emma Thompson.
Only his second directorial effort, Branagh was sagacious to partner with screenwriter Scott Frank, who would go on to pen beloved flicks such as Out of Sight, Minority Report, and Marley & Me. The remainder of Branagh's off-screen career as well would vindicate some of the mastery demonstrated in Dead Again, as multiple upcoming entries will attest.
Rabbit-Proof Fence
In early twentieth-century Australia, children with Aboriginal blood were, by government policy, displaced and treated harshly. For example, they would be sent to work far away from their families in a horrendously misguided attempt to set the nation's ethnic identity straight.
This harrowing drama, based on a book of real-life memoirs, follows a group of young girls who fight back, simply by trying to return home. Branagh, with every ability to both charm and terrify, has the privilege of taking the side of the backward law in this one.
Much Ado About Nothing
Revealing of Branagh's true place and passion, three of the top five films on this list are Shakespeare adaptations. This modest hit featuring Denzel Washington, Michael Keaton, and more, is enjoyable and overlooked. Of particular delectability is Keanu Reeves' Don John – an infamously challenging part.
Just three years later though, Baz Luhrman's Romeo + Juliet would enchant the nation with its modern sensibility and Leonardo DiCaprio. Perhaps, it is the endurance of Shakespeare's dramas over his comedies. As they say, "If it bleeds it leads."
Dunkirk
Kenneth Branagh's first foray with Christopher Nolan was for the latter's time-bending true-to-life war movie Dunkirk. As somber man-in-charge, Branagh milks every moment of screen time, delivering both information and emotion in equal measures. His is a pivotal performance in the film's tear-jerking civilian boats scene.
The pair will get even more time-bending with the upcoming Tenet, which also stars genetic sure-thing John David Washington and red-hot Robert Pattinson.
Hamlet
One of the most renowned pieces of entertainment, Shakespeare's Hamlet may be the most Shakespearean of his works, ripe with intrigue, betrayal, lust, violence, and – of course – the most impeccable iambic pentameter. This is the one with "To be or not to be..."
While the spoken text is true to The Bard, a screenplay arranged by none other than Kenneth Branagh updates the setting from Denmark's 17th century to its 19th. It remains the sole screenplay adapted from Shakespeare that has been nominated for an Academy Award.
Henry V
This is the defining career moment for Kenneth Branagh. His directorial debut, Henry V coincided with a recognition boost of his acting career which had been some ten years active. In the following decade, he would continue to direct, tackle three additional Shakespeare roles, and share the screen with megastar Will Smith.
Henry V is the historical account of an English king who made serious headway in a seemingly endless war with France. It was taken back to the screen in 2019 by Netflix and Timothée Chalamet.
Conspiracy
Long before television and even tech companies became relevant in the world of prestige cinema, HBO released this dramatic deep dive into the shocking policymaking of nazi leaders. As real-life SS official, Kenneth Branagh plays Reinhard Heydrich and is reunited with his co-star from this list's first entry, Colin Firth, who portrays nazi leader Wilhelm Stuckart.
Branagh won an Emmy for his effort while another co-star, Stanley Tucci, took home a Golden Globe. Since the release of Conspiracy, Branagh, Tucci, Firth, and even HBO have only increased in Hollywood prestige and presence.