photo:
http://www.persinsala.it/userimages/albert_finney.jpg
Biography
Career highlights
His most famous role was as Agatha Christie's master detective Hercule Poirot in the 1974 film Murder On The Orient Express. Finney was so effective in the role that he complained that it typecast him for a number of years. "People really do think I am 300 pounds [136 kg] with a French accent" he said.
His first film was The Entertainer (1960), but his real breakthrough came with his portrayal of a hedonistic, disillusioned factory worker in Karel Reisz's film of Alan Sillitoe's Saturday Night and Sunday Morning. This led to a series of "angry young man" roles in kitchen sink dramas, most notably 1963's Tom Jones (for which he turned down the role of T. E. Lawrence in Lawrence of Arabia). Albert Finney has often been called "A second Olivier".
From 1970 to 1978, he was married to the French actress Anouk Aimée.
His television roles include the lead in Dennis Potter's final two plays: Karaoke and Cold Lazarus. In the latter he played a frozen, disembodied head. His most recent TV credit is the leading role in My Uncle Silas, about a Cornish country gentleman, who's looking after his grand-nephew. It ran from 2000 until 2002, then again for a mini-series in 2003.
Acclaim
Finney's accolades are numerous. He's received several nominations and awards from the prestigious awards societies of the entertainment industry.
Academy Awards (Oscars)
He has been nominated for the Best Actor Oscar four times, for Tom Jones, Murder On The Orient Express, The Dresser, and Under the Volcano. He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Erin Brockovich.
British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards (BAFTA)
Finney received a BAFTA nomination in 1964 for his work on Tom Jones.
Emmy Awards
He was nominated for an Emmy Award for his performance in The Image and won an Emmy for his performance as Winston Churchill in the HBO movie, The Gathering Storm.
Golden Globe Awards
He's received Golden Globe nominations for his performances in
Big Fish,
Erin Brockovich,
Under the Volcano,
The Dresser,
Shoot the Moon, and
Tom Jones (he received two nominations, winning one below).
Additionally, he has won Golden Globes for The Gathering Storm, Scrooge, and for Tom Jones.
For The Gathering Storm, he won "Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television" for 2003
For his role in Scrooge, his portrayal of the both the old miser and the young Ebenezer Scrooge earned him "The Best Motion Picture Actor in a Musical/Comedy" for 1971.
For Tom Jones, he shared a win as "Most Promising Newcomer - Male" for 1964.
Laurel Awards
In 1971 he was nominated for a Golden Laurel for his work on Scrooge. For his work on Tom Jones, he was the 3rd Place Winner for the "Top Male Comedy Performance" for 1964.
Los Angeles Film Critics Association
He was honored by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association as Best Actor for Under the Volcano (which he tied with F. Murray Abraham for Amadeus), the National Board of Review for Best Actor in Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, and the New York Film Critics Circle for Best Actor in Tom Jones.
Oscars
See Academy Awards above.
Screen Actors Guild
He has also received three nominations from the Screen Actors Guild Awards, being nominated for his performance in The Gathering Storm, winning for his performances in Erin Brockovich, and as a member of the acting ensemble in the movie Traffic.
Silver Berlin Bear
He won the Silver Berlin Bear award for Best Actor for The Dresser at the 1984 Berlin International Film Festival.
Tony Awards
He's been nominated for two Tony Awards for his performance in the plays, "Luther" and "Joe Egg".
Venice Film Festival
He won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor for Tom Jones at the Venice Film Festival.
Selected filmography
A Good Year (2006)
Tim Burton's Corpse Bride (2005) (voice)
Ocean's Twelve (2004) (uncredited)
Big Fish (2003)
The Gathering Storm (2002) (2002 on TV)
Traffic (2000)
Erin Brockovich (2000)
Breakfast of Champions (1999)
The Browning Version (1994)
Miller's Crossing (1990)
Under the Volcano (1984)
The Dresser (1983)
Annie (1982)
Wolfen (1981)
Murder on the Orient Express (1974)
Gumshoe (1972)
Scrooge (1970)
Two for the Road (1967)
Tom Jones (1963)
Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1960)
