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 thinking needs
Art is a little bit larger than life - it's an exhalation of life and I think you probably need a little touch of madness.
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?
thinking artist prove-it
You think you're an artist; prove it
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.
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.
thinking mad gone
If I wasn't an actor, I think I'd have gone mad. You have to have extra voltage, some extra temperament to reach certain heights.
thinking intelligent innovation
No matter how well you perform, there's always somebody of intelligent opinion who thinks it's lousy.
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.