You remember him? He was the biggest thing in the late 80’s, early 90’s. A good looking, English (Irish actually), actor/director who adapted Shakespeare into blockbusters. We had never seen anything like him, and the newly college educated set were mad – every much for his British accent, as his accessible intellect and thick wavy blond hair. But what happened to his career (Wild Wild West (1999)? And has anyone seen him lately?
Ask Jeeves and ye shall receive. Apparently our Irish bard has been the lead in a British television production called Wallander. In production since 2008, only six episodes have been made. The series, critically acclaimed by British television, hasn’t hit the North American radar, even though it was co-produced by Boston’s WGBH. There are hopes that Wallander will be a running series.
Born in Northern Ireland in 1960, Branagh began his career by graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He acted briefly on the London stage and then founded his own theatre company Renaissance Theatre Company in 1985. From there Branagh moved onto television. And in his motion picture directorial debut, released the adaptation of Henry V, where he won international acclaim. It was 1989 and Henry V won 7 of 9 nominations including the Chicago and New York Critics Awards. Not only did he direct, but he adapted the screenplay and starred in the picture as well. After wowing critics and audiences with Henry V, Branagh followed-up with Dead Again (1991) – starring and directing. The film was honored with another 4 nominations including a BAFTA (British Academy for Television and Arts) and a Golden Globe. Much Ado About Nothing quickly followed in 1993 and Branagh was now a film heavy weight on two continents. Then came Hamlet in 1996, it almost equaled his record of seven wins for Henry, but was not a box office success.
Averaging two productions a year since, Branagh has never stopped working but his successes have been relegating to supporting roles – The Road to El Dorado (voice 2000), Harry Potterand the Chamber of Secrets (2002), and Valkyrie (2008). He did direct, write and/or produce in half a dozen films following Hamlet but with little success. For example, his production of Love’s Labour’s Lost was a musical comedy production. What?! As You Like It was set in Japan, premiered on HBO and did not appear in any theatres. The Magic Flute, an adaptation of an opera, released in Europe in 2006, was well received there but has yet to see a movie screen in North America.
Some blame Branagh’s decline on his movie, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein from 1994. It co-starred Helena Bonhom Carter and he starred and directed in the film. The movie failed and his divorce from Emma Thompson soon followed – ending a six year marriage amid rumours of infidelity. Branagh denied the rumours but was romantically linked to Bonhom Carter for the following five years. The two relationships, and subsequent break-ups, had similarities too. While Branagh’s success slid, the success of his two leading ladies – soared to their greatest professional successes to date.
Professionally speaking, maybe Branagh’s career has only followed the traditional Hollywood path where talent seems to have an expiration date. No one denies his acting abilities or his vision – bringing Shakespearean productions to the big screen, in block-buster fashion – but he has left his audiences starry-eyed and wondering where the time went.
