John Gielgud (1904–2000,) fully Sir Arthur John Gielgud, was an English actor, producer, and director. He was celebrated as one of the most outstanding performers of his generation on stage and screen, particularly as a Shakespearean actor.
Born in London, Gielgud studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA.) He worked in repertory theatre and the West End before establishing himself at the Old Vic as an exponent of Shakespeare in 1929–31 with The Constant Nymph (1926,) Hamlet (1929,) and The Good Companions (1931.) He became a leading Shakespearean actor of the British theatre and directed many Shakespeare Memorial Theatre productions.
Gielgud appeared in many films, markedly as Benjamin Disraeli in The Prime Minister (1940) and as Cassius in Julius Caesar (1952.) He played Othello at Stratford (1961) and Prospero at the National Theatre (1974.) After that, he appeared in many cameo roles in movies and won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Arthur (1981.)
Gielgud’s writings include the autobiography Early Stages (1938; revised 1976;) Stage Directions (1963,) a collection of speeches and essays; Distinguished Company (1972;) An Actor in His Time (1979;) and Shakespeare: Hit or Miss? (1991; also Acting Shakespeare, 1992.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by John Gielgud
One mustn’t allow acting to be like stockbroker—you must not take it just as a means of earning a living, to go down every day to do a job of work. The big thing is to combine punctuality, efficiency, good nature, obedience, intelligence, and concentration with an unawareness of what is going to happen next, thus keeping yourself available for excitement.
—John Gielgud
Topics: Action
One’s self-image is very important because if that’s in good shape, then you can do anything, or practically anything.
—John Gielgud
Topics: Confidence, Assurance
I think the young actor who really wants to act will find a way … to keep at it and seize every opportunity that comes along.
—John Gielgud
Topics: Opportunity
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