After leaving, he started his career as a Shakespearean actor at the Bristol Old Vic and with the English Stage Company, before winning his breakthrough role as T.E. Lawrence in 1962’s epic "Lawrence of Arabia" (a role which former classmate Albert Finney had turned down) while on a trip to New York. His part as the controversial military leader introduced him to worldwide film-viewers and earned him a Best Actor Oscar nomination.

"We were in the Arabian Desert for nine months. And I was having the time of my life. It could have been an archaeological expedition, a military expedition," he said of his time filming his career-defining role.

After his role in "Lawrence…", Peter didn’t look back and throughout his subsequent four decades in film, he has displayed his immense versatility by starring in dramatic, comedy, tragic, romantic and musical roles. He also notched up more Oscar nominations.

Although he never won any of his Oscars, the Academy awarded him with an Honorary Award in 2003 for his lifelong contribution to movies and having "provided cinema history with some of its most memorable characters." He was flattered but proved he was down-to-Earth by writing the Academy a letter saying: he "still in the game" and would like more time to "win the lovely bugger outright". He reluctantly agreed to collect the trophy at the ceremony, after being told he’d be given the honor whether he wanted it or not.

"It is the highest honour that the motion picture industry can pay to anybody. I joined people like Chaplin, so of course I'm deeply honoured," he said of the award.

In 2000, he was also awarded a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Outstanding Achievement Award, to recognise his theatre work. He has also won an Emmy for his role in the 1999 mini-series "Joan of Arc".

Peter was even chosen in the nineties as one of "Empire" magazine’s 100 Sexiest Stars in movie history, reaching number 47.

But his recognitions haven’t all been flattering, as in 1984 he was nominated for a Worst Actor award at the Golden Raspberries (Razzies), for his part in the critically-panned "Supergirl".

The amazingly talented actor has also been a successful writer. With the two volumes of his autobiography "Loitering with Intent" proving popular.