Laurence Olivier

I suppose, unconsciously, I used all my wives to further my journey up the ladder.

It took me two years to walk around a chair with ease; it took me another two years to learn how to laugh onstage - and I had to learn everything.

A man's prime interest in life must be his work.

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.

If he was lost for a moment, he would dive straight back into its honey.

Lead the audience by the nose to the thought.

The actor should be able to create the universe in the palm of his hand.

We have all, at one time or another, been performers, and many of us still are - politicians, playboys, cardinals and kings.

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.

When you're a young man, Macbeth is a character part. When you're older, it's a straight part.

We ape, we mimic, we mock. We act.

I should be soaring away with my head tilted slightly toward the gods, feeding on the caviar of Shakespeare. An actor must act.

Acting is a masochistic form of exhibitionism. It is not quite the occupation of an adult.

My stage successes have provided me with the greatest moments outside myself, my film successes the best moments, professionally, within myself.

Nine books have been written about me, and there's not a word of truth in any of them.

'Richard III' is a really difficult play to film - it's involved, often obscure. I felt it absolutely necessary to do more simplification than I've ever done before.

I can't think I've ever loved anybody quite as much... My mother was my life, really; she was my entire world.

I take a simple view of life: keep your eyes open and get on with it.

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.

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.