Kenneth More

Kenneth More was the living embodiment of British humour, steadfastness and resilience on the film screen and off. Born into a life of wealth in 1914, he fell into show business almost by accident and worked for nearly two decades – including at London’s famous Windmill Theatre – before becoming the icon we know today.

After a long, distinguished stint in the Royal Navy during the Second World War, he was ‘discovered’ by Noël Coward and set on the road to fame. What followed was a string of films we have come to know as the most beloved classics of British cinema, such as Genevieve, Reach for the Sky, The 39 Steps, A Night to Remember, Sink the Bismarck! and Scrooge.

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, his private life was almost as exciting as the roles he played. Following a string of affairs and eleven years of marriage, he made national headlines after running off with a young actress. Then, when a public spat with the head of Britain’s biggest movie studio damaged his career, he found a new home in television.

On screen, Kenneth More fought some courageous battles, but his bravest fight came when Parkinson’s disease ended his career in the late 1970s.

Nathan Morely has produced a fascinating and insightful biography of one of the most iconic and enduring legends of British cinema, with contributions from fellow actors and directors who worked with him. Among these are Martin Jarvis, Jane Asher, Chris Sarandon, Anneke Wills, Susan Penhaligon, Alvin Rakoff, Peter Medak, Barry MacGregor, and many others.