You have to get through the Hamlet hoop as a young actor. Your classical qualifications are based on the quality of your Hamlet. And then, as an older actor, you have to get through the Lear hoop. And I'm approaching the Lear hoop.

As an actor at Chichester he also starred in four plays including his first Uncle Vanya in 1996 (he played it again in 2000 which he brought to Broadway for a limited run). Olivier cast him as Cassio in the successful National Theatre stage production of Othello a role that Jacobi repeated in the 1965 film version. His family was working class.

Though principally a stage actor Jacobi has appeared in a number of films such as Henry V (1989) Dead Again (1991) Gladiator (2000) Gosford Park (2001) The Golden Compass (2007) The King's Speech (2010) My Week with Marilyn (2011) and the forthcoming Hippie Hippie Shake. He holds a British knighthood and has been awarded the Knight 1 Class of the Order of the Dannebrog. : /ˈdʒækəbi/; born 22 October 1938) is an English actor and film director.