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The most famous actor in the film Rebecca (1940) at the time of its release was Laurence Olivier.
In 1940, Olivier was already an established, internationally respected star, particularly after his critically acclaimed performance in the previous year. His co-star, Joan Fontaine, was considered a rising star whose role in Rebecca—which earned her an Academy Award nomination—was a significant career breakthrough that "catapulted her to stardom," making Olivier the more established figure at that point in time.
Laurence Olivier's fame in 1940 was largely solidified by a key film released just a year before Rebecca, and his stature continued to grow with notable films immediately following it.
Wuthering Heights (1939)
That Hamilton Woman (1941)
Henry V (1944)
Olivier played Mr. Darcy in this major MGM production released the same year as Rebecca. It is one of his most enduring and notable roles from that specific era.
Olivier received sole top billing above the title, while Joan Fontaine was billed below him, reflecting their relative fame at the time of release.
Olivier's fame was heavily bolstered by his status as the preeminent Shakespearean actor of his time at the Old Vic, which contributed to his 'internationally respected' status mentioned in the summary.
Laurence Olivier was the most famous actor in Rebecca (1940) at the time of its release. He had recently achieved international stardom as a Hollywood leading man following his role as Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights (1939), which earned him his first Academy Award nomination. In 1940, he was the top-billed star of Rebecca and also appeared as Mr. Darcy in the major MGM adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. His co-star, Joan Fontaine, was a 'rising star' whose career was significantly launched by her performance in Rebecca. Other notable films for Olivier during this period include That Hamilton Woman (1941), 49th Parallel (1941), and his directorial debut Henry V (1944), for which he received a special Academy Award. Throughout his career, he earned a total of 10 acting nominations (9 for Best Actor and 1 for Best Supporting Actor).