" 'This guy is a classical actor.
Born in Britain and reared in Canada, Mr. Thompson is a classical actor who has won glowing New York reviews for his title performances in "Othello" and "The Emperor Jones".
She had grown up in a theatrical family, dreamt of being a classical actor, as well as appearing on the musical stage, but her husband's acting and directing career led the couple to Hollywood with their baby daughter.
When Kevin Kline is at center stage in a Shakespeare production, New York audiences can for once relax, secure in the knowledge that they will be seeing a classical actor of exceptional gifts and the highest integrity.
Nighy said he had never been a classical English actor, adding that Shakespeare posed a problem "because you can't operate in those kind of trousers".
Shakespeare's play is based on a legally questionable war, throws together English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish soldiers and sets them arguing about national identity and, in Hytner's version, they were led by the magnificent Adrian Lester who is a fine classical actor who happens to be black.
But he is best known as a classical actor of uncommon emotional transparency and hair-trigger timing, particularly in plays by Shakespeare and Molière.
Corin Redgrave, who died a few days ago, was a good classical actor but a ludicrous figure in politics.
