Ian McKellen unveils Laurence Olivier blue plaque at childhood home

A blue plaque honouring Laurence Olivier has been unveiled at his childhood home in Pimlico by Ian McKellen.

Announced by English Heritage, the plaque marks 22 Lupus Street, where Olivier lived between the ages of six and 11 while his father served as curate at nearby St Saviour’s Church.

The house is recognised as the place where Olivier first developed his passion for performance. Family recollections describe the young actor transforming a wooden box and blue curtains into a makeshift stage, where he would spend hours performing songs, dances and dramatic sketches. During this period he attended All Saints School in Margaret Street, where fellow blue plaque recipient Ellen Terry is said to have recognised his talent, reportedly declaring that the ten-year-old was “already a great actor”.

Speaking about the unveiling, 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.”

McKellen was joined by the National Theatre’s director Indhu Rubasingham and famed academic historian William Whyte, chair of the Blue Plaques Panel.