Finney was always an anti-establishment character and turned down a knighthood saying the 'Sir thing' perpetuates British 'snobbery' and that 'we should all be misters together'
ALBERT FINNEY blazed a cinematic trail over more than half a century that was enough to earn him the offer of a knighthood in his home country.
But as the nation mourns one of its acting giants, a certain Academy in Hollywood should hang its golden head in shame for never turning one of his five Oscar nominations into a win.
Once described by Laurence Olivier as the “greatest actor of his generation”, Finney has died aged 82 following a short illness.
His performances in films Saturday Night And Sunday Morning, Tom Jones, the original Annie, Murder On The Orient Express and Erin Brockovich are sure to be celebrated at tomorrow night’s Baftas in London.
Not that the straight-talking son of Salford would have minded missing it. He once said of showbusiness ceremonies: “It’s a long way to go to sit for four hours without a drink or a smoke.”
The twice-divorced actor was more interested in spending his time with beautiful women — his former lovers include Jane Asher, Diana Quick, Carly Simon, Billie Whitelaw, Jacqueline Bisset and Joan Baez.
His love life was often troubled — his second wife, French actress Anouk Aimee, left him for co-star Ryan O’Neal, and Finney admitted he could be “less than a gentleman”.
Finney, an anti-establishment figure throughout his life, unusually had no publicist or agent and rejected roles that would stop him living freely. The heavy drinker wanted to ensure he had time to relax with hell-raising buddy Richard Harris, a pack of Camel cigarettes and some spirits.
Finney’s remarkable six-decade movie career, which ended with the James Bond movie Skyfall in 2012, was enough to make him Sir Albert, but in 2000 he turned down a knighthood because this son of a bookmaker thought it was snobbish.
Finney said: “Call me Sir if you like. Maybe people in America think being a Sir is a big deal but I think we should all be misters together.
“I think the Sir thing slightly perpetuates one of our diseases in England, which is snobbery.”
Finney, who described himself as “lower middle-class”, went to Salford Grammar School. But when he failed to pass his O levels two years running, teachers suggested he would be better suited to world-renowned drama school the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London.
His first big break came aged 23 in 1959 when he replaced a poorly Olivier in the title role of the Shakespeare play Coriolanus in Stratford.
Finney recalled: “There were groans when the manager went on stage and apologised for Olivier’s indisposition.”
But word got round about his fine performance, and the following year he was rewarded with the lead role in the first stage dramatisation of the novel Billy Liar, and the ground-breaking 1960 “kitchen sink” movie Saturday Night And Sunday Morning.
Finney said: “I was the first man to be seen sleeping with another man’s wife in an English film.”
His first marriage, to actress Jane Wenham, ended in 1961 after four years. The couple had married when they were both 21, and it was clear Finney was not ready to settle down.
He revelled in his new-found notoriety, carousing the capital with his close pals Harris and Peter O’Toole.
He once confessed: “There was indeed a period where there was a great degree of wildness. It was the romantic idea of seemingly being careless, profligate with your talent.
“I have been drunk on stage only once though, when I was at Stratford in 1959. I had to take part in a sword fight, and it was horrendous.
“I was standing on the table, and the whole stage started to go around.” Finney was offered the lead role in 1962 epic Lawrence Of Arabia ahead of Peter O’Toole, but turned it down over a disagreement about the contract.
He said: “I don’t give a damn whether I’m a star or not.”
In the 1970s his success continued, playing Scrooge, an unforgettable turn as Hercule Poirot in Murder On The Orient Express and then Fouche in Ridley Scott’s debut movie The Duellists in 1977.
His marriage to Anouk Aimee, who he wed in 1970, did not survive the decade and they split in 1978.
Finney, who rarely gave interviews, said of the break-up: “It’s painful and disappointing.
“But if the women I am involved with are drawn to somebody else and want to go off with them, I’ve got to let them go.” His next big romance was with Diana Quick, who he dated for seven years, during which he took a four-year break from movies.
There were plenty of pastimes to divert his attention — Finney had inherited his father’s love for race horses, and owned several.
As Bond actor Daniel Craig noted in his tribute yesterday: “Wherever Albert is now, I hope there are horses and good company.”
Beyond acting he made an unsuccessful attempt at a music career, releasing a Motown album in 1977.
Fortunately in the 1980s his film career blossomed, including two Oscar nominations — one for The Dresser in 1983 and the other for Under The Volcano in 1984. But he never turned up for those ceremonies, nor when he was nominated for 2000 film Erin Brockovich — just as he hadn’t for Tom Jones in 1963 or Murder On The Orient Express in 1974.
JAMES Bond actor DANIEL CRAIG said “the world has lost a giant” as he led tributes to his Skyfall co-star Albert Finney.
On the five-time Oscar nominee’s turn as gruff gamekeeper Kincade in the 23rd 007 film, Craig added: “Wherever Albert is now, I hope there are horses and good company.”
Meanwhile, Skyfall and Spectre director SAM MENDES described Finney as a “brilliant, beautiful, big-hearted, life-loving delight of a man”.
Bond producers MICHAEL G WILSON and BARBARA BROCCOLI, added: “We are heartbroken at the loss of Albert Finney. It was a privilege to work with him.”
Celebrities from the world of comedy, television, film and theatre also posted messages online.
BERNADETTE PETERS, who starred with Finney in the 1982 film version of Annie, said: “So sad to hear of the passing of Albert Finney. I had the great pleasure of working with him on Annie the movie. Who could forget him in Tom Jones.”
MIRANDA HART thanked the actor for his performance as Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks in Annie. She tweeted: “Aaaah goodbye Daddy Warbucks.
“Thanks to Albert Finney in Annie, my quest to play and sing for a lifestyle began. What an actor he was.”
The Usual Suspects writer CHRISTOPHER McQUARRIE said: “Remember the great Albert Finney tonight by watching Miller’s Crossing and Under The Volcano – two vastly different performances that showcase his unique ability to combine power with powerlessness.”
Actor DAVID MORRISSEY hailed Finney as one of the greats, tweeting: “Both on stage and screen. A powerhouse of an actor. A real hero.”
Comic DAVID BADDIEL described Finney as “so brilliant” in a Twitter post.
RUFUS SEWELL, who appeared alongside Finney in the 1994 comedy drama A Man Of No Importance, said: “Apart from being effortlessly great he was also a great all round example of how to behave.”
And comedian DAVID WALLIAMS posted a photograph of the late actor on Twitter, with the caption: “The beautiful Albert Finney.”
Despite his distaste for awards bashes, Finney did win three Golden Globes, one Emmy and three Baftas.
What endeared him to audiences was that he did not have an obsession with his “image” and would tackle less than glamorous roles. He was happy to lose his curly hair for the role of bald Daddy Warbucks in Annie and Winston Churchill in TV’s The Gathering Storm.
In his private life, he settled down with Pene Delmage in 1992, and they married in 2006, living in London until Finney’s death.
He said: “I am exceptionally happy with Pene. I’m a born flirt, and that will never stop, but I would take things no further.”
Shortly after appearing in The Bourne Ultimatum in 2007 he was diagnosed with kidney cancer and only returned to movies five years later with The Bourne Legacy, once he had beaten the disease.
A statement from a family spokesman said last night: “Albert Finney, aged 82, passed away peacefully after a short illness with those closest to him by his side.”
A private man to the end, Finney was not one to talk about his illnesses or complain about any misfortunes.
As he once said about being an actor: “It’s a marvellous life, a gregarious life that we’ve had. We’re very lucky in that way.”
