Once A Saint: An Actor's Memoir

by Ian Ogilvy

'A wickedly entertaining new memoir' Daily Mail

According to the Daily Mail Ian Ogilvy was 'the undisputed star of 1970s TV as the dashing Simon Templar in Return Of The Saint '. The show turned him into a household name, causing him to be touted as the next James Bond.

From a liberal upbringing in post-war Britain, boarding school escapades and life at RADA, Ogilvy enjoyed an acting career spanning more than fifty years, including TV show Upstairs, Downstairs and films Witchfinder General , No Sex We're British and Death Becomes Her . His story plays host to a spectacular all-star cast including Boris Karloff, Hayley Mills, Penelope Keith, Derek Nimmo, Timothy Dalton, Derek Jacobi and Meryl Streep, and Ogilvy gives a vivid account from behind the scenes of the Golden Age of television and film.

Once a Saint is an amusing and unvarnished a tremendously endearing tale from a working actor. His story is modest and endlessly charming, told in such a way that opens a reader's heart to him.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

320 pages, Paperback

Published July 17, 2018

Reviews

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ian Ogilvy's career as an actor has seen him work in film, television, theatre & radio & he admits that he has been in some excellent productions. He also confesses that he has been in some terrible things too. In this memoir he spends time reflecting on his family & their own amazing stories as well as his own life. He happily admits to having a limited talent as an actor & growing up with a privileged childhood.
Like his portrayal of Simon Templar in the 1970's TV series Return Of The Saint his writing style is light & witty. This is one of those rare autobiographies that upon reaching the end I wish it had been longer.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first knew Ian Ogilvy, like most people my age, from “Return Of The Saint”, a fantastic TV show from the late 70s with a cool hero, a cool car and a terrific theme tune. It wasn’t until much later that I realised what else Ogilvy had done and it’s all laid out in this biography. From his childhood in Surrey and London, a fairly privileged upbringing thanks to his father’s work in advertising (his uncle David was the Ogilvy in Ogilvy & Mather), through his education at Sunningdale (which he enjoyed) and Eton (which he didn’t), this charts the life of an actor taking in theatre, film and television from the late 60s through to the 90s. Utterly charming and often self-deprecating, Ogilvy is blunt in his assessment of himself and his films, has an array of wonderful anecdotes about various productions he was part of and also talks openly about his family, especially what led to his first marriage breaking down. It’s an excellent book, an excellent read and I found myself appreciating so much more this actor I only really knew from one TV show and a couple of films. If you’re interested in acting alone, then I’d say this book was a must-read and as a biography, I found it fascinating (and it’s last line is absolutely perfect). Highly recommended.

[Cici · Rating 5 out of 5]

Won this as a Goodreads Giveaway. I remember Ian Ogilvy as the handsome, suave actor of my childhood television viewing. His autobiography is well written and incredibly easy to read -- most amusing. It has encouraged me to read Ian's other books . . .

[William Stafford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this showbiz autobiography. Ian Ogilvy is a more than competent actor and proves himself a witty and amusing writer. Erudite but not pretentious, he fills the book with anecdotes that are delicious but not salacious. He has had something of a charmed life, which he recounts with a good deal of modesty and a sharp eye for irony. I am encouraged to seek out his novels and stage plays, and to revisit some of the old films he’s in now I know something of the inside story of their making. Bravo!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been a fan of Ian Ogilvy, finding him cheekily adorable in guest appearances on American television shows and romantically handsome in films such as And Now the Screaming Starts! So I was delighted when I just recently discovered that he has an autobiography. There is something gratifying about finding out that an actor you enjoy is a fun person. This autobiography does not disappoint. Ian Ogilvy is funny, humble, and very entertaining. I highly recommend this book!

[Steven West · Rating 4 out of 5]

"In truth, the only words I heard were 'Marlene', 'Dietrich' and 'suppositories'". Many of the other anecdotes are just as amusing.

[Yourfiendmrjones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like George Hamilton’s “Don’t Mind If I Do,” Ian Ogilvy’s memoir is the textbook definition of “breezy.”

