Sir Arthur John Gielgud is known throughout the world as atalented and self-critical actor, who in his time best performed the roles of scenic Hamlet and Romeo. In addition to acting, John was engaged in theatrical direction. However, we learn about how the great artist managed to achieve such successes from our article.
John Gielgud was born on April 14, 1904in London (England). Parents of the future actor to the theater and cinema had nothing to do with. Arthur's father was a Catholic, who came from the Lithuanian noble family of Gelgulov, the coat of arms of Dzyalosh. Mother is known as the niece of the brilliant Ellen Terry and cousin Gordon Craig - the great actor, opera singer and theater director of the modernist era.
From the earliest childhood the boy dreamed of playingtheater scene. Being still very young, Arthur spoke to the whole family, reciting famous works by heart. Even then it was clear that the boy would become an artist. After graduation, John enters the theatrical school of Lady Benson. After graduating there only a year, the future actor is transferred to the Academy of Theater Arts in Gower Street.
John Gielgud first appeared on stage in 1921.The debut role of the talented boy becomes the Herald (W. Shakespeare). After this performance at the Old Vic Theater, Arthur will never leave the big stage.
High growth, rich in intonations voice,a noble smile, a charming appearance, endless talent, sparkling energy - all these qualities made John on the stage spectacular and memorable. It should be noted that Gilgud has more than once shone on the big screen. As later recognized as an actor, cinema was for him a secondary occupation, since his main life path is theater.
After his first role in the theater, John Gielgud will play the main characters of William Shakespeare for 50 years.
Among the best and most memorable performancesArthur - Hamlet, Romeo and Richard II. Played John Gielgud, a photo of which is in our article, in various London theaters. Among them is the Shakespeare Memorial Theater in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Unforgettable success was crowned for John's executionroles in the plays of Anton Chekhov. So, in 1924 on the stage of the Oxford Theater "Playhouse" Arthur played Petya Trofimov in the product "Cherry Orchard". This role was not easy for the artist, but this did not stop spectators from applauding at the end of the Chekhov play. After this performance, a role was played in the Seagull. In this play, John Gielgud, whose filmography is described in our article, appeared on the stage of the New Teeter Theater and played Trepilev. Then the talented artist was invited to the stage of the Royal Theater in the play "Three Sisters", where he was perfectly given the role of Vershinin.
In 1932, John made his directorial debut as a directorin the theater New Tieter, putting the play "Richard Bordeaux" Daviot. It was not without the help of good friends that everything went just fine: people applauded standing up. Then followed an independent production - "Romeo and Juliet." In this sensational play at that time, John Gielgud himself (the actor) played several roles at once. The artist alternated his performances with the young and talented Lawrence Olivier, who, by the way, in the future will become Arthur's main competitor for the main roles in the theatrical productions of Shakespeare.
Once they will say unflattering words about each other. Gilgud will note that Olivier has no poetry. In turn, Lawrence will say that John is too busy with his grace.
After the war, Gilgud will increasinglytheatrical productions. So, in 1954 he will stage the play "The Cherry Orchard", and also staged Dostoevsky's novel "Crime and Punishment", in which he will perform the role of Raskolnikov.
In 1968, John played King Oedipus in a play staged by Peter Brook. With the production, Gilgud toured the USSR.
John Gielgud (the biography is described in detail in ourarticle) was self-critical and dismissive of his roles in the cinema. The most successful was the execution of the dying writer in the 1977 film "Providence" directed by Alain Rene. Nevertheless, in his account many roles in the big cinema. Among them: the tape of Alfred Hitchcock's "Secret Agent", in which John played the main character, "Murder in the Orient Express" in 1974, directed by Sidney Lumet, the comedy "Arthur" in 1981, for which Gilgud received an Oscar for Best Actor of the Second plan, "Elephant Man," "Glitter," "Prospero Books," and so on.
It should be noted that for "Murder on the Orient Express" John was awarded the BAFTA award. It is also noteworthy that Gilgud received his first Oscar at the age of 78.
Gilgud published four books of memoirs entitled "I can only write about the theater, I do not know anything about the rest." In 1996, Queen Elizabeth II John was awarded the Order of Merit.
A talented actor died on the 97th year of his life,May 21, in the year 2000. A year after his death, his belongings were sold at one of the auctions. The most expensive was the collection of paintings of the great artist, which he collected throughout his life, the bust of John, as well as a copy of "Hamlet" with the remark of Gilgud "It was given to me by Lawrence's will".
John was cremated in the Oxford crematorium.
John lived at a time when the topic of homosexuality was not discussed, especially within the theatrical life.
So, in 1953, John was arrested for improperbehavior in a public place. Gilgud tried to molest one of the men in the toilet. After such an act career of the famous artist could be under attack. But the management of the theaters in which John played, tried not to endure the incident for the theater walls.
As one of the biographers wrote, Gilgud never denied his belonging to homosexuals, but at the same time felt insulted and humiliated.
The only love partner in life was Martin Hensler, with whom Gilgud lived for about 30 years. Publicly, John said this only in 1988 after the death of his lover.
There are rumors that John started acting in filmsprecisely because the public learned about his non-traditional orientation. Then the actor had to move to permanent residence in Hollywood. Many argue that in this regard, Gilgud almost fell into depression, but the work in the movie again allowed him to show his immense actor's talent.
