Peter O'Toole

He was my favourite actor. Lawrence of Arabia is my favourite film.

Imagine the excitement when he visited The National Archives as a reader. I think it was in 2006. His visit must have taken hours longer than he anticipated, because readers and members of staff kept going up to his desk and asking for his autograph. He was gracious and charming and his eyes were mesmerising and very blue. Even as his normal self he was charismatic.