Luvvie Potter

By Alexandra Williams

He has starred in many Shakespearean epics on stage and on the screen - now luvvie actor Kenneth Branagh is casting his spell in the second Harry Potter movie.

Branagh, 41, stands to make £1 million after landing the role of charming Professor Gilderoy Lockhart in 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'.

Pictures just released show Branagh as a dashing, golden-haired teacher of Defence Against The Dark Arts at Hogwarts school.

Lockhart has written books about his deadly battles with supernatural creatures. Harry's friend Hermione Granger, played by Emma Watson, soon develops a crush on him. But despite Lockhart's boasting, many people in the know believe he is a coward and a fraud.

Branagh recently won a best actor Emmy for his performance in the made-for-TV movie 'Conspiracy'. In November his West End venture as director of 'The Play Wot I Wrote' opened and he has just starred in the TV drama 'Shackleton'.

In 'Chamber of Secrets', directed by Chris Columbus, Branagh stars alongside the cast from the first film, including Dame Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, John Cleese and Richard Harris. Daniel Radcliffe again plays the boy wizard and Rupert Grint makes a comeback as his best friend Ron Weasley in the movie due out on November 16.

The first film, 'Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone', based on the book by J.K. Rowling, soared to number four in the list of highest grossing films of all time. 'Harry Potter' helped book sales in Britain top £1billion for the first time last year. (Thanks, Ngoc)

From Film Force, 26 October 2001

Harry Potter 2: Branagh Is Lockhart!
Shakespearean Actor Kenneth Branagh Will Play the Flamboyant Professor Gilderoy Lockhart in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

By Brian Linder

As often happens in this business of movie news reporting, months and months of speculation can be abruptly silenced by a surprise announcement. This has occurred again today as industry trade magazine Variety has learned the identity of the actor who's been cast as Gilderoy Lockhart in 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'.

Shakespearean thesp Kenneth Branagh has reportedly signed to play the part of the egotistical and flamboyant Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, the most significant new character in the second Potter story.

The trade accurately describes Branagh's character as a charming, golden-haired wizard who has made his name as a successful writer and self-promoter. He is enlisted to teach at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he teaches Harry and Ron and Hermione - the latter develops a crush on Lockhart.

The sudden announcement squashes, once and for all, rumors that Hugh Grant or Alan Cumming might play the golden-locked wizard.

Branagh will shoot 'Chamber of Secrets' around his previously scheduled theater appearance. He's set to play Richard III at Sheffield's Crucible Theater beginning February 11th. He will reportedly film the bulk of his Harry Potter scenes beforehand, and return in mid-April to finish up.

The 40-year-old, UK-born actor is best known for his Bard-related films like 'Henry V', 'Much Ado About Nothing', and 'Hamlet'. Branagh has more than enough talent for this role, and a quick visit to wardrobe could have him disappearing into the character. His often-comedic portrayal of Seigneur Benedick in Much Ado is probably the best reference for what he might do with an exuberant character like Lockhart. I think he's an excellent choice.

I've said this many times before, but the casting on these films has, on paper at least, been absolutely perfect. Obviously we'll be able to evaluate it much better when the first film is out, but the casting directors and Columbus have gathered some of the most talented actors in the business - not to mention the fact that they just "feel" so right, in both appearance and demeanor.

Incidental filming on 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' is already underway, but principle photography is set to begin just after the first film opens on November 16th.

From Ananova, 25 October 2001

Kenneth Branagh to Star in Harry Potter Sequel

Kenneth Branagh is to star in the second Harry Potter film. He will play Professor Gilderoy Lockhart in the sequel. The character is a handsome, golden-haired wizard who arrives to teach at Hogwarts. Lockhart teaches Harry and his friends Ron and Hermione, reports www.variety.com.

The Professor is regarded by many as a fraud, but Hermione develops a crush on him. Hugh Grant and Alan Cumming had been linked with the role.

Work on "Harry Potter And The Chamber of Secrets" is due to start on November 18. "Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone" is out on November 16. It will be known in North America as "Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone".
(Thanks, Judith)

Kenneth Branagh, who made his name directing and acting in Shakespearean projects, has signed up to play Gilderoy Lockhart in the Harry Potter (news - web sites) sequel, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets."

The second film in the Warner Bros. franchise is scheduled to start production Nov. 16, the same day that "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" will open.

The film is based on J.K. Rowling's second book in the "Harry Potter" series of the same name. The principal leads in "Sorcerer's Stone" will reprise their roles for the sequel.

Branagh's character, a charming, golden-haired wizard who has made his name as a successful writer and self-promoter, is enlisted to teach at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He teaches Harry and his friends Ron and Hermoine, who develops a crush on Lockhart.

