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 Kenneth Charles Branagh was born on December 10, 1960, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, to parents William Branagh, a plumber and carpenter, and Frances (Harper), both born in 1930. He has two siblings, William Branagh, Jr. (born 1955) and Joyce Branagh (born 1970). When he was nine, his family escaped The Troubles by moving to Reading, Berkshire, England. At 23, Branagh joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he took on starring roles in "Henry V" and "Romeo and Juliet". He soon found the RSC too large and impersonal and formed his own, the Renaissance Theatre Company, which now counts Prince Charles as one of its royal patrons. At 29, he directed Henry V (1989), where he also co-starred with his then-wife, Emma Thompson. The film brought him Best Actor and Best Director Oscar nominations. In 1993, he brought Shakespeare to mainstream audiences again with his hit adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing (1993), which featured an all-star cast that included, among others, Denzel Washington, Michael Keaton and Keanu Reeves. At 30, he published his autobiography and, at 34, he directed and starred as "Victor Frankenstein" in the big-budget adaptation of Mary Shelley's novel, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994), with Robert De Niro as the monster himself. In 1996, Branagh wrote, directed and starred in a lavish adaptation of Hamlet (1996). His superb film acting work also includes a wide range of roles such as in Celebrity (1998), Wild Wild West (1999), The Road to El Dorado (2000), Valkyrie (2008) and his stunning portrayal of Laurence Olivier in My Week with Marilyn (2011), where once again he offered a great performance that was also nominated for an Academy Award.
Bio:
Kenneth Charles Branagh was born on December 10, 1960, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, to parents William Branagh, a plumber and carpenter, and Frances (Harper), both born in 1930. He has two siblings, William Branagh, Jr. (born 1955) and Joyce Branagh (born 1970). When he was nine, his family escaped The Troubles by moving to Reading, Berkshire, England. At 23, Branagh joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he took on starring roles in "Henry V" and "Romeo and Juliet". He soon found the RSC too large and impersonal and formed his own, the Renaissance Theatre Company, which now counts Prince Charles as one of its royal patrons. At 29, he directed Henry V (1989), where he also co-starred with his then-wife, Emma Thompson. The film brought him Best Actor and Best Director Oscar nominations. In 1993, he brought Shakespeare to mainstream audiences again with his hit adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing (1993), which featured an all-star cast that included, among others, Denzel Washington, Michael Keaton and Keanu Reeves. At 30, he published his autobiography and, at 34, he directed and starred as "Victor Frankenstein" in the big-budget adaptation of Mary Shelley's novel, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994), with Robert De Niro as the monster himself. In 1996, Branagh wrote, directed and starred in a lavish adaptation of Hamlet (1996). His superb film acting work also includes a wide range of roles such as in Celebrity (1998), Wild Wild West (1999), The Road to El Dorado (2000), Valkyrie (2008) and his stunning portrayal of Laurence Olivier in My Week with Marilyn (2011), where once again he offered a great performance that was also nominated for an Academy Award.
