Trivia of Laurence Olivier

Trivia of Laurence Olivier

*He is considered by many people to be the greatest English-speaking actor of the twentieth century.

*He was chosen to play Antonio in Queen Christina (1933) but was rejected by Greta Garbo after an initial meeting at the studio. The role later went to Garbo's former lover John Gilbert, whose career had hit bottom after the advent of sound. In his autobiography "Confessions of an Actor", Olivier says that he understands why she behaved the way she did, but in Felix Barker's 1953 "The Oliviers - A Biography", it was plain that Olivier and his career were hurt by being rejected by the biggest star in Hollywood. Olivier had had to sail from England to America, and then sail back, all under the harsh glare of the Hollywood publicity machine.

*He was the first person to direct himself to a Best Actor Academy Award (in Hamlet (1948)).

*Laurence Olivier was married three times, but his best-known marriage was to actress Vivien Leigh (Gond with the Wind), which lasted 20 years from 1940 to 1960. The pair met while filming A Fire Over England in 1937 and began an affair shortly after working together on the movie. They appeared in only three movies together, also including 21 Days and That Hamilton Woman, but shared the stage much more frequently.

*According to Spartacus (1960) co-star Peter Ustinov, Olivier felt most comfortable acting when wearing a wig, a fake nose or having some other elaborate make-up put on. He often insisted on this, even when it was not particularly required for the role he played.

*He was seriously considered for the role of Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather (1972) before Marlon Brando was cast.

*Knighted in the 1947 King's Birthday Honours List, made a life peer in the 1970 Queen's Birthday Honours List, awarded the Order of Merit in 1981.Admitted to the Order of Merit in 1981, the first actor so honored in its 79-year-long history. The Order of Merit recognizes distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or for the promotion of culture. Admission into the order is the personal gift of the sovereign of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms and is limited to 24 living recipients at one time from these countries plus a limited number of honorary members. Seven years after Olivier's death, John Gielgud was made a member of the Order, the second actor so honored.