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Peter O'Toole: A tremendous screen presence

18 August 2004, 18:00 PM
LIFESTYLE
Peter O'Toole in his epic role in .Laurence of Arabia
Who doesn't remember Peter O'Toole in his powerful cinematic roles inLawrence of Arabia, BecketandThe Lion in WinterNominated seven times for Best Actor Oscars, he definitely qualifies as an all time great on the silver screen. A versatile actor, in his over 40-year-career in film, he has proven his histrionic talent in drama, comedy, tragedy, romance and even a few musicals. O'Toole's gift of acting has been well recognised. In 2003, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded him an honorary Oscar for having 'provided cinema history with some of its most memorable characters.'

One only needs to look back in time to see how O'Toole took Hollywood by storm. His first Oscar nomination was for his performance in the title role of David Lean's World War I desert epic, Lawrence of Arabia (1962). This Academy Award-winning Best Picture of the year catapulted him to fame and still remains among his most memorable films.

Two years later he won further acclaim with his role of King Henry II opposite Richard Burton's role of Thomas à Becket in Becket (1964). The film was an adaptation of a the play by Jean Anouilh. The theme of the cinematic work was the political relationship between the medieval English king and the Archibishop of Canterbury. This powerful film earned 12 Oscar nominations, as well as a Best Actor nods for both O'Toole and Burton as well as a Best Picture nomination. However, the winner of the award turned out to be the hugely popular classic, My Fair Lady and its English star Rex Harrison.

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Another major film hit was How to steal a million (1966) the romantic comedy and crime film. In the film he co-starred with Audrey Hepburn. His role was that of a 'society burglar' who helps Hepburn steal a fake statue from a heavily guarded French art museum.

Then followed The Lion in Winter, where he played King Henry II opposite Katherine Hepburn's Eleanor of Aquitaine. Both the stars earned nominations for their outstanding performances. Hepburn came out a winner but O'Toole lost out again.

Yet awards alone do not mark true greatness. Even after all these years, his name is a byword for histrionic excellence.

Compiled by Cultural Correspondent