Sir Laurence Olivier, widely regarded as among the greatest actors of the 20th century, has been commemorated with an English Heritage blue plaque at his childhood home in Pimlico. Unveiled by Sir Ian McKellen, the plaque at 22 Lupus Street marks the London address where Olivier first began acting as a child and where the foundations of his extraordinary theatrical and film career were laid.

Speaking about the new plaque, Sir Ian McKellen said: “In his lifetime Laurence Olivier’s achievements, on stage and on screen, were unique and legendary. He was a Hollywood star, the first Director of the National Theatre of Great Britain, producer, director, as well as actor. He lives on in the work of those actors who admired him and in the memory of audiences who were lucky enough to see him in person.”

Olivier lived at the house between the ages of six to 11, while his father served as curate at nearby St Saviour’s Church, where Olivier himself was a choir boy. Family recollections describe how the young “Larry” transformed a wooden box and a set of blue curtains into a makeshift stage, performing songs, dances and dramatic sketches for hours at a time. During these years he attended All Saints School, Margaret Street, where his talent was recognised by the legendary actress – and fellow blue plaque recipient – Ellen Terry, who reportedly declared that the ten-year-old was “already a great actor”.

English Heritage Senior Historian, Howard Spencer, said: “Laurence Olivier transformed British theatre and film through the brilliance, range and intensity of his performances. What makes Lupus Street so special is that it is where it all began for Olivier, as an imaginative London child first discovering a love of performance. The plaque celebrates the formative home where one of Britain’s greatest cultural figures first found his voice as an actor.”

Born in Surrey in 1907, Olivier trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama before rising to prominence through acclaimed Shakespearean performances in productions including Hamlet, Macbeth, Richard III and Henry V. His film career brought international fame through roles in Rebecca, Wuthering Heights, Marathon Man and Sleuth, while his 1944 film Henry V established him as a major director as well as actor.

Olivier’s influence extended far beyond performance. As founding director of the National Theatre, he helped shape the future of British theatre and championed a new generation of actors and playwrights. Honoured with a knighthood, a life peerage and the Order of Merit, he remains one of the defining figures of modern British culture, with the Olivier Awards named in his honour.

The English Heritage London Blue Plaques scheme is generously supported by David Pearl and members of the public.