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
scratches actors
Scratch an actor and you'll find an actor.
actors caviar feeding
I should be soaring away with my head tilted slightly toward the gods, feeding on the caviar of Shakespeare. An actor must act.
beautiful done actors
Of all the things I've done in life, directing a motion picture is the most beautiful. It's the most exciting and the nearest than an interpretive craftsman, such as an actor can possibly get to being a creator.
art firsts actors
The art of persuasion. The actor persuades himself, first, and through himself, the audience.
time
We have all, at one time or another, been performers, and many of us still are - politicians, playboys, cardinals and kings.
given heart human knowledge teach work
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.
announced character days dear gone order sleep
My dear boy, why don't you try acting? (on the set of 'Marathon Man', to Dustin Hoffman, who had announced that he'd gone 3 days without sleep in order to 'become' his character
believe game nursery
It's just like a nursery game of make-believe.
character macbeth
When you're a young man, Macbeth is a character part. When you're older, it's a straight part.
eyes open view
I take a simple view of life: keep your eyes open and get on with it.
palm
The actor should be able to create the universe in the palm of his hand.
ideas alive new-ideas
Above all, you must remain open and fresh and alive to any new idea.
zest enthusiasm life-is
Life is enthusiasm, zest.
apes mock
We ape, we mimic, we mock. We act.