As Downton Abbey returns to our screens, the actress playing Lady Rose is relishing her role in the period drama, writes Jeananne Craig

Keira Knightley has said working with Kenneth Branagh on ‘Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit’ felt very “schizophrenic” as he flitted between Russian villain and polite British director.

The British actor Richard Briers, best known for the 1970s television sit-com The Good Life but also for his Shakespearean roles, has died at the age of 79.

Reared in a UDA stronghold Carl Frampton is, by some distance, Ireland’s best chance of a world title next year. Sportswriter of the Year Ewan MacKenna spent the day with him in Tiger’s Bay, the Belfast enclave he is changing with every punch.

Sir Kenneth Branagh will direct and star in a new production of Macbeth as part of next year’s Manchester International Festival.

Actor Kenneth Branagh, Take That star Gary Barlow, Kate Winslet and the designer behind Kate Middleton's wedding dress are recognised in Queen Elizabeth’s Birthday Honours list today.

Some of the biggest names in Hollywood have paraded down the red carpet ahead of the 84th Academy Awards.

Kenneth Branagh said tonight it was “thrilling” to be honoured at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs).

Kenneth Branagh will not direct 'Thor 2'.

AFTER 30 years in film as an actor and director, Kenneth Branagh is right where he should be.

Another comic-book favourite comes to gripping life in Branagh’s masterful, fast-moving, colourful and action-packed epic … no surprise, really, that the great purveyor of the Bard on stage and screen should triumph with Shakesperian elegance.

The actress Natalie Portman says she wasn’t interested in doing another blockbuster movie after starring in the three ‘Star Wars’ prequels until she found out the Belfast star Kenneth Branagh was directing the movie adaptation of Marvel Comics’ ‘Thor’.

Kenneth Branagh would like to appear in a ‘Thor’ sequel.

Stuart Townsend has pulled out of Marvel Comics’ movie adaptation of 'Thor' because of creative differences, according to sources close to the production.

Kenneth Branagh, currently starring alongside Tom Cruise in 'Valkyrie', will be out and about promoting his new film 'The Boat That Rocked'.

A lot of humble-pie is likely to be served up to the critics who predicted doom and gloom for this film, and particularly for Cruise.

Kenneth Branagh has confirmed he is to direct new comic book movie 'Thor'.

Kenneth Branagh has landed a role in 'The Simpsons', it has been revealed.

Kenneth Branagh has been approached to direct the big-screen debut of Marvel Comics hero 'Thor'.

Is there a jinx on the Kenneth Branagh-Tom Cruise film 'Valkyrie', about the 1944 plot to assassinate Hitler?

Following the success of his latest movie, In Bruges, Dubliner Colin Farrell will head home for his next … he starts work on Triage for Bosnian helmer Danis Tanovic. First there’s a six-week shoot in Europe and then a four-week stay in Dublin.

Belfast-born Kenneth Branagh reveals that when his family moved to England when he was ten he was bullied because of his accent, which nobody could understand.

Kenneth Branagh will visit a small, run-down Welsh cinema at the week-end for the venue’s last ever screening.

Kenneth Branagh is to jet in to a tiny back garden cinema in Wales for a film premiere finale on the day the venue closes for good.

Sleuth

In 1996 Kenneth Branagh starred and directed the classic Shakespearean tragedy Hamlet. Now Hamlet SE (Warner, e24.99) introduces the film to DVD in a double-disc edition.

Belfast-born Kenneth Branagh is dubbing up his footie boots - to play a famous manager.

Belfast-born Kenneth Branagh is to direct a remake of the l972 classic Sleuth and he’s bringing back one of the stars of the original.

Kenneth Branagh will direct the remake of Slueth featuring fellow British stars Jude Law and Michael Caine.

British acting stars Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh are considering teaming up again on the big screen because they think they'll make better movie partners now they're not married.

More news on Kenneth Branagh's switch from Shakespeare to opera.

Taking time out from his busy screen schedule, Kenneth Branagh has had to issue an unusual disclaimer for his West End stage hit, Ducktastic.

Belfast-born Kenneth Branagh has one wish: to have a body like Brad Pitt!

Kenneth Branagh has offered to present a forthcoming documentary on the Nazi death camp Auschwitz for free, after producers ran into monetary problems.

Taken from E. Nesbit's children's classic, we here meet the children who are sent to live with eccentric uncle, Branagh.

Belfast-born Kenneth Branagh is all set to move into the White House ... as Stateside President Franklin Roosevelt, four-term World War II leader.

Actor Kenneth Branagh is stepping into a president’s shoes for a TV movie about the man who led America through the Second World War, it emerged today.

Kenneth Branagh has signed on as the villain in Mission: Impossible 3 with Tom Cruise and Carrie-Ann Moss and starts filming in the summer.

Kenneth Branagh will be heading for the Isle of Man to make the £14m (€21.1m) Five Children and It, based on the classic E Nesbitt children's story about five youngsters sent to stay with their uncle in a strange seaside house.

Stars In Their Eyes host Matthew Kelly has been nominated for best actor at the prestigious Laurence Olivier Awards

Kenneth Branagh, who stole the second Harry Potter film as the vain Gilderoy Lockhart, is a busy man these days.

Actor Kenneth Branagh has secretly wed girlfriend Lindsay Brunnock, it was announced today.

Kenneth Branagh's production of the smash-hit stage drama, The Play What I Wrote, based on the life and times of legendary comedy duo Morcambe and Wise, has opened to rave reviews on New York's Broadway.

The return of young wizard Harry Potter is overwhelming ... alas, it is far too overwhelming.