Laurence Olivier
Laurence Olivier
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier, OMwas an English actor who, along with his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud, dominated the British stage of the mid-20th century. He also worked in films throughout his career, playing more than fifty cinema roles. Late in his career, he had considerable success in television roles...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionMovie Actor
Date of Birth22 May 1907
art prove-it ifs
If you're an artist, you've got to prove it.
sex hunting curiosity
Autograph-hunting is the most unattractive manifestation of sex-starved curiosity.
heart cymbals spirit
There is a spirit in us that makes our brass to blare and our cymbals crash-all, of course, supported by the practicalities of trained lung power, throat, heart, guts.
beautiful stars kindness
In the great wealth, the great firmament of your nation's generosities this particular choice may perhaps be found by future generations as a trifle eccentric, but the mere fact of it . . . the prodigal, pure, human kindness of it . . . must be seen as a beautiful star in that firmament which shines upon me at this moment, dazzling me a little, but filling me with warmth of the extraordinary elation, the euphoria that happens to so many of us at the first breath of the majestic glow of a new tomorrow.
thinking artist prove-it
You think you're an artist; prove it
critics outrageous
Don't be afraid to be outrageous; the critics will shoot you down anyway.
acting breathe
Without acting, I cannot breathe.
character men age
When you're a young man, Macbeth is a character part. When you're older, it's a straight part.
noses audience
Lead the audience by the nose to the thought.
drama exercise light
The office of drama is to exercise, possibly to exhaust, human emotions. The purpose of comedy is to tickle those emotions into an expression of light relief; of tragedy, to wound them and bring the relief of tears. Disgust and terror are the other points of the compass.
life wisdom thinking
I'd like people to remember me for a diligent expert workman. I think a poet is a workman. I think Shakespeare was a workman. And God's a workman. I don't think there's anything better than a workman.
knowledge heart theatre
I don't know what is better than the work that is given to the actor-to teach the human heart the knowledge of itself.
book eye thinking
I often think that could we creep behind the actor's eyes, we would find an attic of forgotten toys and a copy of the Domesday Book.
eye incarnation
Shakespeare - The nearest thing in incarnation to the eye of God.