Sir Kenneth Branagh to receive London Critics' Circle excellence award.

Director and actor Sir Kenneth Branagh is to be honoured with a top accolade at the 2016 London Critics' Circle Film Awards .

Sir Kenneth will be given the Dilys Powell Award for Excellence in Film.

The award is named after the noted British author who was also renowned for her work as the Sunday Times film critic.

Sir Kenneth said: "As a young film-maker, I had the privilege of meeting Dilys Powell. She was passionate, rigorous, humane. Her criticism was illuminating, thoughtful and bracing.

"This recognition in her name is a great honour to me personally and very meaningful. My sincere thanks to the Critics' Circle."

The Hamlet star will receive his award at a ceremony in January.

Sir Kenneth's career has spanned TV, theatre and film, and he has been nominated for and won many prestigious accolades, including a Bafta for his role as Sir Laurence Olivier in My Week With Marilyn.

As a film-maker he has been nominated for Oscars in five different categories.

In 2012 he received a knighthood for his services to drama and to the community in Northern Ireland.

Past winners of the Critics' Circle award include Ken Loach, Dame Judi Dench, Quentin Tarantino, Kristin Scott Thomas, Helena Bonham Carter and Gary Oldman.


Press Association.
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