Kenneth Branagh to receive BAFTA LA honour

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles (BAFTA LA) has announced that actor and director Kenneth Branagh will receive the Albert R Broccoli Britannia Award for Worldwide Contribution to Entertainment at the 2017 AMD British Academy Britannia Awards.

He joins previously announced honourees Dick Van Dyke, who will receive the Britannia Award for Excellence in Television, Ava DuVernay, who will receive the John Schlesinger Britannia Award for Excellence in Directing presented by The GREAT Britain Campaign, and Claire Foy, who will receive the Britannia Award for British Artist of the Year presented by Burberry. 

Branagh has received five Oscar nominations, across five different categories, including nominations for best actor and best director for Henry V, and best adapted screenplay for Hamlet. 

He is directing, producing and starring as Hercule Poirot in the upcoming Agatha Christie’s Murder On The Orient Express, which stars Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Michelle Pfeiffer and Dame Judi Dench. He was most recently seen in Christopher Nolan’s box office hit Dunkirk.

BAFTA Los Angeles chairman Kieran Breen said: “Kenneth is without question one of the most influential figures in the British film, television and theatre community, and his talents have brought him much-deserved international acclaim and recognition. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to celebrate Kenneth’s work and honor him with this year’s Albert R. Broccoli Britannia Award for Worldwide Contribution to Entertainment.”

British comedian Jack Whitehall will return as host of the event taking place on October 27 in Los Angeles.