Rex Harrison

Actor

Rex Harrison was a celebrated British actor known for his role in 'My Fair Lady,' which showcased his unique take on love and identity.

Born
March 5, 1908
Died
June 2, 1990
Quotes
15
Rank
#3217

About Rex Harrison

Rex Harrison — Life and Legacy

Rex Harrison was a prominent British actor whose career spanned several decades, with his most notable role being Professor Henry Higgins in the musical 'My Fair Lady.' This character allowed him to explore themes of love and identity, reflecting his belief that personal growth often stems from complex relationships. Harrison's quotes reveal a deep understanding of the human experience, particularly how love can challenge and redefine one's sense of self. For instance, he articulated that love is not merely a feeling but a transformative force that shapes who we are. His portrayal of Higgins highlighted the tension between societal expectations and personal authenticity, encouraging audiences to consider the intricacies of identity. Harrison's insights remain relevant today, as they continue to resonate with those navigating the complexities of love and self-discovery.

Quote collection

Rex Harrison quotes

15 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.

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"Exhilaration is that feeling you get just after a great idea hits you, and just before you realize what's wrong with it."

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"There is always a struggle, a striving for something bigger than yourself in all forms of art. And even if you don't achieve greatness, even if you fail, which we all must, everything you do in your work is somehow connected with your attitude toward life, your deepest secret feelings."

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"Whatever it is that makes a person charming, it needs to remain a mystery .. once the charmer is aware of a mannerism or characteristic that others find charming, it ceases to be a mannerism and becomes an affectation."

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"I'm now at the age where I've got to prove that I'm just as good as I never was."

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"Higgins: I'm an ordinary man, who desires nothing more than just an ordinary chance, to live exactly as he likes, and do precisely what he wants. An average man am I, of no eccentric whim, Who likes to live his life, free of strife Doing whatever he thinks is best for him, Well, just an ordinary man"

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"Acting is bad acting if the actor himself gets emotional in the act of making the audience cry. The object is to make the audience cry, but not cry yourself. The emotion has to be inside the actor, not outside. If you stand there weeping and wailing, all your emotions will go down your shirt and nothing will go out to your audience. Audience control is really about the actor"

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"Originally I had a block about appearing in a musical. I went to a voice teacher for a while, but that did no good. My range is about one and a half notes. I ended up talking the musical numbers, which was revolutionary at the time. The lyrics are extremely intricate. They move along like a precisely acted scene. If you miss a word - heaven help you - the orchestra rattles past like an express train, and you've got to run like the devil to catch up."

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"A woman who utters such disgusting and depressing noise has no right to be anywhere, no right to live. Remember that you are a human being with a soul and the divine gift of articulate speech, that your native language is the language of Shakespeare and Milton and The Bible. Don't sit there crooning like a bilious pigeon."

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"If we could talk to the animals, learn their languages, maybe take an animal degree."

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"The important thing is to learn through experience. The more you do the more you learn. I don't think anyone can teach acting from a podium."

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"Having been challenged by Colonel Pickering, Higgins: You know, it's almost irresistible. She's so deliciously low. So horribly dirty."

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"Because I love the taste of meat I am a reluctant but dedicated vegetarian."

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"When you've always worked hard in the theatre, you find that, when you stop playing, at the end of a run, the evenings seem very long indeed. You have to find something to keep yourself occupied with because you're so used to gearing yourself up to that eight o'clock curtain, but to find any kind of real, absorbing alternative is impossible. Nobody is as interesting to spend an evening with as a really good part."

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