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Albert Finney

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Albert Finney was a highly respected English actor.

Albert Finney 1966b
Albert Finney 1966b

He was known for his incredible skill on both the stage and the cinema screen. Throughout his long career, he mastered many different types of roles. He could play serious characters in heavy dramas or bright characters in musicals. This versatility allowed him to remain a major figure in the acting world for many decades. He earned numerous prestigious honors for his work. These included a BAFTA, a Golden Globe, an Emmy, and a Silver Bear.

Finney's professional journey began with rigorous formal training. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, also known as RADA. He graduated from this institution in 1956. After his graduation, he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company. He also worked extensively with the Birmingham Rep to build his experience. Early in his career, he performed in several television productions for the BBC. He even made his London stage debut in a production of The Party, directed by Charles Laughton. In 1959, he famously replaced Laurence Olivier in the title role of Coriolanus at Stratford.

His rise to international stardom happened during the early 1960s. His first film appearance was in The Entertainer in 1960. That same year, he starred in Saturday Night and Sunday Morning. This film was a major success in Britain, earning more than half a million pounds. It was the third most popular movie in the country that year. His performance as a disillusioned factory worker helped establish his reputation. Following this, he starred in the Academy Award-winning film Tom Jones in 1963. This role was a massive turning point for his career.

Audrey Hepburn & Albert Finney Two for the Road Still
Audrey Hepburn & Albert Finney Two for the Road Still

The success of Tom Jones brought both fame and significant wealth. British exhibitors voted him the ninth most popular film actor in 1963. Because of the film's success, Finney received 10% of the earnings. This amount totaled over $1 million. After this period of intense work, Finney chose to take a unique break. He decided to spend a year sailing around the world. He was inspired by the explorer Captain Cook. He wanted to visit various places in the Pacific Ocean. This break allowed him to step away from the pressures of being a famous star.

Finney was also a producer through his company, Memorial Productions. He and Michael Medwin formed this company to create various projects. They produced films such as Privilege, The Burning, and If.... Some of these films featured Finney, while others did not. He even directed the film Charlie Bubbles in 1968. This project was significant because it featured the feature film debut of Liza Minnelli. However, Finney eventually decided to move away from producing. He found that sitting in an office pitching ideas to Hollywood was not for him. He preferred the direct action of acting.

Later in his career, Finney focused heavily on classical stage acting. He spent over three years at the Royal National Theatre. He believed that playing the classics required a specific kind of physical commitment. He noted that stage acting required different muscles than film acting. On stage, an actor must deliver long, complex speeches without relying on heavy breathing or shoulder movements. He performed in legendary plays like Hamlet and Macbeth. This dedication to the craft helped him maintain his status as a premier actor.

Tom Courtenay 2 Allan Warren
Tom Courtenay 2 Allan Warren

Finney's filmography includes many iconic and diverse characters. He famously played the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot in Murder on the Orient Express in 1974. This role was so successful that he felt it led to typecasting. He received four Academy Award nominations for Best Actor. These were for Tom Jones, Murder on the Orient Express, The Dresser, and Under the Volcano. He also received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor for Erin Brockovich in 2000. He later appeared in modern films like the James Bond movie Skyfall in 2012. His career spanned from the 1950s all the way to the 2010s.

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Albert Finney 1966b.jpg
File:Audrey Hepburn & Albert Finney Two for the Road Still.jpg
Audrey Hepburn & Albert Finney Two for...
File:Tom Courtenay 2 Allan Warren.jpg
Tom Courtenay 2 Allan Warren.jpg
File:Anouk Aimee - 1963.jpg
Anouk Aimee - 1963.jpg
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