"To be or not to be - that is the question."

This supreme matted display of arguably Britain's greatest ever actor, consists of a classic close-up the 1948 version of Hamlet together with a letter signed by Laurence Olivier. The letter which is dated 17 March 1950 has been signed 'Larry Olivier' by Laurence - even with his royal titles, he refused to carry on a conversation with anyone who wouldn't address him as "Larry". The piece has been professionally double matted using acid free materials. It is frame ready and would make a stunning centre-piece of any collection. It goes without saying that Laurence's signature is very collectable and as such this is a tremendous investment piece.

He could speak Shakespeare's lines as naturally as if he were "actually thinking them", said English playwright Charles Bennett, who met Laurence Olivier in 1927. One of Olivier's earliest successes as a Shakespearean actor on the London stage came in 1935 when he played Romeo and Mercutio in alternate performances of "Romeo and Juliet". In 1940 he married Vivien Leigh, and just over twenty years later he wed Joan Plowright.

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Laurence was knighted in 1947 and made a life peer in 1970. He and Roberto Benigni are the only two actors to have directed themselves in Oscar winning performances.The man commonly referred to as the greatest actor of the century never thought of himself as much of a screen actor, but "just another player. As well as remarkable performances in Shakespeare productions, Olivier starred in Wuthering Heights, Pride & Prejudice, Spartacus, Sleuth, Clash Of The Titans and The Boys From Brazil. Despite passing away in 1989, his name is still known the world over - and he remains regarded as one of the finest actors of all time.

"Without Acting I Cannot Breathe"