Branagh is also set to play Richard III on stage at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield starting Feb. 11. He is expected to finish most of his work on the "Harry Potter" sequel and then return to finish his scenes again in mid-April.

Branagh most recently starred in Philip Noyce's upcoming "Rabbit Proof Fence." His other recent credits include HBO's "Conspiracy" for which he has received an Emmy nomination, and "Shackleton," the true story of Ernest Shackleton's 1914 endurance expedition to the South Pole.
(Thanks, Ngoc, Katie)

The Associated Press, 25 October 2001

Branagh to Star in Next Potter Film

LONDON (AP) - Kenneth Branagh will swap Shakespeare for Harry Potter when he takes the role of flamboyant witchcraft professor Gilderoy Lockhart in the next Potter film.

The 40-year-old actor-director, best known for bringing Shakespeare to new film audiences, will play the publicity-hungry teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in "Harry Potter And the Chamber Of Secrets," which is to begin filming in December, spokeswoman Sara Keene said Thursday.

He will join the existing teaching staff, whose first adventures with their magical students are depicted in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," which opens in the United States on Nov. 16.
(Thanks, Auriette)

E!Online Branagh Casts Spell for "Potter" Sequel
by Josh Grossberg, 24 Ocotber 2001

To Potter or Not to Potter. That is the Question.

Kenneth Branagh, famed for bringing Shakespeare to the masses by directing and starring in such films as "Henry V", "Much Ado About Nothing" and, most recently, "Love's Labour Lost", is giving up the Bard for a teaching gig at Howarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Muggles will be delighted to learn that the 40-year-old British thespian has signed on for the role of the charming but vain and ultimately ineffectual Professor Gilderoy Lockhart in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets", the second installment of author J.K. Rowling's popular Harry Potter series.

Playing a character like Lockhart shouldn't be difficult for Branagh, who specializes in playing flamboyantly flawed characters (see his performance as Iago in "Othello", Dr. Victor Frankenstein in "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein" and the vengeful prince in "Hamlet", just to name a few).

Lockhart is a publicity-loving, designer-robe-wearing wizard who's as well known for the spell he casts on his female students (including Harry's pal Hermione) as he is for his shameless self-promoton (he makes his students read his breathless books on his battles with magical creatures).

He joins the staff at Hogwarts as Harry's second-year Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher just as a terrible monster haunts the school halls, leaving students literally petrified.

Naturally, it's up to Harry, Ron and Hermione to solve the mystery.

Branagh is the second high-profile Brit who has been attached to the role of Lockhart. Early, unconfirmed reports said producers were courting Hugh Grant for the part.

In addition to Branagh, the sequel will return much of the cast from the original Harry Potter. Daniel Radcliffe is back to play the lightning-scarred hero, as are Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as best buddies Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, respectively.

Rounding out the cast will be the usual Potter suspects: Professor Severus Snape (Alan Rickman), Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore (Richard Harris), Deputy Headmistress Professor Minerva McGonagall (Maggie Smith) and, of course, gameskeeper Robeus Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane).

Branagh, who most recently appeared in "Rabbit-Proof Fence" for director Philip Noyce (Patriot Games), is slated to start work on the Warner Bros. sequel November 16--the same day Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone sweeps into theaters.

From CNN

Branagh Brings Wizardry to Next Role

LONDON (AP) -- Kenneth Branagh will swap Shakespeare for Harry Potter when he takes the role of flamboyant witchcraft professor Gilderoy Lockhart in the next Potter film. The 40-year-old actor-director, best known for bringing Shakespeare to new film audiences, will play the publicity-hungry teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in "Harry Potter And the Chamber Of Secrets," which is to begin filming in December, spokeswoman Sara Keene said Thursday.

He will join the existing teaching staff, whose first adventures with their magical students are depicted in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," which opens in the United States on November 16.
(Thanks, Auriette)

From Empire Online

Branagh Enrols At Hogwarts

The hoohah over casting egotistical Dark Arts teacher Gilderoy Lockhart has raged long and hard. We've seen proposed names flying back and forth for months as the rumour mill desperately tried to put a face to the wand. But, now that the dust has settled, Kenneth Branagh has emerged victorious and has signed up to play the part in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Lockhart is a charming, if somewhat self-absorbed, wizard who is enlisted to teach defence against the dark arts at Hogwarts and becomes the subject of a crush by Harry’s friend Hermione.

While Kenneth wasn't the first name that sprang to Empire Online's mind when searching for a suitable wizard, we have to say that we think it's a righteous choice. While always putting on a good show as one of the Bard's protagonists, Branagh can camp it up with the best of them - did you see Wild Wild West? - and will doubtless make fans proud in next year's Potter sequel.