A: BRAN-na. Rhymes with the American pronunciation of Anna, Savannah and banana. In his native Belfast, and also in Scotland, they add a sound at the end similar to one made when clearing your throat violently. But don't worry about that.

Q: What was the official reason given by Ken and Emma Thompson for separating in 1995?

A: "Our work has inevitably led to our spending long periods of time away from each other and, as a result, we have drifted apart."

Q: Okay, what's the dish on the real reason they broke up?

A: Well, their work probably led to them spending lotsa time away from each other, and as a result they drifted apart.

Q: So is he going out with anybody now?

A: Yep. The lucky lady is Helena Bonham Carter, and you can do a thorough background check on her at the excellent HBC Homepage. But Ken hates discussing his private life, so let's move on...

Q: Okay, sorry 'bout that. I remember there was a lot of hype for the big-budget Mary Shelley's Frankenstein--did that tank as badly as everybody said it did?

A: The $44 million Frankenstein, released in November 1994, grossed over $100 million worldwide, but factoring in the money spent on marketing, the general critical response, and the level of commercial expectation preceding the film's release--yeah, it can legitimately be categorized as a major flop.

Q: I live in the UK, and the press never seems to have a nice word to say about Ken. Why is that?

A: Branagh-bashing became all the rage in Britain shortly following the theatrical release of his brilliantly astonishing, astonishingly brilliant directorial debut Henry V in 1989. Hailed as the new Olivier, saviour of the lethargic British Film Industry and precocious genius at age 28, the British press quickly tired of the superlatives they heaped on young Ken and continued their long-established tradition of "build 'em up-knock 'em down." So the Branagh backlash followed...and continued after a string of successes (peaking in 1993/4 with the phenomenon known as "Ken and Em"). Ken's willingness to promote his projects and his all-around "niceness" gave rise to accusations of megalomania and blandness. The Branagh-bashing seems to have lightened up a bit, though its presence will undoubtedly have an effect on anything that is written about him in the UK. But, as Ken often says, "you just have to get on with it."

Q: So when do I get to see him next on-screen? And a brief description would be nice.

A: He shows off his southern drawl as a lawyer in The Gingerbread Man (September 1997), a thriller based on an original John Grisham screenplay. In Tempting Fate (aka Shakespeare's Sister, October 1997), he plays a priest entangled in a steamy web of murder and deception, starring alongside Madeleine Stowe and William Hurt. He's currently filming The Theory of Flight with Helena Bonham Carter, a "dark tragi-comedy" in which he plays her caretaker. She is a woman who has motor neurone's syndrome and longs to have sex before she dies. In the fall he'll start work as the male lead of Woody Allen's as-yet untitled new movie. He'll be part of a love triangle involving Judy Davis and Joe Mantegna. Both films will be released some time next year.

Q: I know the Academy tends to smoke crack occasionally (ok, more than occasionally) -- is that the reason Ken's never won an Oscar?

A: It's a popular belief that--for whatever reasons--the Academy isn't too fond of him. Maybe they still haven't forgiven him for the debacle that was Frankenstein. Maybe their attention spans couldn't handle Hamlet. Maybe they feel he's gotten enough awards and recognition already. Or maybe--and this is my opinion--they wouldn't know genius if it whacked them over the head with an oversized canoe paddle.

Q: I was especially upset by the snubbing of Hamlet.

A: Yeah, me too...hey--that wasn't a question!

Q: Sorry. Where was I?

A: You were asking about the Oscars.

Q: Right. Ok, so what's he been nominated for?

A: Best Actor and Best Director (Henry V, 1989)
Best Short Film (Swan Song, 1993)
Best Adapted Screenplay (Hamlet, 1996)

Q: The four nominations in four different categories certainly give testament to his versatility. Is that why you like him so much?

A: That's part of the reason. But it's not just his astonishing talent that blows me away--his personality is another thing that separates him from other would-be objects of my obsession. Intelligent, charismatic and witty, he also projects a "nice guy" persona that friends, colleagues and reporters--grudgingly--attest to. Passionate about his work, willing to take risks, and armed with a work ethic and determination to carry out seemingly impossible projects, he has single-handedly opened the door to Shakespeare for a whole new generation. The fact that he's devastatingly attractive doesn't hurt either. ;) His chameleon-like looks shift from chubby-bunny cuteness (Peter's Friends) to suave handsomeness (Roman in Dead Again) to adorable geekiness (The Fortunes of War) to hot-blooded--and hot-bodied--sexiness (Frankenstein) to dashing Dane-ness (Hamlet).

Q: Okaaaaaay...is there anywhere I can go for, uhm, a professional FAQ that's a bit more...objective?

A: Everything you ever wanted to know can be found at the most excellent Kenneth Branagh FAQ, maintained by Marilyn Mosher. The site includes up-to-date project information, media (articles and interviews) info and links to everything that is Branagh on the web. Check it out!

Q: I'd love to discuss Ken with fellow fans--what's the best forum in which to do that?

A: Drop me an e-mail at ngoc@uclink4.berkeley.edu to join the Kenneth Branagh mailing list.

Q: Are you going to add anything else to this pathetic site?

A: Hopefully some interviews and articles and other random pointless stuff, depending on how much I decide to slack off at school...