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"My Life With Laurence Olivier, Richard Burton, Noel Coward & Picasso"


Art Daily: LONDON.- Veteran Australian actor Trader Faulkner, 81, has co-starred with many of the legendary actors of the 20th century - and for the next two weeks, he exclusively shares his extraordinary stories with listeners to the Litopia Daily podcast.

Son of a silent movie star, Trader was discovered by fellow Australian Peter Finch, and quickly whisked off to the London stage by renowned director Tyrone Guthrie. An overnight success, Trader quickly found himself playing on Broadway with Richard Burton, directed by his soon-to-be mentor and friend, Sir John Gielgud.

But the rise to fame wasn't all smooth. There is a bruising encounter with Noel Coward (who no-one ever got the better of), a run-in with Picasso and worst of all, a confrontation with Laurence Olivier - over Trader's girlfriend, actress Dorothy Tutin (and Vivian Leigh wasn't too pleased, either). Cast as a co-star in a film with British heartthrob Laurence Harvey, Trader's scenes are mostly left on the cutting room floor. Well, that's showbiz.

Trader Faulkner is a world-class raconteur who, at 81 years, is still very much at the top of his form. His insights and recollections are part of our cultural heritage, and shed a deeply personal light on many of the greatest stars of the age.

Litopia Daily is the world's largest podcast for writers, and is produced by Litopia Writers' Colony. Here is the link for the podcasts.