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
cutting thinking intuition
You must have - besides intuition and sensitivity - a cutting edge that allows you to reach what you need. Also, you have to know life - bastards included - and it takes a bit of one to know one, don't you think?
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.
scratches actors
Scratch an actor and you'll find an actor.
zest enthusiasm life-is
Life is enthusiasm, zest.
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.
apes mock
We ape, we mimic, we mock. We act.
sports sex humorous
A sexual athlete is not likely to find sufficient energy for work of another athletic kind, and the acting of great parts most definitely was and always will be athletic, depending on inner if not on visible energy. Members of other professions that depend on the expenditure of physical energy must, I believe, find similar difficulties when attempting to double up on their energies. One has often heard that the most magnificent specimens of boxers, wrestlers and champions in almost every branch of athletic sport prove to be disappointing upon the removal of that revered jockstrap.