RADA Talks: Kenneth Branagh and Ralph Fiennes in conversation

Kenneth Branagh is an actor and director in film, television and theatre. In addition to his acclaimed cinema adaptations of William Shakespeare's plays, he has also directed and/or acted in films such as Murder on the Orient Express, Dunkirk, My Week with Marilyn, Thor, Tenet and Cinderella. He has had a huge TV success with his BAFTA & Emmy winning portrayal of Wallander and has received 5 Academy Award nominations in 5 different categories.

Ralph Fiennes has enjoyed an extensive career acting in theatre, film and television as well as producing and directing film. His last stage appearance was at the Bridge Theatre in Beat the Devil by David Hare, directed by Nicholas Hytner which was performed under social distancing rules. His many other theatre credits include: Antony and Cleopatra and Man and Superman directed by Simon Godwin at the National Theatre; Ivanov, Richard II, Richard III and Coriolanus for the Almeida; Brand and Henry VI for the Royal Shakespeare Company. Further theatre credits include The Master Builder, God of Carnage and Faith Healer. His many film credits include Schindler’s List, The English Patient, The Constant Gardener, The Grand Budapest Hotel and the roles of Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter films and M in Skyfall and Spectre. He has also directed three feature films - Coriolanus, The Invisible Woman and The White Crow. His most recent film credit for The Dig was released on Netflix in January 2021. Fiennes’ forthcoming films include The King’s Man, The Forgiven and No Time To Die.

Pamela Jikiemi (MA PGCE FHEA) classically trained at ALRA, with postgraduate study completed at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Pamela is also currently a PhD candidate exploring representation in actor training.

Pamela has worked creatively and extensively as an actor (television, radio, film, theatre and voiceover, nationally and internationally) in Senior Management and as Department Head/Unit Leader/Visiting Lecturer in Broadcast, VFX/Design Post Production, Digital Media, actor training, theatre and screen.

Her strong track record of actor training, leadership and industry links ideally places her as part of the RADA team - a team that fully prepares RADA’s historically diverse cohort of acting students to be specialists, able to pursue highly rewarding, composite careers in the industry, with transferable skills.

Published works: a chapter titled, “Training or Racialisation? The Case of the Black British Trainee Actor” published in Progress in Education 56.