“God put me on this earth to raise sheer hell”: Why Richard Burton embraced his reputation
In 99% of cases, any actor who enjoyed a career even remotely comparable to that of Richard Burton would be heralded as a true genius of the craft and one of the best ever to either tread the boards or grace the silver screen.
While that’s entirely true in the Welshman’s case, he was nonetheless dogged repeatedly by accusations that he failed to make the most of his talents. From the outside looking in it comes across as needless scorn when Burton was a true legend of the profession, but it’s not entirely without merit.
He earned seven Academy Award nominations and failed to win the big one, notched a pair of Bafta wins in the ‘Best British Actor’ category for The Spy Who Came In from the Cold and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, won a pair of Golden Globes, earned a Tony, and was undoubtedly one of the most distinguished thespians of his – or any other – generation.
From his humble upbringing to the pinnacle of Hollywood, Burton’s story was a remarkable one, which ended up being viewed by many contemporaries and peers as one of unfulfilled potential. His detractors believed he’d been seduced by the hedonism, wealth, and extravagance of fame – not to mention his long-running battle with alcoholism – to such an extent that he never lived up to his initial promise.
His long-lasting love affair with Elizabeth Taylor was the stuff of tabloid dreams, and Burton’s well-known rebellious streak often did him more harm than good, especially when he turned his back on a seven-year contract worth a million dollars at the height of his popularity in favour of returning to the stage and accepting £150 per week to perform at the Old Vic in London.
Eventually, he became more of a celebrity than an actor, but it did at least keep his name in the headlines. For many, it would be an albatross around the neck for a star’s extracurricular activities to overshadow their on-screen endeavours, but Burton embraced that unique status with open arms.
In an interview with Len Lear, he admitted as much. “I kind of like my reputation, that of a spoiled genius from a gutter in Wales who should be playing Shakespeare all the time but who has become a rogue, a drunk, and a womaniser,” he said. “It is my cross to bear, which I do not mind.”
Burton had emerged from a difficult childhood to become a superstar, which comes with its own set of trappings. “I have achieved a kind of negative fame that has nothing to do with my talents as an actor,” he acknowledged. “The public is not interested in me as an actor, it is interested in the diabolically famous Richard Burton.”
He knew what the perception was, and he leaned into it, going so far as to say, “I do believe that God put me on this earth to raise sheer hell.” Needless to say, that’s precisely what he did.
