Publisher's Synopsis
When John Gielgud died in May 2000 he was honoured as "the giant of twentieth-century theatre". In this special celebration of his life, Gyles Brandreth tells the extraordinary story of a unique actor, film star, director and raconteur. Gielgud made his first appearance at the Old Vic in London in 1921, his first radio broadcast in 1923 and his first film in 1924. For eight decades he dominated his profession, initially as a classical actor, later in plays by Harold Pinter and Alan Bennett. In his twenties he appeared in silent movies; more than half a century later, he emerged as a Hollywood star, winning an Oscar (for Arthur) at the age of 78. With wonderful anecdotes and previously unpublished contributions from Gielgud's friends and colleagues - including Kenneth Branagh, Alec Guinness, Paul Scofield, Donald Sinden, Peter Hall - JOHN GIELGUD: AN ACTOR'S LIFE is the authoritative portrait of a remarkable man.
