John Gielgud (1904-2000), Actor and theatre director
Sir John Gielgud
Sitter in 113 portraits
Born into a theatrical tradition - Ellen Terry was his great aunt and his father's Polish grandmother was also an actress. He made his professional debut in 1921 at the Old Vic and it was there that his performances in Richard II and Hamlet in 1929 propelled him to fame. Gielgud's fame before the War was as a Shakespearean actor and director, skills he re-deployed in the triumphant one-man Shakespeare recital, Ages of Man, with which he toured the world in 1959. A versatile talent, he directed and played in Christopher Fry's The Lady's Not for Burning in 1949. He won an Oscar for his film role in Arthur (1981). As late as 1998 he starred in The Titchborne Claimant.
John Gielgud as Mercutio in 'Romeo and Juliet'
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1935
NPG x14496
John Gielgud; Dame Peggy Ashcroft; George Howe
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1935
NPG x14497
John Gielgud; Dame Peggy Ashcroft as Romeo and Juliet in 'Romeo and Juliet'
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1935
NPG x14498
John Gielgud; Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1935
NPG x14499
John Gielgud; Dame Peggy Ashcroft as Romeo and Juliet in 'Romeo and Juliet'
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1935
NPG x14500
John Gielgud; Sir Alec Guinness
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1935
NPG x14501
John Gielgud; Glencairn Alexander ('Glen') Byam Shaw
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1935
NPG x14502
John Gielgud; Dame Peggy Ashcroft; George Howe
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1935
NPG x14504
John Gielgud; Sir Alec Guinness
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1935
NPG x14507
John Gielgud; Glencairn Alexander ('Glen') Byam Shaw; Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1935
NPG x14510
John Gielgud; Glencairn Alexander ('Glen') Byam Shaw; Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier
by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1935
NPG x14511
Film and Broadcasting
Theatre and Live Entertainment
Groups
Actors and actresses
Place
London
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