Albert Finney was once the screen's incarnation of the new British working-class hero. In the theatre, he was hailed as the new Olivier. Yet, instead of actively pursuing either image, he went his own way. This biography, attempts to probe the real man beneath the many masks of the actor, director, traveller, bon viveur and lover.

'Hershman has managed to gather a huge amount of information and distill it into a book that is not only respectful but full of insights into what makes this unstarriest of stars able to produce brilliant work without appearing to break a sweat.' - Kathryn Hughes, Mail on Sunday He was a Salford-born, homework-hating bookie's son who broke the social barriers of British film. He did his share of roistering, and yet outlived his contemporaries and dodged typecasting to become a five-time Oscar nominee and one of our most durable international stars. Bon vivant, perennial rebel, self-effacing character actor, charismatic charmer, mentor to a generation of working-class artists, a byword for professionalism, lover of horseflesh and female flesh – Albert Finney is all these things and more. Gabriel Hershman's colourful and riveting account of Finney's life and work, which draws on interviews with many of his directors and co-stars, examines how one of Britain's greatest actors built a glittering career without sacrificing his integrity.

Albert Finney has been a film and stage star for over 40 years, ever since first taking the movie and theater worlds by storm in 1960 with his roles in Saturday Night and Sunday Morning and Billy Liar. Oscar-nominated performances followed in Tome Jones, Mueder on the Orient Express, The Dresser, and Under the Volcano. Now 66, Finney's star on both sides of the Atlantic is still rising as he matures into a consistently impressive range of roles. He co-starred again with Tom Courtenay in the BAFTA-winning A Rather English Marriage and received a fifth Oscar nomination for his role opposite Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovitch.

Albert Finney was a Salford-born, homework-hating bookie’s son who broke the social barriers of British film. He did his share of roistering, and yet outlived his contemporaries and dodged typecasting to become a five-time Oscar nominee and one of our most durable international stars. Bon vivant, perennial rebel, self-effacing character actor, charismatic charmer, mentor to a generation of working-class artists, a byword for professionalism, lover of horseflesh and female flesh – Albert Finney is all these things and more. Gabriel Hershman’s colourful and riveting account of Finney’s life and work, drawing on interviews with many of his directors and co-stars, examines how one of Britain’s greatest actors built a glittering career without sacrificing his integrity.

Albert Finney (born 9 May 1936) is an English actor. He achieved prominence in films in the early 1960s, and has maintained a successful career in theatre, film and television. A recipient of BAFTA, Golden Globe, Emmy and Screen Actors Guild Awards, Finney has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor four times, for Tom Jones (1963), Murder on the Orient Express (1974), The Dresser (1983), and Under the Volcano (1984); and was nominated for Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Erin Brockovich (2000). This book is your ultimate resource for Albert Finney. Here you will find the most up-to-date information, photos, and much more. In easy to read chapters, with extensive references and links to get you to know all there is to know about his Early life, Career and Personal life right away: Night Must Fall (1964 film), Scrooge (1970 film), Gumshoe (film), Murder on the Orient Express (1974 film), The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother, The Duellists, Looker, Wolfen (film), Loophole (1981 film), Annie (film), Shoot the Moon, The Dresser, Under the Volcano (film), Orphans (film), The Image (TV film), The Green Man, Miller's Crossing, The Wall - Live in Berlin, The Playboys, Rich in Love, The Browning Version (1994 film), A Man of No Importance (film), Washington Square (film), Breakfast of Champions (film), Kilgore Trout, Erin Brockovich (film), Traffic (film), The Gathering Storm (2002 film), Big Fish, Ocean's Twelve, Corpse Bride, A Good Year, Amazing Grace (2006 film), The Bourne Ultimatum (film), Before the Devil Knows You're Dead Contains selected content from the highest rated entries, typeset, printed and shipped, combining the advantages of up-to-date and in-depth knowledge with the convenience of printed books. A portion of the proceeds of each book will be donated to the Wikimedia Foundation to support their mission.

A retelling, based on the film script, of Dickens' tale about a miser whose life is changed by Christmas.

Fascinating in-depth interviews with more than 40 actors, writers, directors and producers in the theatre industry.