Belfast-born actor Sir Kenneth Branagh has said he felt "humble, elated and very, very special" to be included in the Queen's Birthday Honours List after receiving his knighthood recently.

Speaking to a BBC reporter, the Harry Potter and My Week With Marilyn actor said "I feel very humble, I feel elated.. I feel very, very special".

The 51-year-old actor was born and raised in Belfast, before moving to Reading at the age of nine. His honour recognises his services to drama and the community in Northern Ireland.

Branagh declined the honour of Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 1994 and when he received news of his honour, earlier this year, he said "I was genuinely shocked when I got it. I didn’t know what it was all about. I had to consider it. I rejected the CBE".

"But at this stage in my life, my practice is, if people are kind enough to acknowledge what you do it seems polite not to say, “Thank you very much”' he said.



"The business I am in, we are very lucky. At the end of every stage performance the audience all applaud me for doing my job, but I have friends who work in offices who don’t get that."

Other celebrities who were bestowed an honour last week include actress Kate Winslet and fashion designer Sarah Burton.

Branagh is also set to direct Chris Pine in an upcoming film about Tom Clancy's hero Jack Ryan.

