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Universally acknowledged as one of the greats of the 20th century, Laurence Olivier was born in Dorking in 1907, and encouraged to act by his clergyman father. After excelling in school drama, Olivier joined the Birmingham Repertory in 1926, and after several failures clawed his way to stage and screen respectability during the 30s. After a brief hiatus for WWII, in which he was frustrated not to play a fuller part, he directed himself in 1945's brilliant Henry V, equalling his Oscar-winning feat with Hamlet in 1948. After that he was British drama's most respected exponent, receiving a knighthood and peerage while insisting on being addressed as Larry at all times.
