Sir Kenneth Branagh, born 1960, is a famous Northern Irish actor and filmmaker. He was born in Belfast in the Tiger’s Bay area and grew up there until the age of nine. In 1970 the family moved to England to escape The Troubles. His interest in acting was encouraged and nurtured there. He studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. In the 1980s he played Billy in the BBC’s Billy Plays set in Belfast. This hugely successful series of plays gave him his break. He became a leading actor and filmmaker. He has played many different roles from Shakespeare plays to Gilderoy Lockhart in the Harry Potter films. He has won awards for his acting, directing and filmmaking. His latest film, Belfast, tells the story of a boy’s childhood in The Troubles of the late 1960s. Kenneth Branagh says that it is a very personal movie about a place and the people he loves. It is expected to be released later this year.