Tivia:
He has been a fan of "Thor" since childhood. When Marvel Studios selected Branagh as the director of the film adaptation, they sent him the complete collection of the Marvel Thor comics series as reference material for the character.Grew up in poverty in the shadow of a tobacco factory in Belfast. Kenneth was just nine years old when he and his family left Belfast and moved to England.Was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II on November 9, 2012 at Buckingham Palace.Despite having lived in England for the majority of his life and being associated closely with it, he considers himself more Irish than English.Was originally considered for the part of the younger Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999).Was one of the directors considered for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004). He had appeared in the previous film, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002).At age 23, he became the youngest actor in the Royal Shakespeare Company to ever play the lead in Shakespeare's "Henry V".His extramarital affair with co-star Helena Bonham Carter during the Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994) shoot, ultimately precipitated his divorce from then wife Emma Thompson in 1995.He and his ex-wife, Emma Thompson, have appeared in separate films in the Harry Potter series. Branagh played Gilderoy Lockhart in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), and Thompson played Sybil Trelawney in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004). Depending on what has been cut from the script for the fifth film, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) could be the first time both have appeared together in the same film since their divorce. Also appearing in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) is his ex-girlfriend, Helena Bonham Carter.Claims that Derek Jacobi is the reason he got into acting, and thus Jacobi became a frequent collaborator with him in most of his movies.Originally cast as the lead in Amadeus (1984) before the production company decided on casting American actors in the leading roles.The last film he made with Emma Thompson was Much Ado About Nothing (1993). Their roles had previously been played in an earlier film by Robert Stephens and Maggie Smith, who were also a couple at the time. Branagh and Thompson appeared together in Fortunes of War (1987) and Henry V (1989), which also featured Stephens, and in the Harry Potter films with Smith.Often circles the camera around his actors when they are performing a monologue or having a conversation in one of his Shakespearean films.He was nominated for a 2004 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Actor of 2003 for his performance in "Edmond" at the Royal National Theatre: Olivier Stage.He can play guitar, piano and tap.He can speak Italian.He was awarded the Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire in the 2012 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to Drama and to the community in Northern Ireland.Youngest actor to receive the Golden Quill (Gielgud Award), 2000.Has directed many other Harry Potter cast members in his own movies. Ex-wife Emma Thompson appeared with him in Henry V (1989), Dead Again (1991), and Much Ado About Nothing (1993). Robbie Coltrane appeared in Henry V (1989). Julie Christie and Timothy Spall appeared in Hamlet (1996). Imelda Staunton appeared in Much Ado About Nothing (1993). John Cleese, Robert Hardy, and Helena Bonham Carter appeared in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994).One of only three actors to have their names mentioned by a character in the Blackadder series, alongside Charles Chaplin (Blackadder Goes Forth (1989), and Delia Smith (Blackadder Back & Forth (1999)). Blackadder mentioned his name in Blackadder Back & Forth (1999) whilst talking to William Shakespeare on the topic of 'Hamlet'.In 2022, he became the first person to be nominated for an Oscar in seven different categories over the course of his career: u003culu003cliBest Pictureu003c/liu003cliBest Directoru003c/liu003cliBest Actor in a Lead Roleu003c/liu003cliBest Actor in a Supporting Roleu003c/liu003cliBest Original Screenplayu003c/liu003cliBest Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Publishedu003c/liu003cliBest Live Action Short Film.u003c/liu003c/ulHe has directed Derek Jacobi in five films: Henry V (1989), Dead Again (1991), Hamlet (1996), Cinderella (2015) and Murder on the Orient Express (2017).Educated at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), London.He was one of the guests at King Charles III's and Camilla