Laurence Olivier was one of the most famous leading men of the 20th century, well known for his starring roles in the 1948 movie adaptation of Shakepeare's 'Hamlet', which landed him an Oscar for Best Actor and the film the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Original Hamlet movie costume worn by Sir Laurence Olivier
The movie also won the Oscar for Best Costume Design for Roger K. Furse, who also shared the Best Art Direction/Set Decoration Oscar with Carmen Dillon for Hamlet.
In addition to the four Academy Award wins, the film also scored three other nominations, one for Laurence Olivier as Director, Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Jean Simmons and Best Music for William Walton.
Hamlet movie poster
This costume worn by Laurence Kerr Olivier was photographed on display at the London Film Museum on January 25, 2011.
Laurence Olivier statue as Hamlet
by sculptor Angela Conner
Further along London's SouthBank, you'll also find a statue of the renowned thespian as Hamlet outside the National Theatre.
The actor also starred alongside Marilyn Monroe as 'Charles', the Prince Regent of Carpathia, in the 1957 movie, The Prince and the Showgirl.
Costume worn by Laurence Olivier in
The Prince and the Showgirl
This royal uniform from the movie (Beatrice Dawson was Costume Designer on the film), was photographed on display at the Planet Hollywood Cafe in Las Vegas on April 7, 2011.
The Prince and the Showgirl movie poster
Looking through my archives I also discovered another costume that Laurence Olivier wore, also photographed at the London Film Museum, this time in 1969's epic Battle of Britain war movie.
Uniform jacket worn by Laurence Olivier in Battle of Britain
He wore this jacket as Air Chief Marshal 'Sir Hugh Dowding', helping to command the British Royal Air Force against the invading Nazi Germany Air Force in World War II.
Battle of Britain movie poster
Buy the movies: Hamlet (The Criterion Collection)
