Celebrities

Kenneth Branagh grows into his new role as Boris: Actor’s waistline expands as he transforms into the PM for Sky’s coronavirus drama This Sceptred Isle

  • Our exclusive picture show, Sir Ken, 60, has completely transformed to become PM Boris Johnson for the Sky Atlantic drama on the UK’s coronavirus response
  • The series is due to air next year has been criticised for fictitious storylines
  • Filming for the five-part series has been underway across the UK for three weeks

Sir Kenneth Branagh might be known for his weighty characters, but this could be his most substantial role yet.

As our exclusive picture shows, the theatrical knight has certainly grown into the role of Boris Johnson, sacrificing his waistline to become his startling doppelganger.

With his physical appearance, dress, mannerisms and gait all mimicked perfectly, Sir Kenneth’s transformation into the Prime Minister is all-consuming.

Sir Kenneth Branagh, 60, is transformed for his role in Sky Atlantic drama This Sceptred Isle 

Sir Kenneth, 60, donned a navy quilted jacket, suit and tie and tousled blond wig to match the PM’s look as he filmed the Sky Atlantic drama This Sceptred Isle last week.

Our photograph shows Sir Kenneth, as Boris, visiting locals in the flood-hit Worcestershire town of Bewdley last March. In reality, Boris was heckled by some who called him a ‘traitor’ while others posed with him for selfies.

The five-part series, directed by Michael Winterbottom, will tell the story of how the 56-year-old Prime Minister tackled the Covid pandemic, including his own hospitalisation with the virus, as well as charting his relationship with fiancee Carrie Symonds.


The photograph (right) shows Sir Kenneth Branagh, as PM Boris Johnson, visiting locals in the flood-hit Worcestershire town of Bewdley last March as part of the five-part series 

Filming for This Sceptred Isle, which has already attracted criticism for featuring fictitious storylines, has been under way for three weeks in various locations around the UK. It is due to air next year.

Sir Kenneth’s transformation into a hunched and haunted-looking Johnson is just his latest physical metamorphosis for a role.

He deployed a prosthetic nose to play William Shakespeare in All Is True and grew a dramatic moustache to portray Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie’s Death On The Nile.

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