Queen Consort' wedding on 9 April 2005.Along with Orson Welles, Laurence Olivier, Woody Allen, Warren Beatty, Clint Eastwood and Roberto Benigni, he is one of only seven men to receive Academy Award nominations for both Best Actor and Best Director for the same film: Welles for Citizen Kane (1941), Olivier for Hamlet (1948), Allen for Annie Hall (1977), Beatty for both Heaven Can Wait (1978) and Reds (1981), Branagh for Henry V (1989), Eastwood for both Unforgiven (1992) and Million Dollar Baby (2004), and Benigni for Life Is Beautiful (1997).He has no children from either of his marriages.As of 2018, he has only been credited for appearing in one Best Picture Nominee, Dunkirk (2017). However, early in his career he did appear as an uncredited extra in the Best Picture Winning Chariots of Fire (1981).He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Laurence Olivier in My Week with Marilyn (2011). Olivier himself was nominated for the award for his role as Dr. Christian Szell in Marathon Man (1976).He allegedly declined the C.B.E. (Commander of the order of the British Empire) in 1994.Is a vice-president of Chichester Cinema at New Park. Maggie Smith and Anita Roddick are also vice-presidents.In 1990, he received an honorary doctorate in Literature from Queen's University (located in Belfast, Northern Ireland).Until 2022, he was the last actor to have received an Academy Award nomination for his role in a Shakespearean film. He was nominated for Best Actor for playing the title character in Henry V (1989), which he also directed. In 2022 Denzel Washington was nominated for Best Actor for playing the title character in Macbeth.He has two roles in common with Laurence Olivier, whom he played in My Week with Marilyn (2011): (1) Olivier played King Henry V in Henry V (1944) while Branagh played him in Henry V (1989) and (2) Olivier played the title character in Hamlet (1948) while Branagh played him in Hamlet (1996). In each case, Olivier and Branagh directed the relevant film.Was considered for the role of Jack Crawford in The Silence of the Lambs (1991).Of his fifteen directorial efforts, only four - Dead Again (1991), Peter's Friends (1992), A Midwinter's Tale (1995) and Belfast (2021) - were not based on preexisting material: (1) Henry V (1989), Much Ado About Nothing (1993), Hamlet (1996), Love's Labour's Lost (2000) and As You Like It (2006) were all adaptations of plays by William Shakespeare, (2) Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994) was an adaptation of Mary Shelley's 1818 novel "Frankenstein; or the Modern Prometheus", (3) The Magic Flute (2006) was based on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's 1791 opera "Die Zauberfl?te", (4) Sleuth (2007) was an adaptation of the 1970 play of the same name by Anthony Shaffer, (4) Thor (2011) was based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, (5) Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014) was based on the "Jack Ryan" novel series by Tom Clancy, (6) Cinderella (2015) was based on Charles Perrault's fairy tale of the same name and, more directly, Cinderella (1950) and (7) Murder on the Orient Express (2017) was based on the 1934 novel of the same name by Agatha Christie.Shares two film roles with Laurence Olivier: Henry V and Hamlet. He and Olivier also both directed their own performances in both films. He also directed Sleuth (2007), a remake of the 1972 film, in which Olivier starred. This time, Michael Caine played Olivier's part, while Jude Law played the second of two roles he shared with Caine - having previously appeared in Alfie (2004). Kenneth Branagh has also played the title role in a Naxos Audiobook CD of "Richard III', by William Shakespeare, another role that Olivier also played. Branagh portrayed Laurence Olivier in My Week with Marilyn (2011) and was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance.His top ten films of all time are: Napoleon (1927), Citizen Kane (1941), Brief Encounter (1945), Black Narcissus (1947), The Third Man (1949), The Searchers (1956), Manhattan (1979), Raging Bull (1980), Tootsie (1982) and Goodbye, Children (1987).Co-founded the Renaissance Theatre Company with David Parfitt, with King Charles III as a royal patron.He was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1983 (1982 season) for Most Promising Newcomer for his performance in "Another Country".He directed his then wife Emma Thompson in four films: Henry V (1989), Dead Again (1991), Peter's Friends (1992) and Much Ado About Nothing (1993).A Member of the RADA Council.He has directed Brian Blessed in four films: Henry V (1989), Much Ado About Nothing (1993), Hamlet (1996) and As You Like It (2006).Was considered for the role of Paul Smecker in The Boondock Saints (1999). The role ultimately went to Willem Dafoe.Has directed two people who have played Batman: Christian Bale in Henry V (1989), and Michael Keaton in Much Ado About Nothing (1993).He directed Richard Briers in nine films: Henry V (1989), Peter's Friends (1992), Swan Song (1992), Much Ado About Nothing (1993), Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994), A Midwinter's Tale (1995), Hamlet (1996), Love's Labour's Lost (2000) and As You Like It (2006).He was awarded the 1988 London Critics Circle Theatre Award (Drama Theatre Award) for Special Award.Won the 2004 Evening Standard Theatre Award as Best Actor for his performance as the title character in Edmond at the Royal National Theatre.Nominated for the 2009 Evening Standard Theatre Award as Best Actor in a play for his role as Ivanov in the play Ivanov at Wyndham's Theatre in London as part of the Donmar West End Season.Was age 15 when he first saw "Hamlet" performed.Although he played Cherie Lunghi's son in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994), he is only eight years her junior in real life. |
| Name: |
Kenneth Branagh |
Type: |
Actor,Producer,Director (IMDB) |
| Area: |
All World |
Platform: |
IMDB |
| Category: |
|
Business scope: |
Actor,Producer,Director |
| Products for sale: |
Actor,Producer,Director |
| Model rank: |
88 |
| Last update: |
2024-07-01 03:07:53 |
| Height: |
5' 9?' (1.77 m) |
| Biography: |
Kenneth Charles Branagh was born on December 10, 1960, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, to parents William Branagh, a plumber and carpenter, and Frances (Harper), both born in 1930. He has two siblings, William Branagh, Jr. (born 1955) and Joyce Branagh |
| Trivia: |
He has been a fan of "Thor" since childhood. When Marvel Studios selected Branagh as the director of the film adaptation, they sent him the complete collection of the Marvel Thor comics series as reference material for the character.Grew up in poverty in the shadow of a tobacco factory in Belfast. Kenneth was just nine years old when he and his family left Belfast and moved to England.Was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II on November 9, 2012 at Buckingham Palace.Despite having lived in England for the majority of his life and being associated closely with it, he considers himself more Irish than English.Was originally considered for the part of the younger Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999).Was one of the directors considered for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004). He had appeared in the previous film, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002).At age 23, he became the youngest actor in the Royal Shakespeare Company to ever play the lead in Shakespeare's "Henry V".His extramarital affair with co-star Helena Bonham Carter during the Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994) shoot, ultimately precipitated his divorce from then wife Emma Thompson in 1995.He and his ex-wife, Emma Thompson, have appeared in separate films in the Harry Potter series. Branagh played Gilderoy Lockhart in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), and Thompson played Sybil Trelawney in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004). Depending on what has been cut from the script for the fifth film, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) could be the first time both have appeared together in the same film since their divorce. Also appearing in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) is his ex-girlfriend, Helena Bonham Carter.Claims that Derek Jacobi is the reason he got into acting, and thus Jacobi became a frequent collaborator with him in most of his movies.Originally cast as the lead in Amadeus (1984) before the production company decided on casting American actors in the leading roles.The last film he made with Emma Thompson was Much Ado About Nothing (1993). Their roles had previously been played in an earlier film by Robert Stephens and Maggie Smith, who were also a couple at the time. Branagh and Thompson appeared together in Fortunes of War (1987) and Henry V (1989), which also featured Stephens, and in the Harry Potter films with Smith.Often circles the camera around his actors when they are performing a monologue or having a conversation in one of his Shakespearean films.He was nominated for a 2004 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Actor of 2003 for his performance in "Edmond" at the Royal National Theatre: Olivier Stage.He can play guitar, piano