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
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.
success business integrity
Have a very good reason for everything you do.
sports humility self-confidence
The humility to prepare and the self-confidence to bring it off.
intuition natural-instinct instinct
Surely we have always acted; it is an instinct inherent in all of us. Some of us are better at it than others, but we all do it.
time kings politician
We have all, at one time or another, been performers, and many of us still are - politicians, playboys, cardinals and kings.
eye incarnation
Shakespeare - The nearest thing in incarnation to the eye of God.
film moments best-moments
My stage successes have provided me with the greatest moments outside myself, my film successes the best moments, professionally, within myself.
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.
scratches actors
Scratch an actor and you'll find an actor.
critics outrageous
Don't be afraid to be outrageous; the critics will shoot you down anyway.
sex hunting curiosity
Autograph-hunting is the most unattractive manifestation of sex-starved curiosity.
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.
apes mock
We ape, we mimic, we mock. We act.
honey moments lost
If he was lost for a moment, he would dive straight back into its honey.