Kenneth Branagh recalls the opening ceremony of London 2012 27 July: the actor relives working with Danny Boyle to help create the dazzling opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics (GUARDIAN)

"I have never learned a part more thoroughly": Kenneth Branagh performs at the opening ceremony. Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters

I was in Liverpool on a location scout for the film Jack Ryan when I got the call. Danny Boyle rang me and explained that they'd had a great tragedy – Mark Rylance's daughter had passed away and he was pulling out of his role in the opening ceremony. He asked if I would take over. I was standing on a street corner and I was so shocked at Mark's news that I didn't really take in the second part.

A couple of days later I went to see Danny at the Olympic Stadium. It was three weeks before the ceremony and the place was packed with thousands of people all doing things impressively. Danny seemed to know everybody's first name – it was like taking a walk with the Pied Piper. We climbed on to the hill that I'd eventually be doing my piece from. It was quite a lot to take in. Danny said, "You'll be here in the person of Isambard Kingdom Brunel performing Shakespeare to the accompaniment of Elgar," and I said, "God, that's a lot of Great Britons all at once." I asked him where the prompter or autocue would be and he said, "Oh, no we won't have one of those." I have never learned a part more thoroughly in my entire professional career. The notion of screwing up in front of a billion people concentrated the mind very strongly.

On the opening night the energy was incredible and hard to resist. There was a temporary structure built as our dressing rooms and all the children involved were on the top floor. They were so wild with excitement the building was shaking. I remember being in my dressing room with the Arctic Monkeys rehearsing "Come Together" for the 5,000th time next door, and on the other side of the partition, Rowan Atkinson and Simon Rattle were discussing, in minute detail, how to be funny in two minutes and 11 seconds. Across the way Danny Boyle was talking JK Rowling off the ledge because it was her first time performing in public. As for me, I was just trying to keep my head straight and going through my lines: "Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises…"


READ MORE: http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2012/dec/23/kenneth-branagh-danny-boyle-olympics

Paul McCartney Olympics Payment: Singer Paid One Pound ($1.57) For Big Gig 07/30/12 02:44 PM ET (HUFF POST)

LONDON -- Don't spend it all in one place, Paul.

London Olympic organizers say former Beatle Paul McCartney and other star performers who took part in Friday's opening ceremony essentially donated their time – receiving a mere pound ($1.57) – for their performances.

The nominal fee was offered to make the Olympics contracts binding – but pales in comparison to the millions big names like McCartney can command for a stadium gig.

READ MORE: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/30/paul-mccartney-olympics-payment_n_1720412.html?utm_hp_ref=entertainment

Kenneth Branagh: ‘Don’t call me sir’ (SCOUTLONDON.COM)

He may have been one of the stars of Friday’s Olympic Opening ceremony, but that’s not the only regal highlight Kenneth Branagh’s recently had – having been knighted in the Queen’s 2012 Birthday Honours list last month.

“The response has been overwhelming from people I haven’t seen for a trillion years: old school friends, people from all over the world. I’ve been touched,” says the Belfast-born actor.

Branagh, 51, turned down a CBE in 1994, but there was no such hesitation over the knighthood. In fact, he said his heart was “fit to burst” when he first heard.

His recent work before Danny Boyle’s incredible piece, however, has been somewhat bleak. He has been playing troubled detective Wallander (based on the books by Swedish author Henning Mankell); a man of few words but many emotions, who Branagh brings to life with a stripped-back performance that has earned him great praise.

READ MORE: http://www.scoutlondon.com/2012/07/30/kenneth-branagh-dont-call-me-sir/

Olympics: Paul McCartney, Daniel Craig, Queen Elizabeth in Opening Ceremony NBC, Olympics — posted by halboedeker on July, 25 2012 9:42 AM (ORLANDO SENTINEL) HAL BOEDEKER

The Opening Ceremony of the London Olympics will be a celebration of all things British.
The best of Britain includes the Beatles and James Bond. Paul McCartney has announced he will perform in Friday’s event, which starts at 7:30 p.m. on NBC.

James Bond (played by Daniel Craig) will be knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in a film that’s part of the big opening, The Telegraph reports. Oscar-winner Judi Dench, who plays M in the film series, also takes part in the film.

Is Queen Elizabeth ready for her close-up?

She had better be. She also will officially open the Games. She will have a little help from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, who will be there, too.

But that’s not all for Bond: Craig will reportedly drop into the Olympic ceremony from a helicopter.


READ MORE:http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2012/07/olympics-paul-mccartney-daniel-craig-queen-elizabeth-in-opening-ceremony.html

Beatles star Sir Paul McCartney will end the Olympics opening ceremony with Hey Jude and he'll ask the stadium's 60,000 spectators to join him for a sing-along (MAIL ON LINE) By IAN GARLAND

Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney will close out the Olympics Games opening ceremony with a performance of Hey Jude - and he'll ask the stadium's 60,000 spectators to sing along with him.

One billion people are expected to tune in to watch the spectacular three-hour show, which is being directed by Oscar winner Danny Boyle and is costing £27 million to produce.

The largest harmonically tuned bell in the world will ring to mark the start of the ceremony at 9pm on July 27 - and the pop legend will bring it to a rousing finale at midnight.


McCartney prompted rumours Hey Jude was on his Olympics set list last month when he reportedly refused to perform the song at the Queen's Jubilee concert.

Sources now confirm to the Sunday Times the song will mark the end of the ceremony later this month.

They have also revealed a darker side to Danny Boyle's Isles of Wonder spectacular - named after a line in Shakespeare's play The Tempest.

As well as a 'green and pleasant land' celebrating Britain's rolling fields and rural heritage - the show will include a 'History Parade' celebrating the NHS, immigration and protest movements, and shining a light on the country's darker past.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2167232/London-Olympics-2012-Beatles-star-Sir-Paul-McCartney-end-Olympics-opening-ceremony-Hey-Jude-hell-ask-stadiums-60-000-spectators-join-sing-along.html