Sir John Gielgud on Richard Burton

“He should have been in the same rank as Laurence Olivier, but he was very wild and had a scandal around him all the time and I think in theater circles that would not be approved of.”

“a born actor...He was serious, charming, with tremendous skill...He chose a rather mad way of throwing away his theater career but obviously he became very famous and a world figure through being a film star. He was awfully good to people and generous.”

“He was marvellous at rehearsals. There was the true theatrical instinct. You only had to indicate - scarcely even that.”