and tap.He can speak Italian.He was awarded the Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire in the 2012 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to Drama and to the community in Northern Ireland.Youngest actor to receive the Golden Quill (Gielgud Award), 2000.Has directed many other Harry Potter cast members in his own movies. Ex-wife Emma Thompson appeared with him in Henry V (1989), Dead Again (1991), and Much Ado About Nothing (1993). Robbie Coltrane appeared in Henry V (1989). Julie Christie and Timothy Spall appeared in Hamlet (1996). Imelda Staunton appeared in Much Ado About Nothing (1993). John Cleese, Robert Hardy, and Helena Bonham Carter appeared in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994).One of only three actors to have their names mentioned by a character in the Blackadder series, alongside Charles Chaplin (Blackadder Goes Forth (1989), and Delia Smith (Blackadder Back & Forth (1999)). Blackadder mentioned his name in Blackadder Back & Forth (1999) whilst talking to William Shakespeare on the topic of 'Hamlet'.In 2022, he became the first person to be nominated for an Oscar in seven different categories over the course of his career: u003culu003cliBest Pictureu003c/liu003cliBest Directoru003c/liu003cliBest Actor in a Lead Roleu003c/liu003cliBest Actor in a Supporting Roleu003c/liu003cliBest Original Screenplayu003c/liu003cliBest Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Publishedu003c/liu003cliBest Live Action Short Film.u003c/liu003c/ulHe has directed Derek Jacobi in five films: Henry V (1989), Dead Again (1991), Hamlet (1996), Cinderella (2015) and Murder on the Orient Express (2017).Educated at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), London.He was one of the guests at King Charles III's and Camilla Queen Consort' wedding on 9 April 2005.Along with Orson Welles, Laurence Olivier, Woody Allen, Warren Beatty, Clint Eastwood and Roberto Benigni, he is one of only seven men to receive Academy Award nominations for both Best Actor and Best Director for the same film: Welles for Citizen Kane (1941), Olivier for Hamlet (1948), Allen for Annie Hall (1977), Beatty for both Heaven Can Wait (1978) and Reds (1981), Branagh for Henry V (1989), Eastwood for both Unforgiven (1992) and Million Dollar Baby (2004), and Benigni for Life Is Beautiful (1997).He has no children from either of his marriages.As of 2018, he has only been credited for appearing in one Best Picture Nominee, Dunkirk (2017). However, early in his career he did appear as an uncredited extra in the Best Picture Winning Chariots of Fire (1981).He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Laurence Olivier in My Week with Marilyn (2011). Olivier himself was nominated for the award for his role as Dr. Christian Szell in Marathon Man (1976).He allegedly declined the C.B.E. (Commander of the order of the British Empire) in 1994.Is a vice-president of Chichester Cinema at New Park. Maggie Smith and Anita Roddick are also vice-presidents.In 1990, he received an honorary doctorate in Literature from Queen's University (located in Belfast, Northern Ireland).Until 2022, he was the last actor to have received an Academy Award nomination for his role in a Shakespearean film. He was nominated for Best Actor for playing the title character in Henry V (1989), which he also directed. In 2022 Denzel Washington was nominated for Best Actor for playing the title character in Macbeth.He has two roles in common with Laurence Olivier, whom he played in My Week with Marilyn (2011): (1) Olivier played King Henry V in Henry V (1944) while Branagh played him in Henry V (1989) and (2) Olivier played the title character in Hamlet (1948) while Branagh played him in Hamlet (1996). In each case, Olivier and Branagh directed the relevant film.Was considered for the role of Jack Crawford in The Silence of the Lambs (1991).Of his fifteen directorial efforts, only four - Dead Again (1991), Peter's Friends (1992), A Midwinter's Tale (1995) and Belfast (2021) - were not based on preexisting material: (1) Henry V (1989), Much Ado About Nothing (1993), Hamlet (1996), Love's Labour's Lost (2000) and As You Like It (2006) were all adaptations of plays by William Shakespeare, (2) Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994) was an adaptation of Mary Shelley's 1818 novel "Frankenstein; or the Modern Prometheus", (3) The Magic Flute (2006) was based on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's 1791 opera "Die Zauberfl?te", (4) Sleuth (2007) was an adaptation of the 1970 play of the same name by Anthony Shaffer, (4) Thor (2011) was