Top 16 Quotes & Sayings by John Gielgud

Explore popular quotes and sayings by an English actor John Gielgud.

Last updated on November 8, 2024.

Sir Arthur John Gielgud, was an English actor and theatre director whose career spanned eight decades. With Ralph Richardson and Laurence Olivier, he was one of the trinity of actors who dominated the British stage for much of the 20th century. A member of the Terry family theatrical dynasty, he gained his first paid acting work as a junior member of his cousin Phyllis Neilson-Terry's company in 1922. After studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art he worked in repertory theatre and in the West End before establishing himself at the Old Vic as an exponent of Shakespeare in 1929–31.

English - Actor | April 14, 1904 - May 21, 2000

Source: Wikipedia

Acting is half shame, half glory. Shame at exhibiting yourself, glory when you can forget yourself.

John Gielgud

Before you can do something you must first be something.

John Gielgud

Your English style will no doubt put all the other gentlemen to bed. I speak figuratively, of course.

John Gielgud

One mustn't allow acting to be like stoc kbroker - you must not take it just as a means of earning a living, to go down every day to do a job of work. The big thing is to combine punctuality, efficiency, good nature, obedience, intelligence, and concentration with an unawareness of what is going to happen next, thus keeping yourself available for excitement.

John Gielgud

Usually one must go to a bowling alley to meet a woman of your stature.

John Gielgud

Being another character is more interesting than being yourself.

John Gielgud

I never accept lengthy film roles nowadays, because I am always so afraid I will die in the middle of shooting and cause such awful problems.

John Gielgud

I think the young actor who really wants to act will find a way ... to keep at it and seize every opportunity that comes along.

John Gielgud

One's self-image is very important because if that's in good shape, then you can do anything, or practically anything.

John Gielgud

It is very hard to cast a number of plays adequately from the same company of actors without several parts being miscast.

John Gielgud

I am all in favour of spontaneity, providing it is carefully planned and ruthlessly controlled.

John Gielgud

You can be good in a good movie, you can be good in a bad movie, you can be bad in a bad movie, but never, ever, be bad in a good movie.

John Gielgud

When I first went to America in 1928, there were spittoons everywhere. I remember avoiding spit as it flew past me in Times Square. Very unattractive.

John Gielgud

Most of my friends seem to be either dead, extremely deaf or living on the wrong side of Kent.

John Gielgud

I'm sure there isn't an after-life. If there were, Ivor Novello would have got a message to us.

John Gielgud