Paul Scofield

"Paul Scofield is one of Britain's finest classical actors, and is often described as the greatest actor in the world. It is a remarkable accolade for such a self-effacing man, one who frequently turned down parts that would have led to fame and riches. But Scofield has always followed his own path and after sixty years his acting still surprises, and wins the admiration of critics." "Of the same stature as Redgrave, Gielgud and Olivier, although of a younger generation, Scofield too won international acclaim. He was awarded an Oscar for his portrayal of Sir Thomas More in A Man For All Seasons in 1966 - and was nominated for best supporting actor for his role as Ralph Fiennes' father in Quiz Show in 1995. His distinguished stage career includes all the great roles: Tynan described his Hamlet as the best he'd ever seen. Paul Scofield won a Bafta in 1997 for The Crucible and was made a Companion of Honour in 2001." "Acclaimed author Garry O'Connor has spoken to the famously reclusive Scofield himself, as well as to many of the actors and directors he has worked with, including Diana Rigg, Simon Callow, Robert Redford, Trevor Nunn and Peter Hall. The result is a biography that paints a revealing portrait of a man who, for the serious film- and theatre-goer, is more of an icon than any other living actor."--BOOK JACKET.

Beyond its central premise, the book can be read through the connected lenses of Nonfiction. Those themes offer useful points of attention as the characters, ideas, or world develop, especially where the book complicates the expectations of its primary category.