Branagh was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for his performance. Janet Maslin of The New York Times wrote: "Mr. Branagh's superb performance, as the man whose Machiavellian scheming guides the story of Othello's downfall, guarantees this film an immediacy that any audience will understand.
Branagh was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for his performance in the film "Othello." Janet Maslin of The New York Times praised Branagh's acting as the man who orchestrates the downfall of Othello, stating it ensures the film has an immediate impact that all audiences will grasp.