Sir Laurence Olivier is world famous for his outstanding artistic achievements in the theatre and cinema. He directed stage and film productions that are considered the most difficult ones in the world repertoire. If you saw him on the stage you would understand why he is constantly attracting the best
In his work as actor and director there is some particular method, or rather his own approach to acting. He relies greatly on rhythm that is change of speed of speech, change of expression, change of pace in crossing the stage, being not so particular about his costume or make-up. He is constantly changing because he wants to keep the audience awake. He wouldnt change every minute if he didnt want the public to respond. He believes that the audience wouldnt respond if he did what he was expected to do. In this he follows the advice given many years ago by Feodor Chaliapin* to an actor: Never do what the audience expects you to do. Olivier once said that if Chaliapin had taken breath when he was expected there wouldnt have been an illusion of his having sung the whole phrase in one breath. The public wouldnt have admired him.
But Olivier is sure that no tricks will make an actor great. If he himself hadnt had qualities that widen your vision, and add to your understanding of the world, he wouldnt be regarded, as a distinguished actor. These qualities are: thorough knowledge of the play in which he was performing, artistic imagination, physical, intellectual and spiritual strength, a sense of display and an ability to identify with a role or, in other words, to take on the core of a character.
For Olivier identification with a role, a complete transformation into a character is not a should, it is a must. He cant understand other famous actors who in the middle of their monologues about passion, power, death are wondering what they would like to have for supper. He wouldnt be able to play if he began to think about such things. Olivier is always interested in what agitates the soul. It may seem curious what he himself says about it: Even if I were not an actor I would be interested in what agitates the soul. If you want to excite people, you should know what makes them respond, what makes them agitated. So if I am going to play a part, first of all I ask myself what kind of man my character is, and what there is about him that might excite people. And if I couldnt imagine the entire man, the whole mind of the character, if I didnt feel I am that man whom I am going to play, I wouldnt be able to play, I wouldnt have made an actor, says Olivier.
To display the character vividly, to make us feel what is happening under the surface, using different, unexpected modulations of the voice, using particular but natural gestures, changing pace and expression, conveying any tiny emotion is a very difficult task for an actor. Olivier copes with its splendidly. His ability to take on the essence of the character is the key to his magic. This ability creates miracles on the stage and on the screen.