But... unlike Hamilton’s travelogue through the life of a showbiz classy gent, the one-time star of the seventies action-adventure series “Return of the Saint” has written a book on par with David Niven’s two memoirs. From me, this is high praise. Reading “Once a Saint” was akin to being at a wonderful dinner party and being told great stories from a life well-lived.

I can’t wait to read his promised next volume on living in Hollywood.

[Ant Koplowitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable, light and easy reading memoir of the engaging Ian Ogilvy (Simon Templar in the 1970's Return of the Saint). Sort-of chronological from his post-war childhood (which was comfortable and event-filled), through his time at RADA and then reflections of lots of his theatre work and some of his TV roles. Was a bit disappointed that he didn't have more to say about his time in Upstairs Downstairs and Return of the Saint, but I was left with the feeling that he was fairly diffident about both parts. Ogilvy acknowledges that although the role of The Saint was high profile and fun to do at the time, artistically he felt the scripts and stories left quite a lot to be desired. He also didn't rate his own performance as Simon Templar very highly. I think that's a bit harsh, as his ST certainly has plenty of fans and despite the part being played by at least six other actors over the years, his Saint is second only to Roger Moore's.

© Koplowitz 2021

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pleasant, easy to read and self-deprecating autobiography from Ian Ogilvy. Ian shares the ups and down of the acting world with wit and honesty. Admitting to the bad films, TV and plays he has been involved in and modest about the great films, TV and plays he has been in. Some really good anecdotes, some funny, some not so, especially when talking about his unexpected nervous breakdown. I didn't know that he was now an author and may take the time out to read one or two of his novels while also looking for re-runs of ‘The Return of The Saint’. Also, this possibly has the best ending to set of memoirs I ever read!

[Duncan Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amiable enough old toot.

Plenty of name dropping as we follow Ian from his school days to international fame as Simon Templar via low budget horror films, plays and almost killing Lionel Jeffries in THAT car in the lake incident.

You'll not find what makes him tick or any serious discussion about the pros and cons of being an actor but the tales he tells are entertaining enough.

Fun Fact I learnt from the book - His mother was married to John Mills for 9 years.

[Nigel Greenwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read

Starts of well but he really passes over the Saint and quite a lot of it is just "I did this, I did that"

Doest really tell about actors worked with or the sets worked on or much about acting.

He has had pretty much a privileged life. We don't garner anything new here.

[Mick Meyers · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unashamedly good old fashioned autobiography.the actor comes across as depreciating as sir Roger Moore in his recollections of his life in the showbiz industry.really enjoyable,I do not give out 5 stars on a whim.

[Bill Boswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read actors biography that shows the highs and lows, it is especially sad as someone who loved Ian to find the saint, to see how damaging it was to his career and how little success he really got from it

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of anecdotes which are interesting. Ian Ogilvy comes across as witty and self-effacing and there are some laugh-out-loud moments . Engaging and fun read.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would have liked more about the filming of Return of the Saint but other than that interesting read

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading this - even though I have never watched The Saint.

[Lisa Marie Gabriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ian Ogilvy's autobiography tells the story of his life and career in the golden age of television drama before the world became obsessed with reality TV and the producers fell in love with the idea of low cost entertainment courtesy of people they don't have to pay. I look back fondly on those days but I shouldn't really I suppose because lousy TV means I busy myself with other things. He writes in a funny and largely self-deprecating style that nearly had me putting the book on one side at the beginning. It was a case of "surely everybody goes to Eton, even poor people like us?" and he charted an undistinguished drift into theatre because he was neither sporty nor academic. I am glad I persevered however. Once into discussion of acting, films and theatre his enthusiasm overcame his penchant for modesty and it was a vital and candid memoir. I remember many of his colleagues with fondness. Notable to me, because I know it to be true via a close friend, was his account of Peter Cushing's attitude after his dear wife's death. I was also impressed with the honesty with which he talks about his own nervous breakdown. There is a very strong account of his tenure as The Saint and, as a final flourish, the tale of the Queen's encounter with an homicidal horse. Wonderful. If you love theatre and appreciate an honest and funny tale (which naturally includes one or two F-bombs so not for the prissy reader) then I can highly recommend this book.