based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, (5) Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014) was based on the "Jack Ryan" novel series by Tom Clancy, (6) Cinderella (2015) was based on Charles Perrault's fairy tale of the same name and, more directly, Cinderella (1950) and (7) Murder on the Orient Express (2017) was based on the 1934 novel of the same name by Agatha Christie.Shares two film roles with Laurence Olivier: Henry V and Hamlet. He and Olivier also both directed their own performances in both films. He also directed Sleuth (2007), a remake of the 1972 film, in which Olivier starred. This time, Michael Caine played Olivier's part, while Jude Law played the second of two roles he shared with Caine - having previously appeared in Alfie (2004). Kenneth Branagh has also played the title role in a Naxos Audiobook CD of "Richard III', by William Shakespeare, another role that Olivier also played. Branagh portrayed Laurence Olivier in My Week with Marilyn (2011) and was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance.His top ten films of all time are: Napoleon (1927), Citizen Kane (1941), Brief Encounter (1945), Black Narcissus (1947), The Third Man (1949), The Searchers (1956), Manhattan (1979), Raging Bull (1980), Tootsie (1982) and Goodbye, Children (1987).Co-founded the Renaissance Theatre Company with David Parfitt, with King Charles III as a royal patron.He was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1983 (1982 season) for Most Promising Newcomer for his performance in "Another Country".He directed his then wife Emma Thompson in four films: Henry V (1989), Dead Again (1991), Peter's Friends (1992) and Much Ado About Nothing (1993).A Member of the RADA Council.He has directed Brian Blessed in four films: Henry V (1989), Much Ado About Nothing (1993), Hamlet (1996) and As You Like It (2006).Was considered for the role of Paul Smecker in The Boondock Saints (1999). The role ultimately went to Willem Dafoe.Has directed two people who have played Batman: Christian Bale in Henry V (1989), and Michael Keaton in Much Ado About Nothing (1993).He directed Richard Briers in nine films: Henry V (1989), Peter's Friends (1992), Swan Song (1992), Much Ado About Nothing (1993), Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994), A Midwinter's Tale (1995), Hamlet (1996), Love's Labour's Lost (2000) and As You Like It (2006).He was awarded the 1988 London Critics Circle Theatre Award (Drama Theatre Award) for Special Award.Won the 2004 Evening Standard Theatre Award as Best Actor for his performance as the title character in Edmond at the Royal National Theatre.Nominated for the 2009 Evening Standard Theatre Award as Best Actor in a play for his role as Ivanov in the play Ivanov at Wyndham's Theatre in London as part of the Donmar West End Season.Was age 15 when he first saw "Hamlet" performed.Although he played Cherie Lunghi's son in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994), he is only eight years her junior in real life. |
| Trademarks: |
Likes to use very long takes (3-4 minutes) at certain points during his films.
Frequently casts Richard Briers, Brian Blessed, Jimmy Yuill, Derek Jacobi and himself.
Frequently gives small roles to Patrick Doyle, his composer.
Frequently works with Director of Photography Roger Lanser, with whom he has made eight films.
Frequently works with director Christopher Nolan. |
| Quotes: |
I feel more Irish than English. I feel freer than British, more visceral, with a love of language. Shot through with fire in some way. That's why I resist being appropriated as the current repository of Shakespeare on the planet. That would mean I'm part of the English cultural elite, and I am utterly ill-fitted to be.
<br />
<hr>
I think the best actors are the most generous, the kindest, the greatest people and at their worst they are vain, greedy and insecure.
<br />
<hr>
I'm just a foul-mouthed Brit.
<br />
<hr>
My definition of success is control.
<br />
<hr>
Friendship is one of the most tangible things in a world which offers fewer and fewer supports. |
| Job title: |
Actor,Producer,Director |
| Others works: |
(1992) Stage play: Coriolanus - playing Coriolanus, for the Renaisance Theatre Company.
(autobiography) "Beginning", London: Chatto and Windus (1989)
(1987) Stage play: Public Enemy - writer director and star. The play is an adaptation of The |
| Spouse: |
Lindsay Brunnock (May 24, 2003 - present) Emma Thompson (August 20, 1989 - October 1, 1995) (divorced) |
| Children: |
No Children |
| Parents: |
William Branagh
Frances Harper |
| Relatives: |
William Branagh Jr. (Sibling)
Joyce Branagh (Sibling) |
|
