BELFAST-born Kenneth Branagh has made quite a name for himself both in front of the screen and behind the cameras, and it seems he's also made an impression on actor Jude Law. Branagh and Law were at the Venice Film Festival recently to promote their new flick Sleuth, which Law stars in alongside Michael Caine, with Branagh directing. The multi-talented Branagh - in addition to his directing, he's also an Oscar nominated actor, screenwriter and, yes director - will also oversee Law's first foray onto London's West End in Hamlet.

The show will be produced by the prestigious Donmar Warehouse. Law will play the title role, of course, and it will open in the spring of 2009.

In the meantime, in addition to promoting Sleuth, Branagh has plenty of work to keep him busy. He's currently shooting Valkyrie with Tom Cruise in Germany about World War II.

Has his controversial co-star attempted to convert Branagh to Scientology? "I've known Tom for 15 years and we've never talked about such things. But we had a great time making the film," he told a newspaper in Toronto, where he's currently promoting Sleuth at the city's film fest.