His father had him made a British citizen â '' a decision that would later allow Michael to receive an actual , rather than honorary , knighthood and CBE . ( although , under the British Nationality Act 1981 anyone born in Ireland before 1949 can still register as a British subject and , after five years ' UK residence , as a British citizen ) . His father had him made a British citizen , a decision that would later allow Gambon to receive an actual , rather than honorary , knighthood and CBE ( although , under the British Nationality Act 1981 anyone born in Ireland before 1949 can still register as a British subject and , after five years ' UK residence , become a British citizen ) .