Alastair Sim was an enigmatic character both on and off the screen. His idiosyncratic style of acting in films such as The Belles of St Trinian’s endeared him to a cinema-going audience desperate to escape the day-to-day dreariness of an invasive, bureaucratic post-war Britain. In private, he was a curiously contradictory character, prejudiced and yet tolerant, thoughtful but sometimes inconsiderate. To examine the life of this extraordinary man, this biography contains original contributions from around 30 actors and actresses, including Sir Ian McKellen and Ronnie Corbett. Alastair Sim offers a rare and fascinating insight into the life of one of Britain’s most respected and best-loved actors.